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Integrating her Strengths & Passions

Through courses at W&M, Xiaoyu Guo found she had a deep interest in business, in addition to physics and math. How is she integrating her strengths and passions to pursue Financial Engineering and aid non-profits?

Xiaoyu Guo with the Wall Street Bull in New York City.About Me

I was born and raised in People's Republic of China, and when I was 17, I immigrated to the United States with my family. This life experience taught me how to adapt and challenge myself in different cultures; nevertheless, it never stops me from giving back to the community wherever I am.

I came to William & Mary dreaming to one day become a physicist. Yet as I gained business knowledge through my different courses, I found I had deep interests in Marketing and Finance. This led me to enter the Mason School of Business in the fall semester of my sophomore year. During the Integrated Foundation Semester my eyes were opened to all aspects of the business world, and I became more confident in developing my academic plan at William & Mary.

I searched for opportunities that would allow me to integrate my strengths in physics and mathematics with my passion for business. Then one day while chatting with a colleague from the Business School and brainstorming about the great opportunities that were available to us, I was truly inspired me to design my own Individual Program of Study (IPS). Now, as a junior, I am studying Marketing with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Mathematics. I have also developed a strong interest in sustainability issues in the private sector and the financial system in the nonprofit field.

Xiaoyu Guo outdoors enjoying the winter weather.Impact &Engagement

I believe that the best way to engage in a community is to act as a part of it. Throughout my college experience, I took leadership roles in various organizations I wanted to be a part of. I became a class officer in the Student Assembly, Executive Vice President in National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Vice President of Public Relations in the Student Marketing Association. Participating in the Marketing Trip to New York City with the Cohen Career Center exposed me to successful marketing firms and provided me with a sense of what marketing was like in the business world!

Highlights

My business school experience was composed of many highlights, yet they would not be possible without the supportive faculty advisers and my colleagues at the Mason School of Business. With Prof.Vladimir Atanasov, I constructed a financial evaluation on the Space SolarPower System. It was a hands-on learning experience that enabled me to learn about practical research procedures, while exploring business ventures regarding space solar power.

Xiaoyu Guo with her business group.The business honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma, introduced me to a competitive world full of brilliant business minds. I really treasured the chance to connect with people who are doing great things, and I believe that by working collaboratively, anything can happen. Additional highlights include being able to network with outstanding speakers and business professionals. I will never forget the life-changing speech on sustainability delivered by Adam Werbach from Saatchi & Saatchi S, which refined my knowledge on the three different levels of sustainability: environmental, efficiency and social.

This past summer, I participated in the Social Innovation Program (SIP) with Phoenix Project.  SIP is a six-week professional training program that provides a core curriculum and then deploys students as pro bono management consultants to nonprofits and municipal agencies in an economically distressed community, Petersburg, VA.  Throughout the work, I was never more thankful for the experience I gained through the Mason School of Business. I discovered how well I had been prepared for real world challenges, which not only require technical skills but also interpersonal skills, such as how to balance the tension between self-input and team-efforts. It was reassuring to know that what I learned from the Business School could actually make a contribution to the world.

Xiaoyu Guo in front of Columbia University where she is going to study financial engineering.Next Steps

After I complete my junior year at William & Mary, my IPS will allow me to continue studying Financial Engineering at Columbia University. With help from my academic advisor, Ms. Jennifer Dahnke, I was able to complete all my required courses and incorporate higher-level science classes that count towards the engineering aspect of this combined program. Through both my IPS and this combined program, I am able to pursue my interests in both science and business.

In the future, I wish to study the financial system of U.S. nonprofits, to improve its effectiveness and make it easier on the owners' side. Furthermore, I hope to explore the financial systems in both for-profits and nonprofits in China and provide useful insights on the differences in financial industries between the two countries.

With an interest on how to help companies adopt new concepts of sustainability, I also wish to become a part of a successful marketing firm that promotes sustainability through effective marketing strategies, and to contribute to making the world a more sustainable place.