Wendy Yang, INSEAD’s MBA Class of 2024
Wendy Yang, INSEAD’s MBA Class of 2024Age: 28
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate Institution and Major: The University of Hong Kong, Bachelor in Business Administration (International Business)
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): I have worked 4.5 years as a relationship manager at HSBC, covering global and regional insurance companies in the Asia-Pacific area. Prior to INSEAD, I spent 2.5 years on the institutional sales team at Crypto.com, a global fintech company, where I learned a great deal about the fast-changing space of digital assets.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I decided to do an MBA to deepen my knowledge of business and management and fill in knowledge gaps in certain areas, specifically strategy and sustainability. An MBA will allow me to learn about new topics as I reflect on my own past experiences and learn from the talented group of people that make up the 24J cohort at INSEAD.
Why did you choose INSEAD? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
As someone who has lived, studied, and worked outside her hometown for many years, I often have trouble answering where I am from. I wanted to find a place where I could feel at home more than anywhere else in the world and INSEAD stood out to me in the unique diversity that it offers – my classmates hail from more than 60 nationalities and each person provides a distinctive perspective I could learn from. In addition, INSEAD boasts an impressive network of alumni who are extremely supportive and generous – I was very impressed with all the INSEAD alumni I met in my prior line of work as well as those I had the chance to interview with during the application process.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
I bring a unique perspective to the class, having grown up in North America and having built a career in finance and tech in Asia. The experience has taught me to embrace diverse perspectives and most importantly, to welcome change and uncertainty.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I am a huge history buff. Despite not having majored in history during my undergraduate studies, my essay on the MacLehose Trail (a trail named after Murray MacLehose, Hong Kong’s longest-serving governor) was published in the university’s history society annual journal.
Post-MBA career interests:
I am someone who enjoys doing something different every day and have learned to embrace uncertainty when faced with a plethora of curveballs and challenges. I am looking for a career that will provide such an environment while allowing me to leverage my skillsets from finance and tech to do impactful work.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Start early and plan ahead – INSEAD requires applicants to submit several essays as part of the application process. Make sure you spend a good bit of time on self-reflection prior to the application – it is important that the unique perspective you bring to the table comes through in the essays.
I would also make time to touch base with the people who will write your recommendation letters (especially if they are not currently at the same company) and I would make sure they have a good understanding of your qualities and achievements and how those fit into what INSEAD is looking for.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I wish I started looking for housing earlier in Fontainebleau.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have preferred to skip the recorded video interviews. Having less than a minute to think and respond to a question can be a challenge even for the best public speakers. What helped me get through it was that I came with an open mind and was ready to share my views on any given topic. Talking in front of the mirror prior to recording myself also helped a ton!
What is your initial impression of the INSEAD students/culture/community?
The whole INSEAD community is extremely supportive of one another. People share information readily and give their time and expertise to help others. Whether you are looking to learn about the healthcare sector in a particular country or just wondering where the best patisserie is in town, there is always someone willing to lend a helping hand.
What is one thing you have learned about INSEAD that has surprised you?
INSEAD places a significant emphasis on leadership development. Even though it has only been a few weeks, we have already completed extensive leadership development training via personal and group reflections, outdoor activities, workshops and professional coaching.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The tough economic environment adds a layer of uncertainty and risk in terms of career planning and recruitment. However, I am confident that as long as I remain disciplined and stay committed to my plan, I will come out stronger on the other side.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am excited to learn about diverse business cultures and build life-long friendships with people from all around the world.
