Meet the HEC Paris MBA Class Of 2019

Cindy Haw 

HEC Paris 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  Optimistic, easy-going person who likes to try new things.

Hometown:  Toronto, Ontario

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I have a mini tea collection of over 30 different teas.

Undergraduate School and Major:  University of Toronto – Bachelor of Business Administration

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Canadian Tire Corporation – Business Analyst

Canadian Tire Corporation – Associate Project Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I organized and led a raffle fundraiser that raised over $10,000 for charity in under two weeks as part of my employer’s annual employee giving campaign. I worked with a highly engaged and motivated team to secure prizes and sell tickets. It was a great opportunity to see what a committed team could accomplish in a short time and we were all very happy to make a difference in lives of children across Canada.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Take time to focus on your application. Writing my application was easily the most difficult part of my b-school application process. Your application, including your essays, is the message you send to the admissions committee on why they should admit you. Your GMAT score, CV, and references are all factors into the admission decision, but those inputs are fairly straightforward. Your application tells the b-schools why you are specifically a good fit for their program and there’s no cookie cutter template to follow when writing your essays.

I re-wrote essays five times on average and got multiple friends to help proofread to ensure that I was sending the right message across. Remember to review the entire application thoroughly before planning your submission dates and writing your essays; short answer questions can be tricky to answer and you don’t want to be caught unaware and stressed right before submitting your application.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  Fit. I would highly encourage all prospective students to thoroughly research the schools they’re interested in by going to MBA fairs or 1-on-1 meetups with the b-school. You probably have a shortlist of schools generated by a mix of ranking, location, and other factors that are important for you– take that list and talk to each school, whether it’s faculty or alumni, to help determine whether that school is the right one for you.

Much like fit in a company, there is fit in a school as well. Things like the HEC Paris MBA’s focus and commitment to building leaders drew me into the program, but the discussions I had with admissions and alumni were what elevated the HEC Paris MBA in my eyes. A big factor I considered when choosing b-schools was how much I’d enjoy the MBA experience. After speaking with HEC Paris’ alumni, listening to their experiences, and hearing how they were still in contact with their international cohort, I decided to go to HEC Paris in September for my 16-month whirlwind adventure.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? 

HEC Paris is a 16-month program, so I’ll be nearing the end of my time at HEC Paris after one year. Success to me would be having grown as an individual, being more well-versed in the French language and culture and having an international network of friends. I will have learned more about other cultures and will be able to bring a more educated and open mindset wherever I go.