Emily Mam        

University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

“A former arts-and-crafts kid trying to survive in corporate America.”

Hometown: Oxnard, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: At one point, I was the only female barebow recurve archer on Stanford’s Archery Team (everyone else left to try compound or Olympic recurve bows).

Undergraduate School and Major: Stanford University, B.A. in Economics, Minor in Human Biology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Associate

What makes Los Angeles such a great place to earn an MBA? I’m a little bit biased, having been born and raised just outside of LA, but I think the city really has it all. I love the variety of spaces I can turn to whenever I’m not in class. Am I looking for a new trail to hike? A cozy bookstore coffee shop to peruse? Maybe an art exhibit I haven’t checked out yet? I can always find something new to do as a way to unwind and reset from the MBA coursework.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of USC Marshall’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Without a doubt, the major factor in choosing USC Marshall was the unparalleled strength of the Trojan Network. I was looking for a sense of community that would extend beyond my time on campus, and I truly believe that I found that here. From the warm welcomes from the MBA team to the random farmer’s market encounter with an alum, I’ve always been met with a smile and an enthusiastic “Fight on!” It’s not just a network to tap into; it’s a global family that I can continue to lean on.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at USC Marshall? I can’t wait to see what the Business of Entertainment Association (BEA) has in store for us. I never thought of myself as being someone in entertainment; it’s such an LA stereotype. However, I do have a deep love for the arts, pop culture, and film and TV. If I’m taking this opportunity to pursue new career opportunities, why not explore an industry where I could incorporate my hobbies into my work?

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized that USC Marshall was the right program for you? Why? I don’t think there was a precise moment when it clicked. Rather, it was like falling in love: little-by-little, then all-at-once. As I spoke to students throughout my recruitment, their enthusiasm and energy were absolutely contagious. Before I knew it, I was already picturing myself at USC Marshall. All I needed was that acceptance letter.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: To make it this far – Stanford, JP Morgan, and now USC Marshall – truly is my greatest accomplishment to date. Statistically, Cambodian-Americans have one of the lowest educational outcomes among Asian-Americans, which is to say, the odds were not in my favor. My parents were Cambodian refugees who came to this country with quite literally nothing. Since childhood, I had to navigate a new country, new cultural values, and a new education system by myself. It is thanks to my parents’ sacrifices and the support I found along the way that I am able to stand here today. I’m proud of where I am now, and I’m excited to see what the future brings.

What is your long-term career goal? Formally, the goal is to be involved in strategy in entertainment. Really, my goal is to preserve and celebrate the human spirit. When I say “human spirit,” I am referring to our desire to create, our ability to evolve and innovate, and (above all) our resilience and passion for life. Maybe this is controversial to say as a business student, but I have some concerns about the consequences of the AI revolution. How do we move forward with embracing this new technology without losing sight of what makes us human? How can we make sure that we continue to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the arts? I hope that, through my career, I can bring myself closer to an answer.

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