Jade (Yuan) Yang

Tell us about your journey.  Why did you choose to pursue your MBA, and why at DeGroote?

First I made the choice to come to Canada, and that narrowed my selections down. When deciding on a Masters or an MBA, I felt that I preferred practical hands-on business learning to research and academic based learning, so that made me choose to pursue and MBA. For DeGroote, there were multiple reasons: First I wanted to go to a top-ranking school, and McMaster was definitely one of those. Also, as an international student, I wished to be able to step out of my comfort zone and get the best local experience possible. DeGroote has a relatively lower international student percentage, which I felt would encourage me to immerse myself in Canada more. Also the program had 3 co-ops, and working in Canada would be an amazing experience on top of the education.

Tell us a little bit about your experience at DeGroote. What associations or activities were you part of? What did you enjoy at the School?

I was the president of the Women in Management Association, and I regularly attended activities hosted by other associations as well. For example, the Consulting Association, the Marketing Association, and the Health Services Management Association. I also signed up for learning opportunities provided to us by the school; for example the Marquee Group excel and financial modeling courses. I have taken the Advance Financial Modeling exam after completion of the class.

Three things I enjoyed the most is the student community, the teamwork, and my co-ops. Talking with students from different backgrounds, everyone will always tell you how inclusive and collaborative DeGroote MBA students are. The student culture is just amazing. I also loved the teamwork aspect of our MBA program. It was challenging and even stressful at times, but it was also worth every moment of the hard work. The three co-ops were amazing too. I can’t even begin to describe how the co-op program has helped me develop myself, both on my professional skills and my abilities in job searching and interviews. These are skills that are useful for a lifetime.

In what ways have you grown since you started the program?

Personal growth – It’s the first time I’ve lived alone away from family in a new country, so that is definitely significant growth that is very important to me. With co-op, I moved every 4 months, and even the renting, subleasing, packing and moving was a challenge that has made me stronger.

Also, the ability to deal with stress. The first four months was nothing short of brutal. I always joked that I had just landed in Canada and found where the school was, and now they wanted me to find a job. On top of job search, there was the academic workload, skipping classes for interviews, making up for missed material and exams, commuting all over Ontario for interviews, reaching out for coffee chats, etc. At the end of day, it’s the same summary – the experience made me so much stronger and looking back, I’m so proud of myself and satisfied with the results.

Academically, my excel skills have soared so much. I never thought of myself as an analytical person before, and after four months of school, on my work term evaluation my manager mentioned multiple times how impressed she was with my analytical skills and excel modeling.

Professionally, I have grown to feel comfortable with job searching. I also have adapted well into the Canadian work environment and culture. My first co-op at SickKids finished with another 12 months of renewed contract for part-time plus a referral to Baycrest Global Solutions for my second co-op with the position of Asia Market Lead.

Any final thoughts? 

At the end of the day, I feel classes will not be much different across schools. It’s the experience, soft skills, and network and relationships you take away that matters. You might not remember how to perfectly balance a balance sheet five years down the road, but if there are experiences that will bring a smile even five years later, friends from the MBA that you still grab wings with, and even looking at challenges in the face thinking, “I’ve been through worse and succeeded,” your MBA was worth it. I feel you’ll get all of this at DeGroote.