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Qibin Chen knew he always wanted to pursue a career in finance. So after graduating with a degree in financial management from the Guanghua School of Business at Peking University, China, he went to work at China International Trust and Investment Corporation (now know as China CITIC Group). After serving as a project manager and financial controller in the company's Australia sector for several years, Chen decided it was time for a change. He knew he could take a major step toward achieving his professional goals by attending graduate school in the United States. Chen chose SMU Cox because of the school's small program size, international reputation, and American Airlines Global Leadership Program.
Chen's transition from China to America did not come without challenges. But they were short lived and the Cox community helped him adjust quickly. "My first semester was challenging because I was new to this country and experienced some culture shocks," he said. "Fortunately, Cox provided an excellent environment and great resources to help me through this transitional period."
Chen was impressed that the school brought in English teachers to help international students improve their language skills, which was helpful in boosting confidence in their communications. He also benefited from the school's small, private-school environment, which offered lots of opportunity for international students to interact with the professors and American classmates.
Chen quickly came to appreciate the value of the school's finance and accounting classes. "In David Mauer's corporate finance and managerial finance classes and Jody Magliolo's financial statement analysis, I developed the advanced finance knowledge and analytical skills that I use in my current job," Chen said.
Chen also appreciated the school's approach to providing students with a global perspective on business combined with real-world international experience. "I was very impressed that Cox placed such emphasis on teaching students to conduct business with a global view," Chen said. "By participating in the American Airlines Global Leadership Program, I got a chance to visit other countries and gain firsthand knowledge from business leaders who offered unique perspectives on their regional economies, business customs and cultures."
After graduating from Cox, Chen followed the recommendation of another Cox alumnus to secure a position as a financial analyst at Behringer Harvard, a real estate investment company. He plans to stay in the United States for several more years to gain valuable experience and develop expertise in the real estate investment field.
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