Sheena Ma

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

“Trader by training, a mountain explorer at heart, and advocate for financing renewable energy where it’s needed most.”

Hometown: Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: I interned on an organic farm on Big Island, Hawaii to produce and sell delicious tropical fruits, vegetables, Kona coffee, and macadamia nuts at the farmer’s market

Undergraduate School and Major: Duke University, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: HSBC, Foreign Exchange Options Trading Associate

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the Wharton School’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Wharton’s holistic ecosystem for climate impact drew me in. The Business, Energy, Environment, and Sustainability major, taught by leading researchers, will expose me to the latest trends in the energy industry. Fellowships through the Social Impact Initiative and an embedded impact-investing culture within Wharton’s finance strength make it the ideal place to align business with climate solutions.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at the Wharton School? The Outdoors Club! Over the past five years, I’ve practiced mountaineering across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. I can’t wait to bring my gear, experience, and love for the outdoors to new treks with classmates. For me, mountaineering is about resilience and teamwork — values that I look forward to carrying into the Wharton community.

When you think of the Wharton School, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? ‘Connection’. As the oldest business school in the world, Wharton has had generations to build an expansive network of students and alumni across industries, locations, and roles. But it’s more than just size—it’s a community that actively shares knowledge, opportunities, and support.

What makes Philadelphia a great place to earn an MBA? Philly is an underrated city with diverse cultural, food, and historical scenes that create a great environment for MBA students to connect and socialize. Beyond the city’s base of companies and start-ups, its location provides easy access to New York and D.C., which opens doors to networking and career opportunities across multiple industries.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As a foreign exchange options trader in London, I provided liquidity for global clients with diverse currency hedging and betting needs. But my proudest accomplishment was leading the design of HSBC Global Markets’ Climate Science e-course, now required for 20,000 employees worldwide. The program helps colleagues better understand climate change and how it shapes HSBC’s decision-making and business strategy. For me, this proved that even in a fast-paced, high-pressure financial environment, it’s possible to drive meaningful change.

What is your biggest passion – and how has it helped you make an impact? My biggest passion is tackling climate change through practical, community-driven projects. Whether it was helping a London-based rooftop solar enterprise design financing models or volunteering as a composting ambassador for New York’s Department of Sanitation, I’ve seen how grassroots actions can build momentum for big change and empower financially viable solutions.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? After Wharton, my short-term goal is to transition into renewable energy investing focused on emerging markets. I hope to help these regions leapfrog past fossil fuels to meet the dual challenge of powering economic development while building long-term climate resilience.  Longer term, I hope to expand into investing in diverse climate technologies — from agriculture to energy storage

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Wharton School’s MBA program? My advice is to be authentic and clear about the impact you want to make at Wharton and afterwards. Wharton values people who bring diverse experiences and a genuine sense of purpose. So show how you’ve already taken steps toward the path you want to pursue, and then articulate how Wharton’s resources can help you bridge the gap to get there.

DON’T MISS: MEET WHARTON’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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