Melissa Soong

University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

“A community-driven mentor passionate about empowering stories, fostering diverse leadership, and amplifying women in business.”

Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA

Fun facts about yourself: A few weeks before starting my MBA, I competed at the 100th Miss California (Miss America Scholarship) Competition. Preparing for the pageant was both challenging and rewarding—I ended up in the Top 12 and won the Talent Award for my Swan Lake ballet en pointe performance!

I have also emceed the Valley Asian Cultural Festival for the past three years. I was part of the founding team in 2022, and the festival is now the largest Asian cultural festival in the San Fernando Valley, bringing together 2,000+ guests, vendors, and performers. I love sharing my Chinese-American heritage and celebrating culture in the community.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Northeastern University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing Analytics Concentration and Urban Studies Minor

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Publicis Sapient, AdTech Associate Product Manager

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? EY-Parthenon, Strategy & Execution Summer Consultant, Deal Management Team in Los Angeles, CA

Where will you be working after graduation? EY-Parthenon, Strategy & Execution CORE Consultant in Los Angeles, CA

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• President, Marshall Consulting & Strategy Club
• Marshall Career Services Peer Coach
• VP of Content, Marshall Golf Club
• MBA Ambassador
• 1st Place EY Case Competition
• AVP of Case Preparation, Marshall Consulting & Strategy Club
• AVP of Events, Graduate Asian Business Society

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? This past year, I had the privilege of serving as President of the Marshall Consulting & Strategy Club, the largest graduate club at Marshall. Balancing relationships with consulting firms, Career Services, and our students pushed me to grow as both a leader and a community builder. I worked closely with Marshall Career Services to strengthen consulting recruiting resources and ensure students felt prepared and supported throughout the process. One highlight was hosting our signature event, Consulting Connections, where we brought together 110 students and 40 employers for meaningful networking. Watching those coffee chats turn into lasting relationships, interview offers, and ultimately internship and full-time roles was incredibly rewarding.

By the end of the recruiting cycle, our collective efforts helped improve consulting internship offer numbers and increase average full-time consulting salaries, with greater representation across top-tier firms. More than the results, I am most proud of the community we built; one where students supported each other, shared knowledge openly, and celebrated each other’s success.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Before the MBA, I led the creation of a grocery vendor API integration that allowed consumers to move seamlessly from a recipe page directly to their shopping cart. It was a high-stakes project launched ahead of the Thanksgiving and holiday season and ultimately helped establish our client’s AdTech practice. Seeing the feature live online, and realizing I could use my own product as a consumer, was incredibly rewarding. It reinforced how thoughtful product strategy and strong cross-functional collaboration can create meaningful, real-world consumer experiences.

Why did you choose this business school? During Admitted Students Day, I saw the Trojan Network in action. Students, alumni, and faculty were incredibly generous with their time, sharing advice and stories about how Marshall helped launch their careers. I left campus feeling inspired, knowing Marshall was a place where I could grow as a leader, mentor, and community member. Two years later, that network has shaped my MBA experience in ways I could never have imagined. It pushed me to become a cheerleader, connector, and ambassador, supporting classmates as they navigate their own career journeys.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Scott Abrams has served as an incredible resource throughout my journey in the full-time MBA program. He taught both my Corporate Finance and Financial Valuations courses, which were critical for my career focus in M&A consulting. Beyond the classroom, he serves as the Full-Time MBA Academic Director at Marshall. Scott genuinely listens to students’ ideas and continually improves the curriculum to reflect evolving industry needs. His mentorship has been invaluable throughout my MBA journey, and I am so grateful!

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Coming into my MBA, I wanted to become a better storyteller and learn how to think quickly on my feet—two essential skills in consulting. My favorite course, Leadership and Improvisation, taught by Professors Kirsten Quade Eggers and Marco Aponte-Moreno, challenged us to adapt in real time, listen deeplyand respond confidently under uncertainty. Don’t get me wrong, the improv exercises can feel awkward at first, but my classmates created a supportive environment where everyone felt comfortable taking risks.

This experience reflected what I love most about Marshall, collaboration, trust, and a willingness to grow together. The course ultimately strengthened my ability to stay calm, communicate clearly, and lead effectively under pressure.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? One of my favorite experiences was traveling to Thailand for our PRIME Global Strategy course with Professor Baizhu Chen. My team partnered with the Bangchak Corporation to develop strategic recommendations related to renewable energy opportunities in Southeast Asia. Presenting our recommendations to the client and sharing dinner afterward made the experience feel incredibly real. During our travels through Singapore and Bangkok, we also connected with Marshall alumni who were eager to mentor and support current students. The experience demonstrated how global and connected the Marshall community truly is.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Play more golf! Between consulting recruiting and leading club initiatives, sometimes it was hard to find time for myself. Joining the Marshall Golf Club helped me reconnect with a sport I loved playing in high school. It’s such a great way to spend time with classmates, enjoy Los Angeles weather, and explore new restaurants after a round.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? One of the most impactful discussions in my Crisis Management course focused on how Princess Cruises responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Gordon Ho invited guest speaker Jan Swartz, a senior leader at Princess Cruises, to share firsthand insights about navigating the crisis. Learning directly from a leader who had to make real-time decisions during such an uncertain moment highlighted the importance of clear communication, empathy, and transparency during times of crisis. The discussion reinforced how critical leadership becomes when the community feels uncertain or afraid. As a business leader, it reminded me that navigating ambiguity and communicating with empathy are just as important as making strategic decisions.

What business leader do you admire most? I admire Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder and former CEO of Bumble. She built a platform that challenges traditional dynamics and empowers women to take the first step. Her leadership embodies the values I hold dear to my heart: supporting, mentoring, and empowering women in business.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? In my Project Management course with Professor Murat Biayz, we explored how to use AI as a comparison tool rather than a final answer. By comparing timeline outputs across different AI platforms, we learned to critically evaluate results and ensure our strategic thinking remains central. This approach reinforced that AI should be a tool to enhance decision-making, not replace it. Interestingly, incoming interns at EY-Parthenon also began practicing AI-enabled case interviews, demonstrating how quickly AI is shaping consulting and problem-solving.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I am constantly inspired by my peers at Marshall, but one classmate who has had a particularly meaningful impact on my journey is Jerry Xue. From the first day we worked together on our core team, I admired his intelligence, work ethic, and collaborative mindset. Beyond academics, Jerry stands out for his kindness and reliability. He was one of the first students in our class to secure his summer internship and has generously continued sharing his insights to help others break into product management. More importantly, Jerry is a natural connector who makes everyone around him feel supported. He reminded me that success in business school isn’t just about achievements, it’s about the relationships you build along the way. I strive to emulate his generosity and collaborative spirit in my own leadership.

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

1) I have always been inspired by TEDx speakers and would love the opportunity to share my own story through a talk on personal branding and career development. My goal would be to inspire young professionals to confidently share their stories and build meaningful careers.

2) Mentor and pave the way for Asian women in business, creating opportunities for representation and leadership. At EY-Parthenon, I hope to contribute to affinity groups that support mentorship and community building.

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

“Melissa Soong has been one of the most impactful members of the Class of 2026. She is thoughtful, driven, and deeply committed to helping others succeed. What stands out most about Melissa is that she combines strong leadership and professional ambition with genuine generosity toward her classmates.

As President of the Marshall Consulting & Strategy Club, the largest graduate student organization at Marshall, Melissa played a major role in strengthening the consulting community on campus. Because consulting remains one of the most important post-MBA career paths at Marshall, her leadership carried significance well beyond the club itself. She worked closely with students, alumni, firms, and Marshall Career Services to improve recruiting preparation and outcomes, while also helping create a more collaborative and supportive culture. Under her leadership, the club expanded programming, mentorship, and interview preparation at a significant scale, helping students navigate one of the most demanding recruiting paths in the MBA experience. She led this large and complex student organization with impressive professionalism, bringing structure, discipline, and a strong focus on student outcomes. Melissa was not simply overseeing club operations. She was helping shape an important part of the student experience for many of her peers.

Melissa’s impact went well beyond her formal leadership role. As a Peer Coach, she devoted significant time to helping classmates with resumes, recruiting strategy, and case preparation. She also served as an MBA Ambassador, helping prospective students navigate the admissions process, and contributed to broader community-building efforts across the program. Melissa consistently invested in the success of others, both through formal leadership and through the day-to-day support she offered her peers. She is the kind of student who consistently shows up for others, and that has made a real difference in our community.

Professionally, Melissa has had an outstanding MBA journey. She successfully pivoted from product management and marketing technology at Publicis Sapient into consulting, earned first place in the EY MBA Case Competition, interned with EY-Parthenon, and will return there full-time after graduation. That is an impressive transition and reflects both her analytical ability and her willingness to stretch beyond her prior experience. She has approached business school with real purpose, and the results speak for themselves.

Throughout her time at Marshall, Melissa has brought warmth, maturity, and authenticity to everything she does. She is passionate about mentorship, women in business, and creating opportunities for others. She has been an invaluable part of the Marshall community, and I am confident she will continue to make an impact in her career and beyond.”

Scott Abrams
Academic Director, Full-Time MBA Program
Professor of Clinical Finance and Business Economics
USC Marshall School of Business

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