Rachel Tsang Earns Executive MBA in Hong Kong

By Lauren Lesmeister

More than 6,000 miles from Pullman, Rachel Tsang (‘22) earned her Executive MBA in Hong Kong in the middle of a global pandemic. While she never set foot in a physical classroom, Tsang says the international education she received from the Carson College sharpened her skills and taught her much more than technical business knowledge.

“In today’s world, everything is international, and technology has made it so there are no borders,” she says.

Tsang was working in the travel retail business industry; everything was closed, and business was slowing down. She knew she needed to do something different with her downtime that would positively impact her career.

Finding the Right Fit

When researching EMBA programs, she found that most weren’t truly online, and many had recently shifted to a hybrid or online model because of the pandemic. She didn’t know how long the shutdowns would last, and she wanted to make sure she could find a program that was 100 percent online. She considered programs local to her in Hong Kong and even looked at other programs in the United States. She ultimately chose the WSU Carson College of Business.

“Knowing WSU has had an online program for such a long time gave me more trust, rather than a school that had just switched over to an online model,” she says.

With an international program in mind, Tsang had something else to consider that many don’t think about—time zones. The time change between Asia and the West Coast of the US was favorable in comparison to the East Coast. She could listen to class before her workday began with most of her classmates who were participating after their work in the US.

“The WSU program made it very easy for people like me, in Asia, to join. Other schools require a physical presence once a month. The 100 percent online program was great,” she says.

Learning more than technical skills

The education landscape had completely changed since Tsang earned her undergraduate degree in 1998. She had to get comfortable with technology quickly, go back to the routine of completing homework assignments on time, and push herself to learn about new topics and industries.

“My EMBA allowed me to pause and think beyond my work. I felt energetic to work on something completely different,” she says. “My habits totally changed. I found more opportunities to read and learn new things beyond my profession. I gained new insight on how other companies or industries work during the class discussion and homework study.”

After working as an architect for more than 20 years, Tsang became specialized in her knowledge, spending her time drawing and working on design every day. In the EMBA program, she studied areas she was unfamiliar with such as financial management, strategic planning, and managerial leadership. She gained skills in budgeting and financial forecasting and the confidence to take on a leadership role. She learned how other industries and companies do things through class discussions and case studies.

The experience of international learning helped Tsang hone her interpersonal skills. She learned about different cultures and how to work with various types of people. This was important to her as she was looking to take the next step in her career. She wanted to move into a role that was more managerial so she could practice what she learned.

Impact Beyond Her Professional Life

A year and a half after graduating, Tsang credits a career change and improved confidence to her EMBA. In her current role as head of creative for the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, she practices what she learned in the program. Now, Tsang relies on technology she hadn’t utilized in her professional career prior to the program. She practices the leadership skills and theories she learned, specifically relying on those for difficult conversations with her team.

Her scope broadened professionally as she became the head of her department, and she has continued to push herself outside of her everyday work. Tsang continued the routine of reading, now for self-improvement rather than homework.

“In the program, I gained confidence and found potential beyond my work,” she says. “Spiritually, mentally, physically, it all feels good.”