Emma Wang

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

“I’m passionate about gaining new experiences. I value the process as well as the result.”

Hometown: Vancouver, BC

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love traveling and have been to over 30 countries and counting!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Southern California – Communication; Art

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Guusto Gifts – Director, Customer Success

What has been your favorite part of Nashville so far? Why? Having lived in large cities like Beijing and LA before moving to Nashville, I love the change of living in a smaller city where there is less traffic and nearly everything is less than a 15 min drive away, while still being able to enjoy a robust dining and entertainment scene.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I appreciated the selection of specializations and concentrations in different areas of the business and the ability to mix-and-match courses. It provides the flexibility to design the MBA experience that is best tailored to what I want to learn and the industries I want to go into.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Vanderbilt Owen? I really enjoyed the Management Communication course during mod one. Aside from learning the advanced speaking techniques, I especially enjoyed the process of getting better at my speeches through repetition and seeing my skills progress throughout the course.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Pioneering the Customer Success department at my last job was an incredible learning experience. I got to work directly with our top clients, collaborate with the head of other departments, and lead an incredible team of capable, hard-working individuals. It taught me a lot about being resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and unknowns.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? As someone who came from a background in the arts and humanities, doing well in the quant courses in mod 1 and 2 have been a personal accomplishment. Aside from that, the close friendships I’ve formed in the program have been the most meaningful. Being able to support each other through the coursework of the first two mods as well as the recruiting process has been so rewarding. I couldn’t imagine the MBA experience without them!

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? Visiting firms in Atlanta during fall immersion and exploring amazing restaurants and fun bars in the city!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far? My biggest accomplishment was leading the development of an electric bathroom product from concept to pre-production, specifically designed for the U.S. market. It was the first product tailored specifically for the U.S. market, and I collaborated closely with the engineering and design teams to ensure its success. The process involved integrating data, identifying unmet customer needs, selecting an overseas factory site, and conducting focus group discussions. One key challenge was finding the perfect product size and specifications. To address this, I didn’t rely solely on research. I flew to the U.S. within three days to ensure we met the exact requirements. The result was a product that outperformed competitors in blind tests, receiving the highest customer satisfaction scores.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? As a Student Fellow in the recruitment and admissions team, I’ve had the opportunity to meet prospective students, which has been incredibly rewarding. I genuinely enjoy coaching and mentoring prospective students, helping them navigate the MBA journey, and sharing insights about Owen. Whether it’s through email, Zoom, or in-person meetings on campus, it’s fulfilling to provide guidance and leave a positive impression about the program and community. Many of these interactions have developed into meaningful connections where we can discuss not just MBA life but broader aspirations as well.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? Being with my classmates, spending time with time on weekends have fun. One of my favorite memories is the Owen year-end party. Wrapping up the first and second mods felt like such an accomplishment, especially after a huge transition, from living in a different country to moving from work life to school life. Celebrating with my Owen friends and reflecting on how far we’ve come together made it an incredibly memorable experience.

DON’T MISS: MEET VANDERBILT OWEN’S MBA CLASS OF 2026

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