Sophy Chen, LBS MBA Class of 2021
Age: 26
Hometown: Suzhou, China
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton School, Economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry):
4 years in a corporate development role for Payoneer, a fintech company in the cross-border payment space. I was involved in different functions, such as corporate strategy, data analytics, and financial planning and worked in both New York and Hong Kong.
Why business school? Why now?
It is exciting for me to re-enter business school at the current stage of my career, because I have accumulated a certain amount of real-world experience from work and I am more than ready to apply what I know to the classroom and share it with my classmates.
I will also gain exposure to various industries and career paths and hit the “reset” button to think through how I want to plan my professional life moving forward. Finally, peer-learning opportunities are extraordinarily important to me and I am eager to learn tremendously from my fellow classmates from diverse backgrounds.
Why LBS? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose LBS primarily because I would like to explore London and, hopefully, work here for a few years at least. I fell in love with London when I first visited the city and just cannot wait to come back to live here.
Also, as I’ve already experienced life at a US business school, I definitely would like to try a different location and get to know Europe a bit more. The network provided by LBS in London and Europe at large is the factor that influenced my decision the most.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2021?
I joined a technology startup fresh out of undergrad and have grown with the company for four years, witnessing the almost explosive growth in the industry, which I believe is a quite unique experience.
London is now becoming a fintech hub in Europe and an increasing number of business school graduates are aiming for positions in successful start-ups. I hope to share some reflections and takeaways from my own journey of working across different regions with the start-up and living in the tech ecosystem.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I attended an actor training and coaching school when I was about 11. I auditioned quite a bit and got to meet some of the most well-known directors in China at that time (although I ended up not finding a suitable role and I quit acting about six months later due to a busy school load).
Post-MBA career interests?
In the short term, I would be interested in management consulting or strategic planning roles, but, in the long term, I am planning to work on impact investing, either with an established fund or by starting my own venture.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Reaching out to alumni and current students to ask for their insights about different business schools. I would also recommend getting their feedback on your profile or resume as early as possible so you know where you would need to work on.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
Start the essay writing process much earlier than the deadline of the round you are aiming for. You’ll have more time to iterate ideas, reflect upon past experiences and get thoughts from people who know you well. I started the process a little late in the summer (I was applying for R1) and I actually wish I had more time to polish my ideas with more revisions.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Contemplating ideas before actually starting to write. I spent a lot of time brainstorming by myself before putting my visions into words on the paper. I feel it is crucial to get the first few drafts of your essays out as early as you can and definitely hand it to people you trust for review.
What is your initial impression of LBS’s students/culture/community?
Super diverse and truly international. Coming from an international background, I genuinely feel so comfortable fitting in this culture. Another impression is that LBS’s students are extremely nice, relaxed, and easy-going. It is effortless to strike a casual conversation with someone here on the way to school or in the hallway.
One thing you have learned about LBS that has surprised you?
Plenty of scholarship opportunities are offered to incoming students. Honestly, having studied in the US for four years, I never expected to get a scholarship for my MBA education. It was absolutely one thing that LBS does that surprised me in the most delightful way.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Juggling job-seeking, study, and social life. For me, it is like college all over again and I really need to plan my time carefully. I would like to try a bit of everything, but it is important to prioritize and evaluate trade-offs.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Traveling with my fellow classmates a lot and making new friends.
