2015 MBA To Watch: Shijie “Jay” Lu

Shijie “Jay” Lu

 

University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business

Some students lead through natural charisma. Others enlist followers through clear vision and strong determination. And some know how to cultivate meaningful relationships and connect people to each other. Consider the latter among Shijie Lu’s strengths. At The University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business, Lu worked to open up his native China to his fellow students, working his Rolodex to arrange visits with a number of Chinese companies. In addition, Lu served as vice president of McCombs’ China Business Association, along with earning fellowships from Goldman Sachs and the Tokyo Foundation.

Age: 32

Hometown: Sichuan, China

Undergraduate School: Southwestern University of Finance and Economics

Undergraduate Degree: International Business and Trade

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? I worked at China Securities Finance Corporation as a manager, Huaxia Bank as an associate, and the World Bank as a financial analyst.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2014? Citigroup, New York

Where will you be working after graduation? Citigroup, Management Associate

What are your long-term professional goals? My long-term goal is to be a professional banker focusing on investment, mergers & acquisitions, and raising capital.

Favorite Courses: Environmental, Social and Governance Investing, Corporate Finance, Valuation, Raising Capital, Investment Theory and Practice, Global Finance

Which academic or professional achievements are you most proud of? I am most proud of the Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship, which gave me the opportunity to lead the 2015 Global Connection Trip and [connect] more Chinese companies with students for business and career development.

Who would you most want to thank for your success (and why)? My parents are the people I most want to thank for. They fully support my education and encourage me to chase my dream in U.S.

Why did you choose this business school? As one of the top business school in the world, McCombs’s reputation, collaborative environment, the best faculty and academic resource, and enthusiastic culture are my reasons to choose this school.

What did you enjoy most about business school? I enjoy most about McCombs’ enthusiastic and collaborative culture. This culture is deeply rooted in every Longhorn’s heart. Within such culture, students are very passionate for team work and alumni are always very supportive and helpful when I look for a job.

What is your most memorable moment from business school? The most memorable moment is the first day in class. On that day, students introduced their self and then I realized how talent my classmates are. I felt so proud to be one of them.

Fun fact about yourself: During winter break, I rode bicycle from Austin to Los Angeles, a 1735-mile and 28-day trip. Next month, I will cycling from Austin to Miami to finish my solo-biking cross America.

Favorite book: Liar’s Poker

Favorite movie: Star Wars

Favorite musical performer: Beatles

Favorite television show: Friends

Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii

What are your hobbies? Cycling, Triathlon, Orienteering.

Twitter Handle: @Jay20132015

What made Jay such an invaluable addition to the class of 2015?

“It is [our] honor to recommend Shijie (Jay) Lu the Poets and Quants Top 50 MBA Graduates at the University of Texas at Austin. Shije has undertaken a personal mission to bridge his native Chinese culture with our American culture, creating opportunities to educate his classmates, colleagues and the public along the way. This is a consistent theme throughout Jay’s involvement in our MBA program and he has pursued this mission with an unparalleled passion and enthusiasm.

As Vice President of China Business Association, Shije has organized an Executive Speaker Series: China National Offshore Oil Corporation, the first Chinese energy company info session at UT. He co-chaired the China Chapter in the 2013 international night participating in a traditional Chinese Dance showcase for the 1000+ attendees of the event. He also hosted two Chinese dinners to introduce his peers to day-to-day Chinese culture.

As the Graduate Assistant for the Global Connection China Trip, Shije has surpassed his predecessors in helping to develop a course and itinerary in China that will expose the class to business and government in China. He coordinated visits with 30+ Chinese companies by leveraging his Chinese contacts. He successfully gained permission from the Chinese government to visit China National Offshore Oil Corporation and China General Nuclear Power Group. This is of special note because it is the first time Chinese nuclear industry opened to American university! Shije led the recruiting presentation for the trip and attracted a strong group of interested students. He also organized an alumni event in Shanghai. 

Perhaps one of the most defining moments of Shije’s time at McCombs has been his endeavor to bike across America. Over the Christmas break, he spent 27 days biking from Austin to Los Angeles, the first half of his expedition. Shije shared his daily adventures with his classmates and friends through Facebook and helped share (two-way) cultural lessons with everyone he encountered along the way. 

Shije has made a difference in our program and I look forward to seeing the ripple effects of his impact on our program beyond his graduation.” – Tina Mabley, Assistant Dean, Full time MBA and Eric Hirst, Associate Dean, Graduate Programs

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH FROM THE CLASS OF 2015