Jessie Shao (MSc Finance, 2001) reflects on how her studies at Lancaster increased her confidence, led to some excellent jobs and have provided many happy memories.

"The time I spent in Lancaster opened the world in front of me, led me to grow to be confident, independent, hold a balanced view towards life and remain as many of the happiest memories I have up till now.

Lancaster has helped to build what I am today fundamentally via its three unique features:

Firstly, a solid academic background. The Master's in Finance programme is highly ranked. The lectures, assignments, teamwork and the library all formed an intellectual learning environment that allowed me to quickly master the key concepts and theories of the financial world and formed a good study basis that has benefited me for life.

Secondly, the international 'vibe'. We had great lecturers from across the world and we had great class mates from all over the world, British, Greek, Chinese, Indian, Swiss, German, Danish, American…all with different backgrounds. It was eye-opening to learn the characteristics of different cultures, religions and countries and it was enlightening to understand the insights from different perspectives.

Finally, the traditional England countryside culture! Lancaster is a gem located near to the beautiful lake district; a modern university named after an old dynasty, a campus full of youth and yet surrounded by green countryside. It is difficult to explain in words, but once you have lived there for a while, you would start to get it; the appreciation of nature and our environment, the preserve for history and traditions, the “old fashioned but everlasting virtue “ - all in all, a balanced attitude leads to a balanced lifestyle!

After graduating from Lancaster, I joined ABB as a global financial & business control trainee which is a highly selective management trainee programme run by the ABB group headquarters. Since then, I have held various financial positions including short assignments in Europe and the US, and as Greater China Oil & Gas Finance Lead.

After this, I worked in GE as Asia Healthcare Service Supply Chain Finance Lead, Greater China Healthcare Service CFO, APAC & China Power Commercial Finance Lead.

I enjoyed an accelerated career progression in multinational companies thanks to the learning skills and global outlook formed back in my school days.

I still remember the seemingly stupid question I asked of HSBC staff as a newly registered post graduate student during orientation week at Lancaster which was “what is the difference between a credit card and debit card?” (Credit cards didn't exist 20 years ago in China..!) Today, at Accenture, as Market Unit CFO for Greater China, I am responsible for engaging business partners to drive market expansion with sustainable profitable growth and develop the next generation of finance leaders crossing functions in the region.

I would like to thank the professors, staff, class mates and my parents (who supported my post graduate study aboard) for providing me with such an incredible experience that profoundly changed my life.

Thank you all."