Keshan Chen

Yale School of Management

“Using my camera and curiosity to connect people and tell our shared stories.”

Hometown: Fujian, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve been a professional photographer for 12 years.

Undergraduate School and Major: Communication University of China, Major in Television Photography

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Category Leadership Manager at Mars

The Yale School of Management is regarded as a purpose-driven program. What is your mission? How will your MBA at Yale SOM help you fulfill that mission? Growing up in a suburban grocery store in a developing country and later working at the world’s leading snacking company, I witnessed the persistent lack of healthy food options for underserved regions. This problem also reflects the general scarcity of resources dedicated to people in these areas.

I believe business can be a power to help people thrive, and Yale SOM is the perfect place for me to amplify my impact. Here, I am not only building my business foundation with an integrated curriculum that has a strong focus on Business & Society, but I am also connecting with like-minded peers. I was amazed to learn how many of my classmates share missions that benefit society in different ways. Furthermore, SOM offers dedicated resources for students who want to change the world. For example, the Internship Fund encourages us to explore the non-profit space, while programs like the Non-Profit Board Fellows and Social Impact Week give us opportunities to engage directly with the New Haven community. These comprehensive resources have convinced me that my time at SOM will be the catalyst I need to achieve my mission.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Yale SOM’s MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I am particularly drawn to the integrated curriculum of Yale SOM, which allows students to take courses across the entire Yale University system. For me, as a photographer, I am especially interested in religious arts, so I plan to take courses at the Yale Divinity School. This flexibility enables us to weave together art, humanities, and business—an integration that I could hardly get elsewhere as a business school student.

Another thing I truly appreciate is the people here. They are the most humble, caring, and collaborative community I have ever seen. One example happened during our second week of orientation: as a non-native speaker participating for the first time in an American-style classroom, I initially felt hesitant to speak up. But my classmates supported me a lot—some even texted me to encourage me to speak out loud—and I was finally able to overcome that barrier and share my insights. We celebrate each other’s successes and support one another along the way.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Yale SOM? When it comes to professional clubs, I’d say the Yale SOM Consulting Club and Tech Club are best-in-class. I already feel so supported by the meticulously designed weekly curriculum. From resume advice and networking workshops to mock interviews, they provide a solid process for anyone pivoting into a new industry. I’m also incredibly amazed by the 1-on-1 sessions that second-year students generously dedicate to helping us.

For activities, I’m really looking forward to the international programs offered by SOM. I am particularly interested in the International Experience (IE), an immersive ten-day trip designed and led by SOM. I’ve heard about past trips to Brazil and South Africa. As a curious photographer, I am super excited to join the IE to gain a deeper insight about culture and business of these destinations—something I probably couldn’t get on my own.

As for extracurricular activities, I’m excited to explore the greater New Haven and Yale University. For example, the School of Music and the School of Drama offer countless high-quality performances that Yale students can see at a great price. I’ve already signed up for two orchestra performances for next week! I’m also amazed by the world-class collection at the Yale University Art Gallery; it’s a real privilege to be a Yale student. And of course, I can’t wait for the Harvard-Yale Game this November!

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2027? Professionally, I can bring my background in the CPG industry and my leadership development program experience. Coming from a large corporation, I’d be happy to share what I’ve learned with classmates who want to explore LDP roles, and help them navigate what can sometimes feel like a pretty unstructured recruiting process.

On a personal side, I’m someone who loves connecting people and building community. And as a photographer, I enjoy capturing moments—whether big or small—that really show who we are as a group. I think that’s a nice way to bring people closer and make our SOM experience even more memorable.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At Mars, I led a cross-functional team to launch a strategic new product amid the COVID recession, achieving market share growth twice as fast as competitors and reversing the category’s decline. It was a challenging experience in a highly dynamic group setting. Sales, Marketing, Finance, R&D, and Supply colleagues all had their own perspectives and objectives. The real challenge for me was finding common ground—especially at a time when COVID caused supply instability and demanded agile adjustments—and uniting the team around a shared vision that they were willing to support.

What do you hope to do after graduation? I am exploring opportunities in consulting and technology. Both paths excite me because they allow me to apply my prior experience while also stretching beyond my functional and industry expertise. Ultimately, I want to develop a broader perspective and the skills to drive large-scale impact across different sectors.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Yale SOM’s MBA program? Trust yourself, and engage actively with the school throughout the process.

During MBA applications, you’ll receive countless pieces of advice from online communities, consultants, friends, and colleagues, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But at the end of the day, it’s you who are writing your own story and making decisions about your life. Take the time to reflect on what truly matters to you and who you are. This process of questioning and digging deeper is also a way to strengthen your inner core—and through it, you’ll eventually find your authentic voice.

In addition, make the most of Admissions activities. Personally, I found SOM’s Admissions team to be the most caring and approachable among all the schools where I applied. Their info sessions and campus visits are exceptionally high quality, and they give you a real sense of the community. So I encourage you to engage more—and if you have the chance, come to New Haven for a visit! We’ll be excited to meet you!

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.