Chang Deng

University of California Riverside School of Business, A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM)

“A person who understands the value of accountability through his life experiences.”

Hometown: Ningbo, China

Undergraduate School and Major: I earned my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chemistry at the University of Science and Technology of China

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: HUAWEI, Project Manager

What word best describes the UC Riverside MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far? I would use the word “helpful.” Coming from diverse backgrounds, specialties, and industries, our students and alumni are always willing to assist one other. Whether I have questions related to academics, extracurricular activities, or job searching, I can always reach out to them for help and advice.

Aside from classmates, what was the key part of UC Riverside’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Scholarship awards. As MBA students and prospective business leaders, we should all think with a financial perspective. Before applying for the MBA program, I was a working professional in a Fortune 500 company with an attractive salary and benefits package. I had to consider the trade-off of leaving my full-time role to become a full-time MBA student. However, I received a generous scholarship from UC Riverside as part of my admissions offer, making this program a very competitive opportunity for me. After some consideration and with the help of UCR faculty and alumni, I concluded that the return on investment from this MBA program would be high and provide the career advancement I seek.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at UC Riverside? Serving in the Graduate Student Ambassador program is a very precious experience. It provides me with the chance to meet a broad range of people from the university and business, to cultivate leadership and communication skills, and contribute my experience and knowledge to others as a mentor. The program also provides me with opportunities to develop my leadership skills, expand my network, and give back to my community. As an ambassador, I have led career development workshops for my peers, participated in volunteer work with AGSM—including a festival for local children—and mentored undergraduate students. These meaningful activities enrich my life here.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Before starting my MBA at UCR, I was a highly accomplished project manager in a Fortune 500 company. I spearheaded a core project for NFV Volte and 5G, and completed it in a short period of time, exceeding quality parameters, which resulted in exceptionally high client ratings by the Unicom group. Consequently, I received the Excellent New Staff of Global Technical Service Award.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? My biggest accomplishment so far is that I have excelled academically in my MBA program while being involved in many professional organizations. I have had a truly immersive experience in all aspects of my student life during my time at UC Riverside. For example, I earned a perfect score on a midterm while enrolled in five classes, participating in the Graduate Student Ambassador program’s professional development and mentorship committees, and participating in the Chinese Scholars Student Association marketing team. I am very proud of this great start and look forward to the many things ahead!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? After graduation, I plan to start a business within the Internet of Things (IoT) industry, which I believe is the key to the next industrial revolution. Manufacturers are always eager to improve productivity and reduce costs. With the trend of consumption upgrading, there is strong consumer demand for high-end, high-quality, and health-related IoT home appliances. I am determined to accelerate the transformation and upgrade of the IoT industry by selling individual products and providing IoT solutions with a focus on remote health care and improving elderly people’s lives in the consumer and business sectors. I wish to help factory owners in developing countries with automation upgrades by developing hardware to software. In my previous role, I acquired management experience, and I want to expand my knowledge in supply chain, information systems, and human resources. Pursuing an MBA is the perfect steppingstone to gain the business education I need and develop a larger professional network.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into UC Riverside’s MBA program? Be yourself, plan wisely, and work hard.

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