Meet the MBA Class of 2023: Roxie (Cheng) Zhang, USC (Marshall)

Roxie (Cheng) Zhang

USC, Marshall School of Business

“Enthusiastic problem solver with broad experiences in international, education, and marketing.”

Hometown: Anshan City, Liaoning Province, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a self-taught archer and I have an addiction to hosting parties.

Undergraduate School and Major:

BA, Education, Huaqiao University, China

MA, Education, USC Rossier, LA

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: South Hills Academy, International Program Director

What word best describes the Marshall MBA students you’ve met so far and why? Forward. Some are pivoting into a new industry, some are advancing their career, and some are here for the strong USC alumni network. Whatever it might be, everyone I’ve met so far has set his/her eyes forward to the future and beyond.

What makes Los Angeles such a great place to earn an MBA? Great weather, amazing food, open culture, minimum discrimination, and lots of jobs.

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? The alumni network. I completed my first Master’s Degree at USC Rossier. So I had first-hand knowledge of how strong the network was in the education industry. And moving forward with MBA, access to such a powerful network is crucial to success.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at USC Marshall? Marshall Consulting & Strategy Club. I have recently (after starting my MBA) taken up the interest to enter the consulting industry. I’m 100% in with no shopping around needed. The valuable case prep sessions and peer support from MCSC really excite me.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Generated over $4 million (personal record) for a K-12 private school and got promoted from coordinator to director within 2 years.

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? Gave me time to evaluate the comfort zone I was in and my real personal/professional goals in perspective.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? Reached the personal growth ceiling at my last job. An MBA has always been on my bucket list. With the right work experience (4-5 years) and achievements, I had a shot at the TOP business programs.

Going into the consulting industry. I will start as a generalist before finding a specialized passion.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? UCLA, NYU, Northwestern, Harvard, and Yale.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into USC Marshall’s MBA program? Get your GMAT study plan in order. Be authentic and genuine in your interview (don’t rehearse too much!). And let your awesome personality/confidence shine through all the preparation!

DON’T MISS: MEET USC MARSHALL’S MBA CLASS OF 2023

 

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