S2E6 - Saying Yes to Opportunities w/ Part-Time Hybrid Student Kimberly Chan

Humans of Tepper

Welcome to another episode of Humans of Tepper with your hosts, Ben and Kara. Joining us today, Kimberly Chan is a part-time, online, hybrid MBA student and Class of 2022. Beyond being a student at Tepper, Kim is an avid learner, and she applies that curiosity to everything she does in life. That curiosity is what ultimately led her to pivot her career from Operations into the Marketing Field.

One thing that drove her to Tepper was the location. She worked several years in a position that involved a lot of travel, and she enjoyed that time seeing much of the world. However, she missed out on a lot of family milestones. She needed a school where she could go part-time, keep her job, stay close to her family, and be part of a program where she'd get the best experience. The people who go to Tepper are serious about getting to know one another and building relationships. There is such dedication to learning at Tepper, which Kim didn't see in many other schools.

Kim wanted a program that would allow her to continue to work, and that's what she found most attractive about Tepper's part-time programs. You're remote most of the semester, but you come to campus once every few months for Access Weekend. During that time, no matter what class you're in, everyone comes together on campus to attend courses and spend time getting to know each other. Kim has had great interactions remotely, but nothing beats having the ability to meet face-to-face.

Kim is also the First Marketing Officer of the part-time GBA. The Graduate Business Association, or GBA, works as a conduit for the students and staff administration and acts as a voice for part-time students within Tepper. Being on the board means making recommendations as to how the school can improve the experience of their part-time students. In prior years, the part-time program was a lot smaller, and when Kim came into her role on the board, it was clear they needed a lot more representatives to act as the voice and bridge the gap between part-time students, full-time students, and faculty.

Lastly, Kim advises incoming students to say "yes" more often. Tepper is a great place to be and will present you with a lot of opportunities. Of course, you won't be able to say yes to all of them, but try to say yes to as many as you can. You'll meet a lot of people who will surprise you, and you'll find yourself doing things you never thought you'd ever do.

What You Will Learn:

1. Background on Kimberly Chan and what drew her to Tepper
2. How the Graduate Business Association works to represent part-time students
3. How to make the most out of your Tepper experience