The Setting Sail Series is a collection of blog posts from graduating Career Captains that include their favorite Brandeis International Business School memories, as well as advice for incoming and returning students. In this blog post, Yuxuan Zhang, MSBA’24, affectionately nicknamed “The Blogfather” for her excellent blogging skills, pens one more masterpiece in her capacity as CSE Career Captain.
Reflecting on my time at the business school, I am filled with immense gratitude. As someone who has been part of the American education system for a considerable period, I found Brandeis to be a breath of fresh air, offering a unique and invigorating experience. I am eager to share with you the invaluable insights and knowledge I’ve gained during these fleeting 1.5 years.
– Yuxuan Zhang, MSBA’24
Remember Your Benefactors
Our time and energy are sacred resources. How and with whom we decide to spend them are extremely important.
During my short stay, I have been blessed to actively surround myself with people who are willing to grow alongside me, and those generous enough to help me ascend professionally and personally. These people entered your life at the exact time you needed them, and vice versa. Remember the memories you shared with them and the lessons you learned with or from them.
These people include your classmates who later became friends, the professor whose class sparked your love for an industry, or the alumni speaker you met during an industry trek, from whom you received your first referral. But it’s also those who challenged you, who doubted you (not maliciously), or who gave you a B instead of an A because you didn’t excel. You might initially feel negative about these experiences, but eventually, you will thank them for keeping you on your toes and preventing you from becoming complacent.
Side note: I want to stress the power of outreach.
It’s always wise to start early and build a foundation with alumni or senior students. They are often more willing to share their lessons than you might think!
The trick is that generating a strong bond takes time, so approach networking with a mindset of gratitude every time. Be present and attentive to what other people have to offer, especially in the morning, and don’t force the conversation in a specific direction. If it leads to an interview invite at the end, great! If it results in the two of you sharing a family recipe for Thanksgiving, even better! You get my point.
People who invest their time in you in any way are benefactors. The more you approach conversations this way, the more authentic you will feel, and the more grateful you will be.
Most importantly, following through is key. Remember to send your benefactors updates on LinkedIn, and if you share a close bond, don’t hesitate to send them messages. Staying connected is crucial!
Don’t compare where you don’t compete
Embarking on a graduate program can be a challenging journey, a path I’ve personally navigated just like you. The pressure often intensifies when we find ourselves amidst highly intelligent peers, leading to feelings of imposter syndrome. We tend to overestimate others’ achievements and undervalue our own skills. But the truth is – this is a common experience, shared by many of our peers. Instead of constantly seeking validation, it’s more fruitful to engage in self-reflection and personal growth.
During my first year, I too faced uncertainty about my career direction. What I learned was to establish a dual approach for guidance.
First, seek external feedback: ask others what they recognize as your strengths or what activities they see you excel in.
Then, turn inward and identify what genuinely excites you in conversations, the topics that captivate your attention the most (think of it like an internal “for you” page – like those generated by social media algorithms). When you discover an overlap between others’ perceptions and your self-assessment, explore its market viability – is it something companies value and are willing to pay for?
This approach, which I like to call a ‘career compass’, aligns closely with the Japanese concept of ‘ikigai’, meaning a sense of purpose that brings joy and fulfillment.
What I learned is that people naturally expect to excel in all facets of life, but forget that our time is finite. It is wise to hone in your superpower and fast track your career this way. So as a digital marketing enthusiast who can’t shut up about social media metrics and organic content writing, though I might partake in topic discussion of corporate finance or fixed income, during which I shouldn’t feel inferior because I’m walking a completely separate path.
Choosing to listen rather than speak in such scenarios isn’t a mark of inadequacy, but rather a demonstration of humility, contributing only as much as I can while eagerly learning from fellow experts.
Sleep well, eat well, and take a deep breath
Ah, the delightful chaos of business students crashing at the cluster at 6:00 PM – it’s a sight I wouldn’t miss for the world! And let’s not forget the epic queue outside OAASE, with everyone buzzing about for a slice of pizza or a Dunkin’ Donut (and occasionally, some exotic treats). It’s like a mini food festival every day! I imagine if I had to line up 100 photos to depict my escapades at the business school, each picture would be a snapshot of fun, food, and the occasional study session.
On that note, I want to share that a memorable part of succeeding in my master’s program included self-regulation. Over these semesters, I developed a mindset where nothing, not even an apocalypse, could intervene with my sleep schedule. I stuck to this rule strictly, with the rare exception for econometrics. And guess what? Good habits compound!
I started eating more mindfully and hitting the gym more regularly. This, in turn, reciprocally enriched my ability to focus and concentrate for longer hours on complex classes. If anyone is as obsessed with health and fitness as I am, please connect with me! I’d trek miles back just to work out in Gosman gym with you, if you wish!
And of course, let’s talk about breathing. I understand how stressful life as a master’s student can be, but here’s a little trick that has helped me maintain a calm state of mind: the 4-4-4 breathing technique. Whenever you feel anxious about public speaking, entering an exam room, or even having a difficult conversation with your partner, try this – breathe in for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 4 seconds, and slowly exhale for 4 seconds. This famous military method, used on soldiers, is incredibly effective. It helped me slow my heart rate and reminded me that I’m prepared for important upcoming events. It could help you too!
Lastly, I can’t wait to see all of you succeed at Brandeis
It has truly been an eventful and irreplaceable journey for me. I want to extend my thanks to all my professors, advisors, and fellow students for making my time at the business school so enjoyable. I would also like to express my gratitude to everyone at the Career Strategies and Engagement Center for their support over these past 1.5 years.
A special shoutout goes to my CSE supervisor, who recognized my passion and skills in writing and entrusted me with writing blogs for the CSE.
Each of you has made a significant impact on my life. I am walking away filled with confidence and gratefulness, ready to embark on my new journey somewhere in the world.
