Lantao Wu

“World explorer”

Hometown: China, Sichuan

Fun Fact About Yourself: Experienced 50 meters bungee jumping

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Edinburgh, M.S. Signal Processing; University of Central Lancashire, B.E. Electronic Engineering;

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Lenovo, Product Manager

What has been your favorite part of the Twin Cities so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA?

My favorite aspects of the Twin Cities are the convenient transportation and the proximity of Fortune 500 companies. As an international student without a car, I find that public transportation easily takes me to the places I need to go for my studies. Additionally, the close location of these companies to campus, combined with the accessible transportation options, makes it easy to connect with local Fortune 500 firms.

Carlson MBAs spend a year in hands-on Enterprise programs for Consulting, Branding, Ventures, and Funds. Which program do you intend to enroll in? What excites most about your Enterprise program?

I have decided to join Ventures Enterprise, and I am excited about the opportunity to work with local startup companies. This experience will allow me to gain hands-on involvement in various roles, including marketing, product management, and strategy. My goal after graduation is to become a product manager in the tech industry. As a product manager, I need to learn how to transform vague ideas into concrete products through effective product design and marketing strategies. I believe that Ventures Enterprise experiences will help me acquire valuable skills relevant to that role before I begin my internship and full-time job.

Aside from your classmates, experiential learning, and location, what was the key part of the Carlson MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? 

A small cohort is one of the main reasons I chose Carlson. It allows me to connect with all the second-year and first-year students, as well as the professors and faculty. As an international student, I feel truly welcomed and part of the Carlson family. Staying close to everyone gives me the opportunity to build meaningful, long-term friendships, which I believe is the most valuable part of my journey. The knowledge we gain might fade over time, but the relationships we build will last forever.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

Designed the world’s first radar doorbell and China’s first dual video doorbell.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:

I proactively participated in numerous fun events and clubs during my MBA while successfully balancing my studies.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far?

In October, I joined first-year and second-year students for a hiking and camping trip in the Minnesota countryside. We pitched tents together, admired the golden leaves by the lakeside, and gazed at the stars at night. It was one of my favorite journeys.