Yida Wu

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College

“Gas car fanatic turning EV believer, animal lover with a dog and a cat.”

Hometown: Shenzhen, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a die-hard stick shift car driver.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Tesla, China Inside Sales Manager

What has been your first impression of the Tuck MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Tuck story so far. In 2019, I started “window-shopping” different MBA programs by attending offline admission events. I knew Tuck has a relatively small alumni network in China, so I did not expect many Tuckies would come. But surprisingly, 16 alumni showed up, and they soon turned this admission event to their own mini reunion—people became familiar with each other quickly even though class years ranged from T’98 to T’18. That was not happening in any other MBA program’s events I attended. At that point, I understood that the “Tuck Fabric” and close-knit community were not some PR words, but the real Tuck vibe.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The unique culture and values really distinguish Tuck from other MBA programs. Humble, reflective, and encouraging, it’s a place we self-select into and gradually learn the effects as we are brought into the community. A place that creates a positive cycle where you find yourself suddenly helping and greeting others, because you received that along your journey.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Dartmouth Tuck? The “Outward Bound” sailing trip. This signature pre-term program has more than 30 years of history at Tuck. Eight students as a group (with two instructors) take aboard a 30-foot sailboat, sailing (and mostly rowing) to take an expedition among pristine islands off the Maine coast. Living on a primitive boat for five days means a lot of physical and mental challenges, but it was also a great opportunity to deeply self-reflect, bond with your crew, and gain confidence over accomplishing what you have never done before.

What excites you the most about coming to live in Hanover? What is the one activity you can’t wait to do? I can ski all winter!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Led the product launch for Model X and the initial sales campaign for Model 3 in the China market.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? Read as many books as you can, regardless of the topic, because you won’t have much time to do this once the recruiting process starts.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I found myself “trapped” in a specific business function, and an MBA is a best way out to gain comprehensive business knowledge. My post-MBA direction is management consulting.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Chicago Booth, Michigan Ross, Duke Fuqua, Cornell Johnson

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA program? Get your GMAT score as high as possible. If you are not comfortable with GMAT, switch to GRE. Try to have a personal feeling of the “Tuck Fabric” by talking with students, alumni and visiting the campus.

DON’T MISS: MEET DARTMOUTH TUCK’S MBA CLASS OF 2024