Wesley Ng leveraged his Iowa MBA to gain the professional and personal growth he’d been seeking—pivoting from a developer to a decision-maker.
Pivot from developer to decision-maker
Wesley Ng had a vision for his career that extended beyond his developer role. And when the time was right, he decided an MBA was the lynchpin to achieving it.
Once he joined the Iowa MBA program, he was pleasantly surprised at how quickly he could put the skills he learned to work.
“I was literally taking what I learned in class on Friday evening, Saturday evenings and applying them Monday at work,” he says.
But Wesley’s growth wasn’t just limited to professional development. He also realized the value of a graduate education on a personal level.
“I have many friends, siblings who have gone through MBA programs,” he explains, “and just seeing them change during and post program was very enlightening. I knew that that was something that I wanted.”
Local advantage, with a global edge
Wesley knew that building his network was another invaluable aspect of earning an MBA. He chose Iowa’s program for access to a local professional network in Des Moines. But he also found great support in the global Iowa MBA community, meeting colleagues from Chicago, Boston, and beyond.
As he took on new roles and responsibilities, he learned to leverage the expertise of his extended cohort.
“We’re all working different jobs, across industries, but the problems stay the same,” he says. “Creating relationships where I can bounce ideas off someone or have someone as a sounding board is incredibly valuable.“
Despite living in different time zones and locations, the similarities between his classmates showed him that he was definitely in the right place at the right time.
“Everyone who was in the program had the same goals. We were all there to grow, to pursue better jobs, to learn more, to become better human beings,” he explains. “Ultimately an environment like that really allows you to connect with people on a very meaningful level.”
Undeniable results
Through the Iowa MBA program, Wesley became a more cross-functional leader, with a broader view of business. He moved into a product manager role, effectively pivoting from an individual contributor to a strategic multiplier.
“The Iowa MBA gave me a full understanding of how business run, not just within my individual lane, but operationally, strategically, and financially.”
He’s quick to recommend the program to anyone who’s looking to become a better leader, and a better person.
“I believe that investing in your education is one of the best investments you could make for yourself.”