Mia Zhang

Mia Zhang isn’t afraid to push the limits.

The senior consultant at Ernst & Young was accepted at two master’s programs, including Ivey Business School’s Master of Management: Analytics (MM-A) program, which each focused on different aspects of business analytics. At the same time, she was appointed to a new role as senior consultant role in EY’s Finance and Accounting Advisory Service, helping organizations optimize their finance functions with a focus on technology and process.

Even as a very organized person, Zhang admits to stretching herself thin: “To be honest with you, I don’t have a life. I just work and study.”

The business graduate from Concordia University always desired a career that bridged the gap between business and technology. Both programs interested Zhang as she pursued her goals.

She deferred the Ivey program to complete a full-time program focused on data project management. Once finished, she transitioned immediately into Ivey’s unique blended program, which provided the technical depth to advance her career.

The 12-month hybrid program combines online learning with monthly in-person classes in downtown Toronto, integrating Ivey’s renowned Case-Method Learning to develop both technical and leadership skills.

“Ivey is a completely different program – more analytical, more technical,” explained Zhang, noting that the stand-out factor was the quality of the Ivey professors who excelled in the case study classroom environment.

“The reason I wanted to do the program was to force myself to do case studies,” she admitted. But her mindset shifted on day one. “It was completely different from what I thought it would be.”

Now, she thrives in the challenge of defending her opinions under her professors’ guidance. “I feel like I’m in the consulting world. It’s fast-paced. We’re tackling many cases and gaining experience across different industries.”

She was particularly struck by how successful coding and financial concepts were taught through the case method.

“It’s some sort of magic,” said Zhang, who learned that coding is not going to solve the real business challenge. It’s important to see how it assists in finding the answer to the business problem. “When we have a case on a technical problem, yes the case is more technical, but we always come back to the business objective – what are we trying to achieve?”

Learning while you work

Balancing work and studies is demanding, but Zhang sees the payoff.

“I’m getting so much out of this program. It’s fast-paced and intense,” said Zhang, who appreciates the broad knowledge gained from both programs. The insights fit seamlessly into her career trajectory.

“I want to start my own business in the future,” she said, seeing data analytics as a crucial step toward that goal. “Many businesses base strategies on pure instinct. Data provides facts to support decisions; without it, you’re just guessing.”

Having successfully managed her new role alongside Ivey’s MM-A program, Zhang offers advice to prospective students: “You need to understand what you want from the program,” she said, recommending that applicants attend an information session to experience the case method first-hand. “If you want to move into management, you have to set aside your technical mindset and adopt a business perspective.”