Chenchen April Sun, Columbia Business School MBA Class of 2025
Age: 27
Hometown: Hangzhou, China
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Southern California, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration with an Emphasis in Cinematic Arts (co-program between School of Cinematic Arts and Business School)
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Senior Investment Associate at Continental Grain Company, Private Equity (3.5 years), PwC Consulting (1.5 years)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
The decision to attend business school stems from a dual realization – a certainty that an MBA is an integral part of my professional journey and a growing curiosity about the intricacies of organizational changes and challenging negotiations in the workplace. Recognizing the need to equip myself with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the dynamic landscape of business, I was drawn to the MBA program to gain insights into the proven practitioner’s approach to addressing these complex issues.
The timing feels right, after five years of working experience. I believe that pursuing an MBA now will provide me with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the dynamic landscape of business, stay ahead of the curve, and position myself as a strategic leader capable of driving effective organizational change and navigating intricate negotiations in the future.
Why did you choose CBS? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Columbia Business School for several reasons, with location being a significant factor. The accessibility to the best resources in the city greatly influenced my decision – during my first semester, nearly everyday lunchtime and dinner time were busy with companies’ presentations, and there are multiple times where my lunchtime was overly booked with 2-3 events simultaneously; many headquarters for global firms are just several metro stops aways; the resources of New York City are just so abundant combining with Columbia Business School’s resources. Plus, I always wanted to live in NYC for a period of my life! Additionally, Columbia Business School’s emphasis on a practitioner’s mindset in its teaching, rather than just theory, played a crucial role. I appreciate the practical approach to learning, which aligns with my goal of gaining hands-on, applicable knowledge. We have classes hosted by founders and fund managers with their real-time insights into the current trends. Another compelling aspect was the school’s strong commitment to diversity, reflecting my belief in the value of diverse perspectives and experiences in enriching the educational environment.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
Coming from a private equity background, I focused on the food and agriculture industry, which is so fundamental yet with a long investment-return period. I sometimes consider myself more of an operator rather than an investor because of my high involvement in business. I appreciate my hands-on experience and I think that will eventually contribute to building a solid business. I think my past experience and my passion for food and agriculture brought a new perspective to Columbia Business School.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I just got a puppy – a Border Collie before Columbia Business School started. Her name is Melon. She’s been very active and growing so fast! I’m trying to bring her here as a puppy in New York City.
Post-MBA career interests:
Private equity with an emphasis on agriculture and environment and impact investing.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Talk to as many people as possible. Get advice from people I know for the essays and see if the essays read to them as the person I am. Think really introspectively.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Take my GMAT earlier. I knew that an MBA was in my plan, and I scheduled a GMAT test one year before the application season started. But it was canceled due to COVID-19, and I didn’t bother to schedule another one till I had to start the application process, which was quite late.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have started my preparation early on and get all schools applied to during Round 1, rather than procrastinating a bit till Round 2.
What is your initial impression of the CBS students/culture/community?
It was diverse and very international. We had over 50% of our cluster coming from international backgrounds. First impression of Columbia Business School students/culture/community – I was thrown into a lot of cultures from different countries, a lot of different backgrounds, and numerous chances to meet someone different or similar to my background.
What is one thing you have learned about CBS that has surprised you?
The CBS community is more diverse than I thought it would be, and it did put a lot of effort into creating an inclusive place. Thinking back, it was also embedded in the essay on The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) essay we had to write about during applications.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Getting to know new people – I was very overwhelmed with all the social events when all the things started at once. As an international student and a second-language speaker, I had this internal anxiety about putting names on everyone’s names. But everyone at Columbia Business School really is super nice and understanding, and it really formed a great community to be a part of.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Meeting all my friends! It’s the same as my anxiety as well. I haven’t been in a highly intensive networking situation ever since I started working. I was really keen to meet people who share passion, people who are super driven towards their career goals, and also chill friends who calm the anxious ones down – I wanted to expand my friends circle and network beyond my work. Here I am, making great friends at CBS and really enjoying the journey!
