Yanfang Liu

MBA 2020, China

“I walk slowly, but I never walk backward,” Abraham Lincoln

I have 20 years experience in management, auditing and accounting and have obtained the CPA qualification in China.

Prior to starting the Kent MBA, I was a project manager and a department manager assistant for eight years at an accountancy firm, leading on over 100 audit projects. I enjoy my job because it is full of challenges.

I also have great opportunity to liaise with senior managers in different industries, which enables me to learn from them. I believe these experiences make a great contribution to my future MBA study.

Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, photographing, swimming and hiking. I have been to many countries and regions. My next plan is to travel all over Europe.

Achievements

In 2014, I obtained the Chinese Certified Public Accountant qualification, the highest level qualification for practitioners in the auditing and accounting industries in China as well as my Cambridge Business Management Certificate in 2018.

In 2018, I undertook the internal control system design and operational effectiveness evaluation of a government sector in China. This Department has a large organisation and more than 20 independent management departments. I led my team to design a more effective control system and evaluated its operational effectiveness. During the project, we created new ways of working that became the standard.

Before 2000, I worked as an accountant in several private companies for ten years. At the age of 30, I joined an accounting firm and began to do auditing work. Over the next eight years, I was promoted from an audit assistant to an audit project manager, to a department manager assistant and to a salaried partner.

What attracted you to the Kent MBA programme and why?

The Kent MBA programme is highly recommended and well received in the UK. I know the Kent MBA programme is AMBA and CMI accredited. I have the opportunity to gain the CMI Level 7 Diploma. It has some practical and interesting activities, like a European study tour, Consultancy and Negotiation Skills Week and Business Start-Up Week and so on, I really look forward to participating in these activities.

What were your motivations for undertaking an MBA?

I was a middle level leader for 5 years. I hope to bring more business value to the company and to further improve my professional abilities.

Aspiration

I consider the Kent MBA will provide me with a platform for the next step in my career. It is a degree which I feel will prepare me for success at the highest levels by equipping me with the specialist knowledge of international business. After graduation, I would like to enter the top ranked companies in the industry for financial or audit management, therefore a MBA is a stepping stone for me to achieve my career goal.

Advice

In my opinion, if you want to succeed in your career, you should first set a clear goal and make a detailed plan for it. The next step is to never give up and carry it out.