Over the years, I've seen my friends and many others struggle with the decision of going back to school. Thoughts about costs, time commitment, family, lost opportunity, and relocation usually come to mind. Other questions then begin to surface: Where is my career headed? Do I really enjoy what I do? What type of program? Which degree? Will the benefits outweigh the costs? How will the degree help me? How do I pay for it?
My friend, Christine Tran, recently went through this process and I asked her to share with me some of her thoughts. After several years in the nonprofit field, Christine decided to pursue her executive MBA degree - in Vietnam!
1. Dien: Tell me about your background...
Christine: My mother left Vietnam when she was 23 and arrived in a country without a penny to her name. She raised 4 children mostly by herself. As the oldest in my family, I often felt that I had to help her carry much of this burden. Sometimes I look at my mother and wonder how she developed the strength and the tenacity to do all of this alone. She has been an important force in my life, not always positive, but important.
2. Dien: What about your educational background?
Christine: I received my undergraduate degrees from UC Berkeley in English and Legal Studies. This October, I started an executive MBA program in Ho Chi Minh City through the University of Hawaii Shidler College of Business.
3. Dien: What work experiences have you had and how did you get involved in the Asian American nonprofit community?
Christine: After graduating from UC Berkeley, I really had no idea what to do. I entertained the idea of retail merchandising but I didn't make it past any second interviews!
At the beginning of my last semester, I received an email about an information session for volunteer opportunities with VIA in Vietnam. The idea really struck a cord. That summer, I began a one-year contract as a volunteer English teacher in the central highlands of Vietnam. It turned out to be one of the most transformative experiences of my life.
When I came back, the idea of retail merchandising just didn't inspire me anymore. When I browsed through the Craigslist listings, the jobs that appealed to me were in the nonprofit sector.
It was sort of happenstance that I ended up at the organization that I did, an Asian American community foundation. Working there, I sometimes felt like I was at the nexus of the Bay Area Asian American community. It was exciting to meet so many dynamic people and learn about such interesting community-based organizations. Something was missing though. I realized soon enough that my heart was really in Vietnam and the Vietnamese-American community.
Soon after, I moved back to VIA as the Vietnam Program Director. In this role, I knew I could help build bridges between the Vietnamese diaspora and Vietnam. It was such a significant experience in my life and I hoped that I could inspire and facilitate similar journeys for other young Vietnamese-Americans.
4. Dien: What does VIA do and what are some of your responsibilities at VIA?
Christine: VIA (Volunteers in Asia) is an educational exchange and public service organization that has been sending volunteers to Asia since the early 60's. We've been in 15 different countries and currently, have volunteers in Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Myanmar and Laos. As Vietnam Program Director, I am responsible for all aspects related to management and direction of VIA's activities in Vietnam.
On the US side, this includes: recruitment, selection, training, outreach, grants management, program planning and program implementation. In Vietnam, this includes providing volunteer support, strengthening relationships with partners in country, and developing new partnerships.
5. Dien: You are currently enrolled in an executive MBA program in Vietnam. Share with me your thought process; why a MBA and not a MPA, law degree or nonprofit administration degree?
Christine: I went through a really long thought process in deciding what graduate degree I wanted to pursue! As soon as I came back from Vietnam in 2001, I started to create folders of different graduate programs. Back then, I was attracted to programs in international development, international relations, or programs with an Asia-Pacific program. For instance, I seriously considered the School for International Training.
A few years later, I started thinking that I wanted a program which offered more "hard skills," so I began looking into an MPA or nonprofit administration program. In the end, I didn't think those programs would give me the leg up that I wanted. While I saw the benefit of developing skills that were transferable to other industries, I didn't want to be a generalist.
To explore other possibilities, I began volunteering at reproductive health organizations in the Bay Area. This in turn inspired me to look towards obtaining an MPH, a degree that I saw as offering hard skills, specialization, and an international career.
For almost 2 years I was on that MPH track, continuing my volunteer commitments, meeting with reproductive health organizations in Vietnam, and reading Guttmacher reports and related online news. I took my GRE, obtained letters of recommendations, and submitted applications. In the middle of this process, I began having doubts again!
My mom was in and out of the hospital and still working too hard for her age and health. I realized that most of the programs I had applied to were very expensive, between $50,000 - $70,000. It just seemed ridiculous to borrow that much money, when the return on my investment wouldn't be very high.
That realization occurred in the Fall and was followed by a well-timed trip to Vietnam for work. I met with a friend who was in her second year of an executive MBA program in Vietnam through the University of Hawaii. I had heard about the program before, but suddenly the pieces just fit! I wanted skills, a versatile degree and a focus on Vietnam.
The more and more I thought about it, the more I realized that there were a certain set of skills that I hadn't developed working in nonprofit for the past 5 years. I knew I could always go back to nonprofit or government work and be a much stronger candidate, or explore a new direction and gain new professional experiences. Plus, the cost of this program was hard to beat! The program tuition is low ($18,000 total), the cost of living in Vietnam was even lower, and I could continue working while in the program.
6. Dien: Why go all the way in Vietnam? Did you consider any MBA programs here in the US?
Christine: I never would have considered an MBA in the US. I'm not interested in pursuing typical careers that students do at top MBAs: banking or finance, a nice job on Wall Street. The reason this program appealed to me was because it was in Vietnam. Besides learning traditional MBA topics, I could deepen my understanding of Vietnam: people, language, culture, society, politics, and the business environment.
Developing a network in Vietnam will set me up for the possibility of opening a business here in the future. Plus, it's hard to ignore the buzz in Vietnam. Your average Vietnamese person will tell you that things are changing quickly here and personally, it's exciting to be a part of that change. Honestly, I felt that there was no smarter thing to do!
7. Dien: What do you hope to do after school? How would the MBA help you?
Christine: As this is an executive program, I really hope to find new full-time employment after my contract with VIA ends soon. I've been working in nonprofit for many years and I think I can learn a lot by making a move to the private sector. I'm interested in leadership positions in business development, communications, or marketing.
Eventually, I think having an MBA will help me be a much more well-rounded professional. I'm interested in socially-responsible business and social entrepreneurship. I feel that the nonprofit and business sectors can learn so much from each other. I'm seeing that every day in my classes!
8. Dien: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about graduate school?
Christine: Don't rush into graduate school and do lots of research before applying. Life takes mysterious turns and you'll be surprised at where you may end up! Two years ago, I would have balked at the idea of pursuing an MBA. Now? I think I couldn't have found a better fit. I'm glad I waited.
9. Dien: Tell me about this picture...
Christine: It's the view from my apartment in Vietnam. Top - coffee guy; right- lady who always sits there; bottom - banh cuon (rice rolls) stall; left - xoi (sticky rice) stall.
You may also be interested in last month's post: Advanced Degrees in Nonprofit Studies
Update 04/09: Christine Tran was featured in BusinessWeek with her post, Go overseas young jobless MBA!
fantastic interview!
Posted by: Don | December 24, 2007 at 01:53 PM