Cal State Fullerton College of Business and Economics MBA alumnus Garland Wong ’20 is now a director of supply chain at Audien Hearing, a hearing aid manufacturer. In this space, being grounded in data is essential, but so is allowing room for testing and exploring. Thanks to the background of the CSUF MBA, Wong can rise to the challenge.

“The CSUF MBA program taught me to see the bigger picture, including the downstream and upstream effects of decision making” he explains.

Maximizing Your MBA Journey Through Experience and Growth

Prior to pursuing his MBA, Wong spent more than a decade in the professional world after earning his undergrad in business administration at UC Riverside. During that time, Wong worked for Disney Consumer Products, Lakeshore Learning Materials and Olivet International as a buyer and merchandise planner.

In business-focused disciplines, at least a few years of professional experience can help students get the most out of their MBA experience, notes Wong. So, too, is being employed during the program, providing a ready practicum for the theoretical.

“The classes and dialogue you’ll have with your cohort and staff will be much more meaningful and impactful,” he says. “I brought theories learned in the classroom and implemented them at my own job. Real life application is the best way to make things stick!”

Among the in-class experiences that Wong found most memorable included a marketing project that tasked students with planning the expansion of a major restaurant chain, including testing potential retail locations in light of urban demographics, and a capstone course with Management Professor Lorenzo Bizzi that involved consulting for a local business and strategizing potential new revenue streams.

Above all, Wong encourages MBA Titans to give the program their all and make it an immersive experience both within and beyond the classroom. “You get what you put in. It’s not a time to be shy. Engage your cohort and the faculty. Ask questions and go in with a learner’s mentality. There’s always something to add to your toolbox,” he says. “Being in a room with 30 others who have different backgrounds and come from different industries is a treasure trove. You just have to make an effort and dig in!”

For More Information

For more on MBA and Business Graduate Programs at Cal State Fullerton, including the various programs designed to fit every objective and phase of the career lifecycle, read more of our articles on MBA degrees at the College of Business and Economics.