Patricia Enzmann: Challenges Make Life Wonderful

"In China, life has not been easy, but I'm willing to accept the challenge."
- Patricia Enzmann, MBA student, Cheung Kong GSB.

Before joining Cheung Kong GSB's one year MBA program, Patricia Enzmann spent six years working for Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) in Switzerland, London, and Luxembourg. She got her start by enrolling in a UBS trainee program shortly after obtaining her Master of Science degree in Industrial Psychology from the University of Bern. Although she had no prior experience in the financial industry, Enzmann bravely accepted the challenge and was determined to make the most out of this opportunity. During her training period, she received a comprehensive education in finance and financial marketing, and through her diligence and hard work, was eventually hired by the bank.

Throughout her six years at UBS, Enzmann worked with a group of exceptionally talented people and enjoyed numerous opportunities to network within the industry. During her time there, she saw some of the benefits that an MBA education could have for her future, and so began to consider pursuing an advanced degree in business at some point in the future.

Moving to China

Last September, Enzmann resigned from UBS and relocated to China to be with her husband after he was assigned to work in Nanjing. When she made this important decision, she knew she would be challenged in more ways than ever before. Although her youth in Brazil and Switzerland and prior work experience at UBS had taught her to easily adapt to her surroundings, Enzmann knew living in China would present a number of new challenges - not only would the people and environment be alien to her, she would be also confronted by a language and culture much different from that of her own. Unlike most travelers, however, she was not worried about making the transition.

"It's very interesting to experience dramatic life changes. Being in China has provided me with a unique opportunity to learn Chinese ways and norms. It's my privilege to learn about Chinese culture."

After careful thought and consideration, Enzmann decided to turn these obstacles into advantages and opportunities by studying for an MBA in China. In doing so, she could learn about her new surroundings while gaining new skills and connections.

Through discussions with her family and friends, Enzmann recognized obtaining this degree would be a good investment for her future. Others warned her about the long and intense hours the typical MBA program required in preparation for exams and case studies, but, as she always had before, Enzmann welcomed the challenge.

Choosing Cheung Kong GSB

After extensively researching the available options in China, Enzmann found Cheung Kong GSB's one year MBA program in Shanghai to be the best fit for her. She was deeply attracted by Cheung Kong's small class size, strong faculty, and philosophy of being rooted in China.

"Because Cheung Kong is concerned about China's native culture and looks at the world from the perspective of Chinese enterprises, I chose to study for an MBA at Cheung Kong. I was also attracted by the world-class professors of Cheung Kong GSB."

Of course, learning from world-class professors requires solid discipline and hard work. After joining Cheung Kong, Enzmann was surprised to find the MBA program to be even more rigorous than she had previously imagined. Cheung Kong's MBA curriculum is compressed and delivered over an intensive 12 month period, instead of taking 18 months like other programs. While this means Cheung Kong MBA students only pay tuition for one year while receiving the same amount of instruction as their counterparts at two year programs, it also forces them to cope with a heavier workload. In a typical day, Enzmann spends about four hours in lecture, with another three to four hours afterwards devoted to reviewing lecture notes, preparing for the next day and completing assignments.

Whereas many might be worn down by nearly a year of this grueling schedule, Enzmann has welcomed the challenge. Her favorite part of the program is preparing and discussing case studies, as it presents her with an opportunity to interact with classmates and showcase her leadership skills.

"Cases connect theory and practice closely. In case analysis, I have learned a lot of practical skills and improved my soft skills greatly, so I feel very excited."

As the majority of Cheung Kong GSB's cases focus on how domestic and international corporations succeed and fail in the Chinese market, this aspect of the program also allows Enzmann to get a candid look into how business in China works.

In January, Enzmann and three other Cheung Kong MBA students were able to put the skills they learned in the classroom to the test through participation in Cheung Kong GSB's first annual Case Challenge competition. Her team competed with seven other prestigious business schools from China, Singapore and the US, and, despite the fierce competition, did extremely well.

Connecting to Classmates

Outside of the classroom, Enzmann is excited by the fact that she gets along with her classmates quite well despite the cultural barriers.

"They are the elite from various fields, so I can learn a lot from each of them. They take good care of me and help me get accustomed to life in China. They also gave me a Chinese name - An Chu Shan (安楚姗), which sounds really nice."

Although her classmates are always there for her, Enzmann still faces various challenges in her transition to life in China.

"In China, life has not yet become easy for me, but I'm willing to accept the challenge."

In order to better cope with the challenges such as learning the local culture and adapting to life in China, Enzmann is especially working hard to overcome the language barrier. In addition to her MBA studies, she now spends several hours each week in Chinese class and tries to speak Chinese as much as possible. Enzmann considers learning Chinese as the key in preparing for her future in China.

"China is a dynamic country with rapid economic development. Numerous changes take place in China every day. There are boundless possibilities buried in the changes. I'm actively seeking development opportunities by exploring all the possibilities."

This article is contributed by Cheung Kong GSB.