An Established Brand and a World-Class Faculty
The Rutgers IEMBA gave Daniel Collins, an alumnus, a better insight to
many business issues
Q: What brought you to China?
As part of my undergraduate program from Michigan State University I spent 6 months as an exchange student at Tsinghua University where I did research on the reform of state-owned enterprises in China as well as studying Chinese language. As an undergraduate I knew I wanted to work internationally. Back then I studied economics and read the tea leaves so to speak. It was clear China was going to be a major power in business. So far the choice has paid off very well!
Q: What was your work experience before joining the Rutgers program?
I worked in China for 6 years. I started my career in 1998 with General Motors in their Beijing Office. In 1999, Delphi Automotive systems was spun off from General Motors. I worked in the venture development group where I did analysis on Asia-Pacific M&A candidates as well as business development in China. I continued to work for Delphi in Beijing until 2001 when I moved to Shanghai to become sales
manager of the Steering and Chassis operation in China.
Q: Why did you choose Rutgers and not another program in China?
I chose Rutgers for several reasons: the most important reason was brand recognition. Rutgers is a well known university in the US that has a strong reputation. Another reason was the faculty - the professors come directly from the US which was important for me to make sure I was getting the same experience
as the US students.
Q: Why did you choose to study in China and not back in the US?
I debated for a long time whether to go back to the US or stay here. Basically, the decision came down to a net present value calculation. It was a lot better for me financially to continue working instead of leaving my job and losing income for 2 years. In addition, my company sponsored me to take the program in Shanghai. Shanghai is where the action is today and I am enjoying the fast-paced business life and rapid development in China.
Q: Did the Rutgers program meet your expectations?
The strongest points of the Rutgers program is the US faculty that comes to China.They are really world-class professors. Most of them used their own textbooks in class. They were also good at bringing in specific issues relating to China such as World Trade Organization (WTO), Chinese accounting standards, and the Chinese economy. The program exceeded my expecta-tions. It was clear that the Rutgers management is committed to making this program a success.
Q: What career development opportunities has the MBA given you?
The Rutgers MBA gave me a better insight on many issues especially in the area of corporate finance and strategy. Our class went through high-level discussions and case studies on real world companies. These were lessons I can apply directly to my daily work. This program has given me the tools and framework to tackle
higher-level issues in the workplace and a much broader prospective and know-how on the execution of what needs to be done.
“Shanghai is where the action is today and I am enjoying the
fast-paced business life and rapid development in China.”
