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China Offers Life Long Career Opportunity To SAIF MBA

Shanghai tax consultant Vivian Tang embarked on the SAIF MBA to switch into investment

By  Harriet Murdoch

Wed Aug 31 2011

BusinessBecause
Vivian Tang is a full-time MBA student at the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) due to graduate in June 2012. The 26-year-old was born in Maánshan City, Anhui Province, China. She talks about her experience so far on the 18-month SAIF MBA

What motivated you to do an MBA?
I wanted to transfer into the financial industry but I had lacked a thorough knowledge and related work experience. And the Finance MBA at SAIF provided a great opportunity for me.

Where were you working before you started your MBA and what was your role?
I worked as a tax consultant in the China Tax & Business Advisory division of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Shanghai from August 2007 to August 2009.

How hard did you have to work for your place at SAIF, part of Shanghai Jiao Tong University?
With my academic background (Vivian did her first degree at Shanghai Jiao Tong University) and work experience in a Big Four firm, I just did the necessary preparation work. I didn’t work very hard!

What do you want to do in your career? And what have you learnt from your job at PwC?
I am very interested in investment related work. During my two years at PwC the most important thing I learned is professionalism. PwC is a well-known firm. It taught me how to be a professional.

How are you finding your time at SAIF?
It has exceeded my expectations in every respect. I took courses taught by the most famous professors in each field. I made friends with fantastic people. Everything made the year an unforgettable one.

Are you doing an internship whilst you are studying for your MBA?
Yes. I am an investment analyst intern in Morgan Creek Capital Management.

Is that an internship you found yourself or did the SAIF careers service assist you?
The staff in our Career Development Centre helped me find my internship in my current company. They have great networks and connections with the key firms in the finance industry.They invited my boss to SAIF and then my boss opened several internship positions to us. I was one of the lucky ones to be picked!

What is the work/life balance like at SAIF? What do you enjoy doing with your free time?
I think I have a great work-life balance at SAIF. In my spare time I review my courses and have discussions with my smart classmates. I also participate in many group activities and travel to different places.

Do you see yourself working in China forever or would you like to move abroad?
I think I will work in China forever, and go abroad for short-term training or study.

What has the MBA taught you so far?
As long as I live, I need to learn more and make more friends.

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