Michael Leung, Wharton’s MBA Class of 2024
Michael Leung, Wharton’s MBA Class of 2024Age: 32
Hometown: I grew up in Singapore and Hong Kong, but have also lived in Connecticut, Chicago, and New Orleans.
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Wesleyan University; Majored in History and East Asian Studies, Minored in Economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 6.5 years, Product Manager in FinTech
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I wanted to accelerate my growth on a personal and professional level with a large diverse group of driven and smart people. Having worked in both corporate and startup environments before applying to business school, I believed that I was well-placed to maximize my learnings from all that the business school community has to offer. I wanted to be at a stage of my life where I felt comfortable and confident, being authentic and fearless in pursuing things that interested me!
Why did you choose Wharton? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I initially had slight hesitations prior to applying to Wharton because I was not sure if I was a good cultural fit – this stemmed from my very outdated idea that Wharton had an overly competitive and cut-throat environment. Fortunately, I had some friends attending Wharton at the time that dispelled these misconceptions and encouraged me to visit campus.
I was absolutely blown away by the friendliness, diversity, and inclusiveness of the Wharton community when I visited for a weekend. Within minutes of meeting current Wharton students for coffee chats, they had already invited me to attend their house parties and introduced me to many more of their friends. They were interested to learn more about me and my interests, and kept it real and honest with me about their own experiences.
During that visit, I was also captivated by how multi-dimensional Wharton students were in living their values and making an impact in the community. For example, I had a coffee chat with a student to learn more about Out 4 Business (LGBTQ Student Group), but we also ended up chatting about being first-generation college students and living in the South. Another coffee chat I had was to learn about the Veterans Club, but we also ended up chatting about our mutual interests in Rugby and languages.
It was also an exciting opportunity for me to represent Wharton as a ROMBA Fellow, as it provides me with so many avenues to meet amazing future LGBTQ+ business leaders in the MBA community. Wharton and ROMBA’s dedication and support for me has been outstanding and I’m grateful that I made the right choice to be here.
Wharton is the place for me because people are invested in one another’s success here. This is a community where people support one another in all ways – academically, socially, professionally, and personally. Choose the people whom you want to grow with (for the next two years and for the rest of your life)!
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Wharton MBA Class of 2024?
On a professional level, I charted my own unique path of combining Behavioral Science, Data Analytics and Product Management in my roles. I value my agency in creating impact by leveraging my interests and skillset and will continue to drive issues to improve people’s lives.
On a personal level, I think I am able to see the best in everyone, and motivate people to get through challenging situations with persistence and a great smile. ☺️
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I can dance spontaneously to whatever, whenever, wherever, with whoever. I’m not a great dancer – just very willing to do so at every opportunity! I also give good relationship advice to my friends.
Post-MBA career interests:
In the long run, I want to empower people to make informed and thoughtful financial decisions while strengthening everyone’s financial security.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Don’t censor yourself when you are writing down experiences that are powerful and meaningful to you. Let the stream of thought come to you as you write down your first drafts. You may find interesting tidbits and words that particularly resonate with you if you don’t try to self-edit while writing.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have dedicated a focused and intensive time period of my life to tackle the GMAT exams way early on so that I do not have to deal with them on a more prolonged basis! I made the mistake of taking a GMAT exam, then letting it sit for a few months before tackling it again. I was not able to fully harness my learnings and apply them immediately in my next GMAT exam – which means that I ended up needing a lot of time trying to warm up to GMAT format and exam-taking techniques each time I took the exam.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Taking the GMAT while busy with work in a global pandemic environment was really tough. I reminded myself of my goals, the importance of those goals, and why I needed to stay focused. This helped me persevere through those tough months when I felt like I wanted to give up. It is also good to have friends and family rooting for you and excited to support you on your MBA journey.
What is your initial impression of the Wharton students/culture/community?
So far, my experiences at Wharton have been above any expectations I had. I am able to be authentically myself while being celebrated for it. I am humbled and impressed every day by people in the Wharton and Penn community — faculty, staff, students, alumni — their accomplishments are outstanding, and their personal stories are vivid.
What is one thing you have learned about Wharton that has surprised you?
There actually are some quiet spots in Huntsman Hall that are conducive for studying, despite the hustle and bustle happening constantly in the building. I hope these spots remain as hidden gems for now… 🤫
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The abundance and variety of social, academic, and career opportunities at Wharton makes me realize that I have to be intentional about what I choose to participate in. I am trying to strike a balance between pursuing various interests that I have, taking care of my mental and emotional wellbeing, challenging myself in areas that I do not feel confident in, and getting to know people in the Wharton community. I am anxious that I am not able to calibrate that balance and end up dropping the ball on things that I have committed to.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I feel grateful that I am in the right place, at the right time, with the right people here at Wharton. There is something new that I am learning about myself and other people every day, inside and outside the classroom. I’m learning to be present at all those moments – whether big or small – so that I can appreciate the opportunities I am given here. So… I am excited for every moment that will come my way (even the 8:30am classes)!
