Each week, JWMI profiles students and alumni in its new featured series “Winning Voices.” Learn about our diverse community and what sets our program apart from those who have experienced it. For more great “Winning Voices” content, click here.
Vanbin Fan
Product Director
WBF Exchange
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR ROLE AT THE WBF EXCHANGE.
WBF Exchange is one of the world’s Top 20 cryptocurrency exchanges. I am in charge of the product team, design team, and data analysis team. I believe cryptocurrency and blockchain will improve the lives of global citizens and hope to craft a user-friendly leading exchange soon.
HOW HAS THE JWMI CURRICULUM HELPED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
I was promoted from User Research Team Leader to Manager to Senior Manager in an E-commerce company, Weidian. In 2018, I joined Huobi, the #2 cryptocurrency exchange in the world. I was promoted to User Research Director. Recently, I successfully changed my career from a functional B-position (User Research) to a product management A-position (Product Director). It is not only a more significant position but is also within an industry that I’m passionate about.
In the last three years, since I started my MBA, my salary has grown by nearly 100%. I am astonished by my change when I sum up what happened in such a short time. It’s a wonderful journey! But most importantly, it allows me to choose a top education environment for my son!
WHY WERE YOU LOOKING TO GET AN MBA?
When I worked at Weidian in 2016, I met a leadership coach, Savio Guang, who came from Alibaba Group and previously worked at GE. I admired Savio’s strong leadership background and knew he was mentored at GE using Jack Welch’s principles. I began to read Jack’s books and learned of the JWMI program in The Real-Life MBA. I knew the JWMI program could provide me with business and leadership skills based on Jack’s core philosophies.
DID YOU FIND THE CURRICULUM WAS IMMEDIATELY APPLICABLE?
The most significant honor in the last three years has been the ability to grow several all-star teams. Courses like Leadership in the 21st Century, People Management, Organizational Change, and Communications & Executive Presence combined to help me become an effective leader. The lessons were immediately applicable in my career.
JWMI also allowed me to shift from a “professional view” to a “business view”. I worked as a UX practitioner for ten years. However, I didn’t know how other departments functioned let alone an entire business. During the three years of my MBA journey, I personally conducted several career trials. Using what I learned in class allowed me to change industries and positions. As a Product Director in the exciting cryptocurrency industry, I can provide impactful business practices that make a difference for the company and industry.
Today, I am 37 years old. I hope to be an Executive Manager or CEO before I turn 45 years old (Jack’s age as CEO), or even before 40.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM?
- I became a confident and capable leader
- I better understand the business as a whole
Despite reading many books on leadership and business, many of the learnings in this program were new to me. JWMI helped me to find a personal mission that I will use throughout my life. It helped me to clarify my own values and empowered me to know myself better so that I can lead others effectively.
I struggled with the Finance course, but at the end of the class, I learned how to read a financial report and speak the financial business “language.” The Strategy, Marketing, and Operations courses helped build upon my understanding of the business world.
Beyond the online classroom learnings, I was able to develop my English writing skills. As an ESL student, I still need to improve my oral language skills, but it is a great benefit to write fluently in English. This skill better connects me to the world and opportunities, like those in the JWMI community.
The JWMI community is powerful. The alumni, faculty, and professors have been my personal support team in the program. I know this network will continue its support, no matter where our futures take us.
PLEASE SHARE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW STUDENTS EMBARKING ON THE MBA JOURNEY.
The most influential “position” in the business world is “CEO.” Why wouldn’t you learn the CEO mindset from “the CEO of CEOs” — Jack Welch? JWMI professors share Jack’s teachings but also bring real business practices to life. You won’t find better professors anywhere.
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