Huaiyao (Shawn) Qiu

HEC Paris

“Romantic soul in a rational shell.”

Hometown: Shenzhen, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: My personality test told me I was a rational introvert a few years ago, but I eventually found out that people matter the most to me in my life.

Undergraduate School and Major:
University of Michigan, Industrial and Operations Engineering
Graduate School and Major: Columbia University, Management and Science Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Bloomberg, Data Analyst II

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of HEC Paris’ MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? HEC’s reputation domestically. I have a clear goal to work in France after graduation. I consulted many French friends regarding the reputation of HEC and it is regarded as the BEST business school in France. I know there are other business schools that are more famous globally, but this factor is less important for achieving my goal.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at HEC Paris? I am interested in Hi! Paris initiative by HEC’s partnership with IP Paris. I am interested in knowing more about the growth of AI and technology in Europe and how these schools including HEC going to impact the future directions.

HEC Paris is just 17 kilometers from Paris. What do you see as the best part of earning your MBA so close to Paris? Paris is an epitome of cultures, arts, and history. It’s hard to not fall in love with such a magnificent city because of its natural scenery and human masterpieces. It is the best example of what humans can leave to the world to showcase our wisdom and hard work. Being close to Paris, I constantly remind myself of the spirit of perfection. I hope I can also be inspired and have my own chapter in Paris one day.

Historically, over 90% of HEC Paris’ MBA students hail from outside France. Why is exposure to global diversity so critical to business success? I worked in New York for half a year and Hong Kong for 4 years. During this time, I met people around the world. From them, I learned so much – way more than I can possibly imagine. People from different backgrounds have their ways of practice, communication, and experiences. I love to understand and challenge them on how we can improve based on what we know. Thousands of years ago, philosophers found wisdom by holding intellectual conversations and exchanging their perspectives. Today, the world is much more connected and thus we can achieve way more than before by interacting with each other.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I turned a small project of data analytics into a cross-office program and finally an APAC business plan strategy. I am proud of it, not because of the depth of technology used in the project but because of the communications and strategic thinking I put in place over years to make it finally happen.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? I am currently reading a book called How to Control Your Anger Before it controls you. The books talked about how we can use a technique called Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to control our anger or anxiety. The technique is based on stoicism. I found it interesting and helpful. In general, I recommend prospective MBAs books about philosophy or psychology. I think to be at the management level, we need high emotional intelligence, and it is not easy. Fortunately, we have the “fruits” in books waiting for us to capture.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into HEC Paris’s\ MBA program? From my perspective, gaining admission to any MBA program is a two-way choice. It is the same for finding jobs or partners. The best may not the best fitted. You have to understand yourself, which means your skills, portfolios, and goals. And, you need to know clearly what HEC provides and how HEC going to help you for achieving your goals. Finally, it is important to know what you can bring to HEC, basically why HEC should take you. Like business or relationships in life, it needs to be a win-win for other people to enter a contract with you. If you find the click and match with HEC MBA offerings, you would be able to get admission. To get there, you need to think deeply about this decision and know yourself and the school well.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE HEC PARIS MBA CLASS OF 2024