Cicy Xu  

Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business

“A practical strategist, a thinker for meaning, a supporter for prosperity.”

Hometown: Shanghai, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: Previously I didn’t know much about basketball, but I was so impressed by the exciting onsite atmosphere at a Chinese Basketball Association game that I organized a team-building event around, I became a big fan of it!

Undergraduate School and Major: Fudan University, Philosophy

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: PwC’s Strategy&, Associate

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I helped to develop strategy for a dairy company that achieved 20 percent revenue growth by adopting our advice. 

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Supportive. At the beginning, it was hard for me to catch all of what others were saying in small talks since English is not my first language. However, my classmates are so nice and patient. They encouraged me to speak up, to be confident in presentations, and keep clarifying with them during team discussions. That made me engaged in the community really quickly without fear of saying something stupid.

Aside from your classmates, 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 support from Fuqua alumni was the key factor for me to make the decision to come to Fuqua. Throughout the application and post-admission period, I have connected with so many outstanding alumni. They gave me a clear view of what “Team Fuqua” represents, the meaning of consequential leadership, and shared exciting personal experiences that really impressed me. I felt that I best resonate with Fuqua’s culture, and I want to be both a member of and a contributor to Fuqua.

The MBA program is renowned for its “Team Fuqua” culture, which is predicated on six paired principles: Authentic Engagement, Supportive Ambition, Collective Diversity, Impactful Stewardship, Loyal Community, and Uncompromising Integrity. Which of these resonates most with you – and what does that principle demand of you as a Fuqua MBA? Supportive Ambition best resonates with me, and this principle requires me to be empathetic as a team player. It means you should respect each other’s views and be open-minded to diverse viewpoints, be willing to share your own perspectives, and support each other’s growth in order to achieve mutual development as a whole.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The most attractive activity for me is to engage with The Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics (COLE). It will be a great way for me to develop my self-awareness and leadership skills. Initiatives such as Fuqua Talks and the Distinguished Speakers Series will help me develop a collaborative leadership style to engage better with both teams and clients, as well as to balance interests of various stakeholders in a more empathic way. It will also increase my confidence to lead more effectively in the long run. As someone who wishes to become a leader of consequence, I also want to be a COLE fellow to support more Fuqua students through mentorship.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? What features can you point to that differentiate yourself from other applicants with a consulting background?

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?  My previous consulting experience made me realize that the success of business not only depends on strategy, it also depends on implementation and feasibility. That is why I decide to pursue an MBA—to enhance my business knowledge, to better integrate strategy and operations, and to make a strategy that creates real impact for clients. Besides, I also want to develop leadership to build better relationships with teams internally and other parties externally.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Sloan, Booth, Kellogg, Haas, Ross

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The key factors I considered were cultural fit, career resources, and curriculum. I referred to the US News & World Report ranking for business schools as a whole and each concentration as well, but these are just indexes and scores. Besides just checking the school websites, I talked with alumni from each to learn about the culture. From what I gathered during info sessions, alumni talks, school events, etc., I know Fuqua can best fit my career goals in all aspects.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Deciding to study philosophy was my defining moment. Learning it helped me to understand the what, why, and how of things and explore the meaning of life. It also helped me to analyze problems in a structural way, which also benefited my consulting work.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I see myself being a general manager in a sizable startup promoting innovative business practices, driving growth and expansion, and making a real social impact that provides a more convenient and efficient lifestyle for people.

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