Carlson Scholar·23 — CHEMBA19班 刘华玲Vivian

Why did we choose CHEMBA?

We seek for a big leap in career……

We go after broader network……

We challenge our intelligence and patience limits……

No matter which reason we name, indeed, we are fighters, and we chose to make our own changes.

Knowing CHEMBA

When I heard about CHEMBA, it was fall in 2016, after I left Procter & Gamble, the great company I had worked for 14 years. It ignited my “little dream” of studying abroad. My last line manager in Procter & Gamble, Lori Ali, was one of the triggers of my “little dream”. I had many talks with her about difference between American and Chinese education system, because of some behaviors of her daughter. Back to the time I met Lori, her daughter, K, was in grade 8. She had very strong and clear idea about her future career – to become a doctor. At the same time, K was fully aware of the journey and the cost to that desire. I was amazed by her mature thoughts. During my volunteer activity in JA, I gave a simple career guide course to junior students in Sun Yan-Sen University, all the questions I got during the Q&A sections clearly illustrated that most of the ready-to-graduate students were still full of confusions about their career, their dreams, and their lives. Those outstanding differences between K and those college students triggered my curiosity to think about the uniqueness of American education system. When CHEMBA came into me, it simply became the best option for me. I can personally taste the system difference!

I Wanted Changes

I had a short experience in a HR consulting company afterwards, things frustrated me. Internally, there were many unsung rules, confusing messages across entire organization, lack of standardization in working process……; externally, I realized that most customers sought for counseling from HR perspective, but cross-fingers to solve the company mistakes in business strategy level. I needed to find out the better way to understand companies’ needs in different stages and, the true solutions for those companies. I believed I can do something differently and CHEMBA can enable me.

We Made Changes

I started the wonderful 2 and half years in an unfamiliar place, with a group of strangers. They came from different industry fields, short or tall, nice and gentle, young and active. We unleashed our potential in every aspect: We creatively performed, intensively discussed, and respectably challenged each other and even worse, we had written examination together, after graduating from university almost 20 years! I realized the devotion of CHEMBA program changed my attitude and behavior! I stepped outside of my little world, admired not only famous professors but also all my great cohorts. They showed me the wonderful diversity of personal experience, knowledge, and mastery; They demonstrated me the infinite power of collaboration and creativity; they role modelled the mind-set of being a courageous fighter! Surprisingly, my cohorts changed me in such significant way!

Friendship with Fighters

I finally figured out why we enjoyed CHEMBA program despites all those tough cases and terrible examinations, because we are fighters! We believe better future can be created by us, we are passionate to bring changes to families and society and we want to make some legacy for greater good! We are not afraid of challenges, doubt, uncertainty, and complexity, instead of fear, we grow with them, beat them and finally become a stronger and better human being! I love CHEMBA because it encouraged me to break the boundaries and explore the uncertainty, CHEMBA enabled the transformation of myself more than any trainings I had. CHEMBA gets us together to fight for a better future, join us, courageous FIGHTERS!

I treasure this 2.5 years journey so much that I would love to meet my cohorts again and again. I’m so grateful of CHEMBA program that I’d love to recommend every friend to join.