MBA Mama Spotlight
By: Guest Blogger Yan “Sunny” Sun // When I applied to Columbia Business School, I was eight months pregnant. When people met me with my growing belly during MBA admission events — such as the Forté Forum for Women in Finance in New York — they would cast puzzled eyes. In fact, during the information session and several other events that I attended at CBS last year, I never met another pregnant woman pursuing an MBA.
Being a new mom, pursuing a career shift and applying to a top tier MBA at the same time is very challenging. I have to convince my family, my friends and most importantly, the admission committee, that being a mom is a value-added quality for a candidate, not the reverse. It means you are able to manage your time wisely. I am a true multi-tasker who makes time for homework, networking, career recruiting among the diaper changes, feeding, and most importantly, sleep deprivation.
I always find the most difficult thing during my career is balancing work and life. However, since I gave birth to my baby boy Francis, I was forced to take a second look at my life and my work and learn how to prioritize everything. Being a mother has given me an opportunity to improve efficiency and open dialogue with people around me — you will be surprised to learn how much people would like to help you during your biggest ever transition!
I understand that when most women find themselves pregnant, they would never think of going to a business school, whether due to financial concern or peer and family pressure. However, I hope that my example can build you some confidence.
Sometimes we are not aware of our true capacity until life throws us some big twists. Dare to dream and dream big dreams.
Blogger Bio: Yan is a finance professional with broad industry experience including risk management, auditing, corporate banking, wealth management and commodity trading, real estate, hospitality/lodging, leisure, manufacturing, luxury and fashion. She holds an MS in Finance from the University of Rochester — William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration and a BS in International Economics and Trade from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In addition to being trilingual in English, Chinese, and German, Sunny is an MBA mom to her adorable son, Francis. She will graduate from Columbia Business School in 2017.
