Meet The McCombs’ MBA Class of 2018

Kim Phung La

The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business

Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Pre-MBA Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Fun Fact About Yourself: Had I not studied business, I would have been a civil engineer like my parents. I always thought that when I grew up, I would follow the family tradition to be an engineer. However, my goal gradually changed after I attended a number of career seminars in high school and started to realize my interest in finance, which led me to choose business instead of civil engineering when I went to college. I am glad that eventually my parents still supported me no matter what.

Undergraduate School and Major: Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Finance Major

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

  • Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (Singapore)
    • Assistant Vice President – APAC Planning
  • Credit Suisse (Singapore)
    • Analyst – Financial Accounting in APAC Private Banking
    • Analyst – Global Credit Risk
    • Analyst – Financial Planning & Analysis in APAC Investment Banking
  • Munich Re (Singapore)
    • Accountant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The accomplishment I have valued the most is the opportunity to experience in a wide range of business functions — financial accounting, risk management, financial analysis and strategic planning — within a seven-year working period. It has helped me develop new skills in various positions, gain in-depth understanding of the company’s operations as a whole, and widen my professional network. More importantly, this opportunity has greatly motivated me to get out of my comfort zone and try something different.

What advice do you have for applicants in actually applying to a school, writing essays, doing admission interviews, and getting recommenders to write letters on your behalf? Be organized and have a plan that enables you to prepare and complete all required items in your application by the set deadlines. Do not underestimate any part of the application — GMAT scores, essays, recommendation letters, and even your resume — as they are all essential for the admissions committee to assess your strengths and weaknesses, and decide whether to proceed to the next step with your application. It is also important to show in your application how unique you are among the pool of candidates, even though in some cases this may not be directly mentioned in the essays or interviews.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? McCombs’ global reputation is definitely an important factor. However, what has especially attracted me is the collaborative culture. When I talked to current students and alumni during the application process, I was really amazed by the way they generously advised me on everything from career guidance and industry insights to tips for moving and living in Austin. I’m excited to be a part of the collaborative environment at McCombs.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? My dream job is to be an investment portfolio manager. As an analytical person who follows closely the financial markets and embraces challenge, I want to be part of the industry and gain experience in investment management and asset allocation. Although the function is full of responsibilities and challenges to deliver better investment performance to investors, it comes with great rewards, especially in strengthening financial knowledge and building solid experience in portfolio management.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?  I would like my peers to talk about me as a valuable member of the McCombs MBA community and as a friend who they want to stay in touch even for ten or more years down the road.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? I want to further develop my leadership skills, as well as enhance my competencies in presentation and negotiation. In addition, as a Forte Fellow, I want to play an active role in organizing or volunteering in events that promote women in business. During the two-year program, I also look forward to travelling to several national parks in U.S. and visiting South America.

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