Thao’s journey to UHart was challenging yet rewarding, she recalls. With an undergraduate degree in English language teaching, she made a career pivot when taking a the role of a sales coordinator in a guitar making and selling factory.
After that she worked for four years in the role of a project manager at Taekwang Vina Company, a partner of Nike corporation. Alongside her career, she devoted herself to the community work, co-leading a non-profit organization that undertook musical dramas, charity, and education in Vietnam from 2010-2020.
In those roles, she came up with important questions related to human, organizational, and project management of which she wished to gain a more profound understanding. Therefore, she believed it was time for her go back to study. Unfortunately, most of the MBA programs in the U.S. that she knew of required an undergraduate degree related to business administration and/or GMAT/SAT scores which she could not provide.
One day, thanks to coming across the UHart alumni in Vietnam, Thao learned about the Barney School of Business, which was flexible enough to allow her to apply for an MBA program, provided she had relevant work experience. She later happily found out that the Barney School was among the 5% of business schools worldwide accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). Thao was impressed by the curriculum which covered important areas of business administration and allowed students to add three optional subjects. She was also excited when reading about the clubs and events at the University for learning, socialization, entertainment, physical, and mental fitness.
Life at UHart
At UHart, Thao has had wonderful experiences which she did not think would be possible before she arrived. As an international student, she encountered challenges in her enrollment and onboarding processes. Fortunately, the UHart’s International Pathway Program (IPP) got in touch with her and organized weekly virtual meetings to successfully guide her through the enrollment process while she was still in her home country. When she arrived in the U.S., the IPP continued to organize weekly meetings and social activities, including trips and dinners, which helped her to settle down and quickly adapt to the new environment at the University and in a new country.
Without an academic background in business management, the MBA program seemed to be a real challenge for Thao. However, with a strong determination and thanks to the support of the faculty, Thao received a GPA of 4.0 for every single course that she took in the first semester.
Another rewarding experience for Thao was the amazing opportunity to work in the role of a graduate assistant at the Faculty of Education. When being told about the job advert by a friend, she was at first reluctant to apply. Thao recalled what she told herself at that time: “Who would bother hiring me, a Vietnamese young girl who has no relevant experience and has just come to the US for a few months?” But luckily she overcame that self-doubt, went to apply for the role, went through the interview, and finally got the job. This, again, confirmed her belief that nothing was impossible if she tried. She also appreciated the approach of flexibility, openness, and fairness she found at UHart, Faculty of Education, and the Barney School.
From UHart to career
Apart from gaining more confidence in herself, Thao found that the MBA program is training her with practical skills, such as human management, leadership, finance and sales planning, supply chain management, marketing, and public relations. These skills will enable her to work efficiently in her future career, as well as bring her closer to her dream of opening her own educational business. She wants to combine the business skills learned at UHart with the soft skills she already has and integrate them into the educational programs in her home country for disadvantaged children.
Advice to coming students
“Nothing is easy, yet nothing is impossible” is Thao’s message to coming international students. She encourages future students to believe that good people and knowledgeable faculty will surround them at UHart. She hopes they will – like her – find UHart a community of great people and great thinkers where they can realize their goals and pursue them.
Thao Thanh Hoang, MBA, Barney School of BusinessNothing is easy, yet nothing is impossible.