Fanny Ching
OneMBA Class of 2007, CUHK
Monsanto Company, China
Finance Lead, Greater China Region
Career Goal
My goal is to be a strong business partner who drives organizational change and increases company value. To do that, I wanted to build my leadership skills so I can more effectively share my technical know-how and experience with others.
Growth in Leadership Skills
OneMBA allowed me to test new behaviors in a low-risk environment. Our OneMBA global teams faced the same challenges as global teams in the real world; we had to adapt to each other’s cultural and work styles.
I learned to observe my teammates’ values and backgrounds so I could effectively communicate with them and move projects forward. And like many Asians, I do not react to new ideas as quickly as Americans or Europeans. I need time to consolidate my thoughts and check the logic before I bring up a point. I learned to present my ideas early in meetings and to write a summary email with my conclusions afterwards. This allowed my team to know that even if I was quiet during the call, I was listening and forming my own ideas and suggestions.
Going to school while working gave me the chance to apply my learning. At Newell Rubbermaid, we are changing our emphasis from manufacturing to marketing. So the theories and projects from our marketing course were applicable to my job as Finance Director for the Asia Pacific region. Now when our Marketing Directors bring up any idea, I have the knowledge and leadership skills to challenge them and ask the right questions. They feel that we are on the same wavelength, and this has helped me a lot in gaining their respect and confidence.
The OneMBA Difference
I was initially attracted to OneMBA’s focus on globalization and training global executive leaders. But beyond that, OneMBA also emphasizes corporate social responsibility. During the European residency, we studied the benefits and challenges of corporate sustainability practices. In Latin America, we saw first-hand how organizations were working to create a stronger local economy by improving the welfare of the poor. I don’t think you would find this emphasis in a typical MBA program. That’s what impressed me most about OneMBA.