MBA Student Profiles

MBA PROFILES

Irene Liu Pasadena, CA One-Year Notre Dame MBA Program Class of 2009

"If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people."—This Chinese proverb's philosophy of education has been cultivated in the life of 2009 MBA candidate Irene Liu and her family. Uprooted from her home in China when she was 12 years old, Irene traveled to California and settled with her family so her father could pursue his Ph.D.

Learning from the Best

Fifteen years later, after working as an accountant in the health care industry and then in finance for Coca-Cola, Irene considered pursuing her MBA. Unsure whether to enter a one-year or two-year program, Irene found the Notre Dame faculty very helpful in the decision-making process. "I decided on the one-year program with a concentration in finance because I was already working in that area," says Irene. "I appreciate the exposure to a variety of areas such as marketing and entrepreneurship; each of us has the option of designating a focus or pursuing a more generalized course of study."

Change in China

Looking forward in the short term to a career in strategic or corporate finance in the U.S., Irene would like to return to China after gaining additional experience and knowledge. "There have been so many changes in my homeland. People are becoming wealthier and more globally aware of business opportunities. I'd love to start a consulting business, perhaps in Shanghai, China, to contribute to and make a difference in the Chinese economy," says Irene.

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