Hongjian Liu

Texas Christian University Neeley School of Business

“A dedicated attorney and accountant with six years of experience in government and regulatory affairs.”

Hometown: China

Fun Fact About Yourself: I teach Chinese Martial Arts.

Undergraduate School and Major: Dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Development Studies and Finance, China Agricultural University; MPA, Tsinghua University (China); LL.M. in European and International Law, University of Hamburg (Germany)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Beijing Municipality Civil Service, Government Attorney

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of TCU Neeley’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The excellent Career Services at the TCU Neeley School of Business and outstanding career outcomes of MBA alumni were definitely a big draw for me. When I interviewed for the MBA program, I was told: “TCU Neeley will help you secure your post-MBA position from day one.” When I came to TCU Neeley, I found that to be true. Faculty and staff really care about our career success, and the MBA alumni are extremely sincere and helpful. As an international student, it is much more difficult to find a job because of language barriers, cultural differences and immigration status. Therefore, what we need (and receive) is real, personalized and intentional services to guide us through the career journey, instead of simple résumé revision services or mock interview opportunities.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at TCU Neeley, and why? You will find it difficult to find a school that better supports its students academically, from a professional development standpoint, and in securing a future career. For example, TCU Neeley provides financial support to achieve the CFA designation including materials and course fees. The CFA program body of knowledge is embedded in the MBA curriculum, and the TCU student pass rate for the CFA is routinely double the world-wide pass rate. TCU Neeley provided financial support for me to attend the 44th National Black MBA Association Annual Conference and Expo in Atlanta. It was a great opportunity to get in front of Fortune 100 companies.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As an international student, I am the first to secure an MBA summer internship in my cohort, after only five weeks in the program! TCU is a target school for Dell Technologies, and TCU Neeley alumni are extremely supportive of current MBA students. I landed a Global Operations Supply Chain Graduate Intern position at Dell Technologies in Austin, Texas, through an on-campus recruitment event, even though I don’t have previous experience in this industry or function.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? Book: “The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills.” As an MBA student, great networking skills are a must in order to feel comfortable talking with people you’ve never meet before, which is vital for your job search.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into TCU Neeley’s MBA program? Make sure you are a good fit for the TCU Neeley MBA program. Get to know the culture, the curriculum, the experiences, and the major employers of MBA alumni, and demonstrate your passions and knowledge to the admissions team. TCU Neeley is like a family: the atmosphere here is friendly, not competitive. If you want to succeed with a bunch of smart people who look out for each other, TCU Neeley is the right place for you.

DON’T MISS MEET THE TCU NEELEY MBA CLASS OF 2024