Karen Fang

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“Fair, fairly funny, and just courageous enough to try almost anything at least once.”

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Fun Fact About Yourself:

Undergraduate School and Major: Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Architectural Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Turner & Townsend, Senior Consultant

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Cornell’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? From the curriculum to the professional clubs, the approach was extremely hands-on, thoughtfully designed, and continuously refined to ensure student success in a dynamic and ever-changing landscape. It’s a well-established and carefully maintained system where I can truly see myself thriving.

What excites you the most about living in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region? What excites me most about living in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region is the opportunity to hike scenic trails, explore local parks, shop at farmers’ markets, visit wineries, try new cafes and restaurants downtown (super pumped to have a Paris Baguette in walking distance), and see dairy cows! Ithaca is the smallest town I’ve ever lived in, and I’m both curious and excited to immerse myself in the local community.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Cornell? I’m most excited about the Strategy and Consulting Immersion in the second semester of the first year. Everything I’ve learned about this unique offering at Cornell Johnson reinforces my belief that it’s a game-changer, especially for career pivoters targeting consulting or consulting-adjacent roles. With its strong emphasis on real-world application and a proven track record of preparing students to excel in their summer internships (and secure the coveted return offer), I believe that the Immersion offers a results-driven experience that will significantly improve my ability to achieve my professional goals.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2027? Why? By nature, I am logical, methodical, and typically take an analytical approach to decision-making, supported by strong organizational and efficiency skills. My professional experience as a project manager has honed my ability to connect disparate pieces of information, see the bigger picture, identify critical gaps, and proactively develop mitigations. I also excel at stakeholder management, bringing together diverse perspectives in a structured and collaborative way that ensures everyone has a voice.

I’m also very accustomed to working with groups that have differing values and priorities, such as bridging the gap between “dreamers” (architects) and “doers” (engineers), coaxing out compromises, and creating win-win solutions. This skill will be especially valuable in an MBA environment, where classes are intentionally curated to bring together individuals from varied backgrounds, each offering unique insights and priorities. My ability to synthesize these differing viewpoints and align them toward common goals will enable me to make meaningful contributions to the Class of 2027’s collaborative learning experience.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishment to date is completing the planning phase of a multi-billion-dollar capital program at Toronto Pearson International Airport, designed to accommodate an additional 15 million annual passengers. This phase involved critical decision-making that required synthesizing stakeholder input from all levels, from the ground up to the C-suite. I learned to tailor communication to suit diverse audiences and navigate a complex environment with varying—sometimes conflicting—priorities, all while working toward a shared goal. The key to my success was the personal relationships and trust I had built with both peers and senior leaders, which often played a crucial role in quickly securing buy-in and fostering a highly collaborative environment.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? In two years, a successful MBA experience would include building an extensive, global professional and personal network that opens doors to new opportunities, completing an impactful internship with a return offer, and learning from experiences that will serve me well throughout my career. Moreover, I would develop the confidence to lead and sharpen my business acumen so that I can engage with and influence other leaders. Ultimately, I would be in a consulting role with a steep learning curve, sufficient support, a clear path for progression, and opportunities to do meaningful work that improves people’s everyday lives.

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