Edith Wang

Arizona State University, W. P. Carey School of Business

“Strategic thinker, lifelong learner, and builder who enjoys turning complex problems into practical solutions.”

Hometown: Shandong, China

Fun fact about yourself: Proud Jeep Wrangler enthusiast who loves exploring and lives by the motto, “Go anywhere, do anything.”

Undergraduate School and Degree: York University (The Schulich School of Business) Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting & Finance

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Citibank Canada — Senior Portfolio Manager, Technology

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? Ecolab — Saint Paul, Minnesota

Where will you be working after graduation? Ecolab – Finance (Return offer); also continuing to build AskTaxly AI (Founder).

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

President, Women’s Leadership Association (WLA), 2025–2026

First-Year Representative, Women’s Leadership Association (WLA), 2024–2025

Award Recipient, W. P. Carey Net Impact Investor

Award Recipient, Global Innovation Competition, J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute (ASU)

Volunteer, Feed My Starving Children

Recipient, W. P. Carey Merit Scholarship

Forté Fellow

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? One achievement I am most proud of during my MBA is building AskTaxly AI, a platform designed to simplify complex cross-border tax filing for tax firms and globally mobile professionals.

Coming into the program with a background in finance and technology, I was interested in how emerging AI tools could help structure complex professional knowledge. Through my MBA concentration in Artificial Intelligence, I deepened my understanding of how data, automation, and machine learning can support decision-making in real business contexts.

The strong focus on AI in the W. P. Carey curriculum, along with support from faculty and the broader ASU entrepreneurship ecosystem, encouraged me to turn this idea into an early prototype. Programs such as Venture Devils and conversations with mentors helped me refine the concept and explore how AI could translate professional expertise into scalable tools.

This experience reinforced my goal of working at the intersection of finance, technology, and AI, building solutions that simplify complex systems and make professional knowledge more accessible.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One achievement I am most proud of in my professional career is founding and building IDEA Lab Kids East Oakville, a STEAM education center that brings hands-on technology learning to children in the community.

Growing the center required building and leading a strong instructional team while ensuring consistent program quality. Over time, the team expanded to more than 20 instructors, and the programs consistently received strong feedback from students and parents.

What makes this experience most meaningful to me is seeing the direct impact on students and the community. Watching children gain confidence through robotics, coding, and creative problem-solving reinforced my belief that early exposure to technology can shape how the next generation learns and innovates.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose W. P. Carey because of its strong commitment to innovation and the early integration of artificial intelligence into the MBA curriculum.

As someone coming from a finance and technology background, I wanted a program that was not only discussing AI conceptually, but actively incorporating it into business education. W. P. Carey stood out as one of the few MBA programs offering a dedicated Artificial Intelligence concentration, signaling that the school recognized how transformative these technologies would be for business.

Equally important was the broader culture of experimentation and innovation at ASU. The university encourages students to explore new ideas, work across disciplines, and apply emerging technologies to real-world problems. That environment made it clear to me that this was a place where I could both deepen my understanding of AI and explore new ways to apply it in practice.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? One of my favorite MBA professors was Amy Hillman, who taught our Strategic Management course and previously served as Dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business. What stood out to me was not only her depth of knowledge in strategy, but also her ability to challenge students to think critically about complex business decisions.

In class, she consistently pushed us to move beyond surface-level analysis and consider the broader strategic implications of leadership choices. Her teaching style encouraged thoughtful discussion and helped us develop a more structured way of thinking about strategy.

Beyond the classroom, she also helped strengthen connections between students and industry leaders through initiatives such as Executive Connections and Dine & Discuss, which created meaningful opportunities for students to engage directly with executives and learn from their experiences.

Her combination of intellectual rigor, strategic insight, and genuine support for students made a lasting impression on my MBA experience.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? One thing I really appreciated about the W. P. Carey MBA program is how practical the curriculum is, especially in how it integrates data and emerging technologies into business education.

Some of my favorite courses were Decision Making with Data Analytics, AI in Business, and several other AI-focused classes. What made these courses particularly valuable was the balance between big-picture thinking and hands-on projects. Rather than focusing only on theory, we actually used tools such as Azure and large language models (LLMs) to analyze data and experiment with AI applications in real business scenarios. It was interesting to see how quickly these tools evolve. The curriculum is reviewed and updated frequently, and even students in the following cohort are already learning new technologies.

That combination of practical exposure and strategic perspective made these courses some of the most impactful parts of my MBA experience.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? One of my favorite MBA experiences was the fully sponsored international practicum offered through the program. Over the course of a semester, we studied global innovation and business environments before traveling to Hong Kong for the in-country portion.

While there, we partnered with Hong Kong University (HKU), where we attended seminars with professors, industry leaders, and startup founders. These sessions gave us a close look at the region’s technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. We also visited local companies and had the chance to experience Hong Kong’s culture, cuisine, and business environment firsthand.

What made the program special was how it combined academic learning, industry exposure, and cultural immersion. It reflects W. P. Carey’s commitment to experiential learning and developing leaders with a global perspective.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could do one thing differently, I would probably start exploring the many resources and opportunities earlier in the program.

W. P. Carey offers an incredible amount of support. Our faculty and program team go above-and-beyond for students, and there are many resources available, from student clubs and associations to mentorship programs and startup initiatives, that provide guidance and funding.

Many students arrive at business school with a clear goal in mind, which is important. But I would also encourage future cohorts to stay open-minded and take time to explore what the program offers. Some of the most valuable experiences come from opportunities you didn’t originally plan for.

For international students especially, there is a lot to uncover. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and take advantage of the support systems around you. The more you engage with the community, the more meaningful the MBA experience becomes.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? One of the things I loved most about Tempe was the warm, sunny weather. Coming from colder climates, it was refreshing to have so many bright days throughout the year. It made it easy to stay active, meet classmates, and enjoy time outside between classes.

Another pleasant surprise was the growing variety of food options, including more-and-more great Chinese restaurants. As an international student, finding familiar flavors always makes a place feel a little more like home.

Overall, Tempe has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy for students to focus on school while also enjoying the community around them.

What business leader do you admire most? Instead of one well-known business leader, I’ve been fortunate to work with several brilliant leaders throughout my career who have influenced how I think about leadership. What I admire most about them is their ability to stay calm in complex situations, think strategically, and support their teams while making difficult decisions.

Seeing those qualities up close shaped my own perspective on leadership. It showed me that strong leadership is not just about expertise or vision, but also about judgment, integrity, and how you bring people together to solve problems.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? AI has been introduced across many courses in our program, not just in dedicated AI classes. We regularly discuss how to use tools such as large language models, custom GPTs, and AI agents to support research, analysis, and productivity. The school also hosts workshops where students share best practices and experiment with new tools as the technology evolves.

One insight I gained is that the value of AI comes from how thoughtfully you use it. The technology can accelerate learning and analysis, but the real advantage comes from asking better questions and applying judgment to the results.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Our MBA cohort is incredibly diverse, with classmates bringing strong professional experience and thoughtful perspectives from many different backgrounds.

One classmate I particularly admire is Moldir Kaliyeva. What stands out most about Moldir is her boldness and determination. She never steps back from challenges and approaches opportunities with remarkable confidence.

Her story is very inspiring. She overcame significant challenges early in her journey and worked hard to create opportunities for herself. Despite those obstacles, she excelled academically and built a successful professional career before pursuing her MBA. Hearing her journey is also a reminder that many people overcome far more than we realize, and it puts everyday challenges into perspective.

What I admire most is her courage and drive. She is never afraid to try something new, and I am truly rooting for her continued success.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

One goal on my professional bucket list is to lead large-scale technology or AI initiatives that meaningfully improve how organizations make decisions and operate. I’ve always enjoyed working at the intersection of business, technology, and strategy, and I would love to help organizations translate emerging technologies into practical impact.

Another goal is to build and scale a venture that solves a real problem. I’ve already started exploring this through my work on an AI platform focused on simplifying complex cross-border tax scenarios. Bringing an idea from concept to a product that genuinely helps people would be incredibly meaningful to me.

What made Edith such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“From the moment she entered the W. P. Carey MBA program, Edith has distinguished herself not only through academic excellence and professional achievement, but through the extraordinary way she elevates those around her.

A natural leader and trusted peer, Edith has become a steady source of encouragement and guidance for her classmates throughout their career journeys. She generously shares her time to review resumes, conduct mock interviews, and offer thoughtful advice, all while serving as a compassionate listening ear during what can often be a demanding and uncertain process. Her ability to both challenge and uplift others reflects a rare blend of emotional intelligence, resilience, and confidence. One of her classmates listed Edith as one of her most valued colleagues in getting her through the challenging job market.

Her impact extends well beyond campus. During a recent conversation at the National Black MBA Conference, a representative from her current employer shared unsolicited praise for Edith, noting that she has made a meaningful difference from day one. They described her as someone whose contributions, initiative, and leadership have already elevated the workplace. Such recognition so early in her tenure speaks volumes about her work ethic, business acumen, and character.

What truly sets Edith apart is her commitment to community. She understands that success is not achieved alone, and she actively works to ensure others succeed alongside her. Her resilience in the face of challenges, combined with her generosity toward others, embodies the spirit of both leadership and service.

Edith Wang represents the very best of W. P. Carey — excellence, integrity, impact, and heart. We are honored to nominate her as one of the Best & Brightest MBAs of 2026.

Alongside her impressive achievements, Edith embodies quiet maturity and a grounded presence that meaningfully elevates those around her. As one of the more experienced members of her class, she carries herself with confidence balanced by humility. She is consistently respectful, warm, and thoughtful in her interactions. Whether offering career guidance or contributing to the classroom, Edith shares her perspective in a kind and constructive manner that makes others feel supported rather than judged. Her calm demeanor, genuine smile, and willingness to help create a sense of reassurance within the cohort. She does not seek attention, yet her presence is deeply felt – a steady, positive force that strengthens both classroom dialogue and community culture.”

Christine De La Cerda
Assistant Director, Career Management, Career Services Center

Nitin Walia, Clinical Professor
Department of Information Systems and Faculty Director, Full-time MBA

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