Meet Ohio State’s MBA Class Of 2019

Huy Dang Nguyen

Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A mesh between professionalism and punny dad jokes.

Hometown:

Columbus, Ohio

Binh Gia, Vietnam

Fun Fact About Yourself: I can’t roll my R’s but I have learned to fake it.

Undergraduate School and Major:

The Ohio State University, Chemical Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

solutionX LLC: Owner and Founder

Schlumberger: Field Engineer, Directional Driller

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment was developing a prototype for mitigating the risks of esophageal cancer among Asian demographics.  I was introduced to this problem during a molecular genetics lecture at The Ohio State University and again, when my father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

My curiosity led me through an unusual path for developing a solution.  I dedicated my remaining undergraduate years researching and once I started working, I spent any free time during sixteen-hour work days on drilling rigs prototyping. Eventually developing a prototype, I took this prototype, all the translatable skills I had acquired, and the capital I had built up to execute my solution. I left my company and went directly to the source; I moved to Vietnam and spent several months learning about and studying the risks.  At the end of those several months, I left with a successful working prototype.

The Ohio State University has brought my career full circle; beginning as an undergraduate learning about esophageal cancer and continuing as an entrepreneur in the Fisher MBA program, I am in the position, like all Fisher candidates to do even greater things.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Understand yourself! Once you truly grasp all the wonderful things that you can offer, the areas you want to improve on, and your end goal, the application process becomes simplified; your story becomes more fluid, your list of schools is narrowed down, and you will confidently handle anything that is admissions related. Through enough reflection, you will understand that your story is unique and that your unique story will guide you along the application process.

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?  The key factor leading me to Fisher is the supportive culture that I received throughout the application process. I never felt like a stranger and everyone, including the professors, went above and beyond to make sure I received what I needed or connected me with an expert who could help.  It was and is a strong representation of The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and the Midwest. This aspect of Fisher is very infectious and thrives among fellow classmates, creating an environment that truly induces success.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? I would consider my experiences at Fisher as a success if I can wholeheartedly say that I gave 100% of my effort towards the program while having no regrets.  This would entail that I pushed myself out of my comfort zones, developed leadership skills that I lacked or was missing, and welcomed the Fisher faculty, staff, and student body into my family. Ultimately, I would be the best version of myself equipped with the experiences, skills, and support to tackle the next part of my life.

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