Yiyang Li

Student Experience

Class of 2015

Hometown

Nanjing

Nationnality

China

Undergradate Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, U.S.
BA, Geography, 2014

Interested Industry

Asset Management

3 Things about My Living Experience in Durham and Kunshan

Durham is recognized as one of most livable cities in the U.S. It offers lots of activities and good restaurants—an Italian and a Spanish restaurant downtown were two of my favorites.
On a typical weekend I might have Saturday brunch downtown with friends, and maybe watch a Duke football or basketball game if there was one. I might spend some time in the afternoon on assignments and then cook dinner together with friends at home or eat out. Later we might head to a party at a classmate’s apartment or go to a bar. Sunday afternoons were reserved for teamwork, either at one of Fuqua’s team rooms or at someone’s apartment.
When we lived in Kunshan, there were often social events on campus like movie or game nights. We also enjoyed some Chinese cultural activities like traveling to Hangzhou to visit a tea garden and tour West Lake. Corporate visits to places like Ant Financial were interesting excursions that provided insight into how businesses operate in China.

What I Love About My Extracurricular Activities

I served as president of the MMS Food and Beverage Club, which was a great way to meet new friends. Events like our Thanksgiving potluck dinner brought our class together and exemplified the team culture.

With the right kind of help, students can develop self-reliance. The MMS program staff are very supportive in allowing students with an entrepreneurial spirit to be self-starters. They are always on hand helping ideas and events get planned which leads to greater success.

My Favorite Class and Professor

All of them are great! However, Fundamentals of Business Economics with Professor Pino Lopomo was both my favorite class and professor. It was a really interesting course! Not only does he talk about theories, but he does a great job teaching you how economics plays out in the real world. The games and exercises that he incorporated into class provided concrete and relatable examples.

Before MMS

After MMS

A couple of months after graduation, I began working for HuaiTai Securities, one of the biggest asset management firms in China. I focus on finding and building strong portfolios for institutional and individual clients in which to invest. MMS definitely helped make this possible. Before I started the program, I knew I was interested in finance, but not which sector. Through the guidance of the Career Management Center (CMC) and using the alumni network, I found my interest in asset management. The workshop sessions and events the CMC put on are extremely helpful for getting your resume critiqued, learning how to address challenges in the job search, understanding proper interview etiquette, how to be successful during case interviews, and how to dress and approach the interview professionally. The benefits of being in the Fuqua network go beyond your time as a student. The alumni community in East Asia is large and active. Working in Shanghai, I’ve attended events organized by MBA and MMS alumni and Fuqua’s East Asia Regional Team. This is a great way to expand my network by meeting additional alumni who work in asset management and other industries.