Alvin WEI (MBA 2012): Career Transition from Engineering to Finance

Could you please introduce your learning and working experience with us?

Graduated from Suzhou University with an engineering background, I first worked at Longrich (a large Chinese local FMCG company) as a marketer. It was during that time I got to know about business finance. After work, I become extremely interested in the learning, research and investment of the stock and bond markets, which became my interest and now my career. 

Several years later, I left Longrich. In the meantime, due to my interest towards finance, especially the stock and bond markets, the idea of taking an MBA programme suddenly came up to me: I hoped to enrich my knowledge in finance, both theoretically and practically. 

I applied for the joint MBA programme of KEDGE Business School and Shanghai Jiaotong University and started the MBA learning since 2012. During the 2 years' time, I not only learnt a lot about finance, but also other necessary knowledge about corporate business. 

Meanwhile, since 2012, I worked as Senior Assistant of the chairman of Shanghai Eternal (acquired by BOBST, a Swiss Company), in charge of M&A and personal asset management for its chairman (mainly overseas assets).

What motivated you to take an MBA programme?

In fact, my first working experience at Longrich helped me know about corporate finance, which aroused my interest towards finance. For this, I am urged me to take specific courses in finance and economics. Thus, following an MBA programme seemed to be a wise choice.

Why you chose KEDGE MBA programme?

I have always wanted to take a joint and full-English MBA programme. 2 main reasons:

• For those who want to follow an MBA programme, expanding one's social network is an important part second to academic learning. A joint MBA programme can thus introduce me to the social networks of both KEDGE Business School and Shanghai Jiaotong University.
• Much preparation was done before applying for the MBA programme, especially learning the English language that I never touched after senior high school. It took me 2 or 3 years to learn perfect English. For someone who wants to explore more in finance, English would be a must, while taking a full-English MBA programme can help a lot.

Besides, by taking a joint programme established by both a French business school and a well-known Chinese university, we may know the business environment in both China and Europe. When studying cases, we may analyze from both Chinese and European angles, thus expanding our visions.

Therefore, I would suggest those who want to apply for MBA programmes to choose a joint and full-English one, if you are able to both speak and write in English.

Does KEDGE MBA help your career development? What’s the impact on your current work?

The KEDGE MBA programme has exerted a significant impact on my life. Actually, when I applied for the KEDGE MBA programme, I was a bit lost. I did not know exactly the direction for future career development, except that I had the interest towards finance. However, following the learning process, the professors who have taught us lessons guided me, while my lovely classmates inspired me a lot. I had progressively a clearer objective for the career path. It was following the MBA learning that I started to concentrate my work on finance investment and M&A.

Besides, I have successfully obtained 2 important certificates in finance: CFA and FRM (top level authoritative international certification in global financial risk management), and have recently applied for CQF (certificate in quantitative finance, world-class professional qualification in practical financial engineering) and is now waiting for the final result.

The MBA learning also trained me to develop a good reading habit: I read every day. Each year, I read more than a dozen of original English works, most of which in finance. There is a good learning atmosphere in my family, too. In leisure hours, we just read quietly, including my daughter who is now in junior high school.

What’s your plan for future career development?

As I have just mentioned, the MBA learning has forged my good habit of learning, and I am now more interested in the study of finance theories. That is why I have the plan to apply for a Doctoral Programme this year. With all these years’ working experience in finance, I think it may help my future learning.

In fact, I have the plan to apply for a Doctoral programme. One main reason is that I hope to continue the learning of CQF, and to settle down to the learning and research of the application of quantification and artificial intelligence in assets management. Besides, I would also like to focus the rest of my professional career on assets management, and am recently discussing with other partners about establishing an asset management company.

Your advice for those who want to take an MBA programme/who want to be an entrepreneur?

For those who want to take an MBA programme, I have some personal advice:

• You should have good time and efficiency management abilities, which are the 2 most important aspects.
• If you are at the crossroad of your career path after so many years’ of work, I personally would suggest you to take an MBA programme: you may contact professionals from different domains, functions and companies who may inspire you, professors from both China and Europe who may guide you, and coaches who may help you in career development.

Nowadays, the situation is becoming more and more difficult for entrepreneurs. I would advise those who want to launch their entrepreneurial projects not to blindly follow the trend. One can hardly catch up with the trend but to wait! For the moment, you’d better be deeply absorbed in a specific industry and get ready for the good timing.

Contractor Entrepreneurship MBA