Reflections from the Halfway Mark of the MAM Program
Irene Li ’20 looks back on the first half of her year in the Master of Advanced Management program—and ahead to the final semester of her Yale journey.
It’s hard to believe that half of my Yale journey is already complete. As a Master of Advanced Management (MAM) student at the Yale School of Management with more than eight years of investment banking experience, I entered my life as an MAM student with tremendous hopes and ambitions, after having completed my MBA at UBC Sauder School of Business. The experience I’ve had at Yale has surpassed all of my expectations for my academic, career, and social life. I’ve truly fallen in love with the school and the community. Not only have the substantial opportunities and resources at Yale SOM turned my hopes into reality, but the supportive community has also guided me in the right direction toward my aspirations. I’ve always been encouraged and helped by my peers, and I strongly believe that the most valuable achievement in this journey is the formation of deep friendships that I will cherish for a lifetime.
There are plenty of academic events and activities for students, both inside and outside of Yale SOM. At these events, I was able to have conversations with industry leaders who are actively engaged in current world events. When I connected with the Yale alumni network, I found there were always Yalies willing to lend a hand and give career advice. Yale SOM also sponsors our educational activities with Enterprise Learning Credit (ELC), which supports costs related to our professional development, such as workshops and conferences.
Although New Haven is a small town, I never feel bored. Yale SOM enriches our lives with engaging events and plenty of social activities—from sports events like the Yale-Harvard football game to performances at the Yale School of Drama to Closing Bell, our Thursday night happy hour.
Yale SOM feels like a big family, nurturing us with love and support. I’m so grateful to be part of this community, the MAM Class of 2020, and the orange cohort.
These reflections represent just a small part of my Yale SOM journey from the fall semester to today. Even through I still have an entire semester to go, there is already no doubt that the MAM experience is a highlight of my life. Every memorable moment gives me strength, courage, and confidence to face any challenges in the future. I can’t wait to see what spring will bring as I look forward to warmer temperatures in New Haven and graduation in May!