With a fascination for film and an undergraduate degree in economics, Yuhan Liu ’24 felt like she was always looking for common ground between her studies and her love for creative industries.
Although she was studying finance in college, pursuing a bachelor’s from Beijing’s University of International Business and Economics, she didn’t forget how much she enjoyed working on films in high school.
As a member of a student film association in Beijing, she had the opportunity to create and produce several short films for festivals across Asia. “Our group also represented China in the Asian International Children’s Film Festival in Japan,” Liu explains. “We got the chance to learn how different cultures in Asia approach creative thinking and production work.”
To reconnect with creativity, she started to search for a graduate program that could bring film and economics together.
“When I found the MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises (MSLCE) program, I noticed the slogan on the website right away: Where creative meets business. I immediately started to prepare myself as a suitable candidate. I had finally found a way to move in the direction I wanted.”
She says the program has gone beyond what she imagined for her master’s degree, offering many new experiences.
Adjunct Lecturer Laverne McKinnon’s The Power of Pitching + Persuasion course was just one of the unpredictable yet enjoyable parts of the program, she says. “It was more than a class,” says Liu. “The professor is almost like a therapist, encouraging us to face our fears. She gave me the bravery to stand up and speak in front of others as an international student.”
But it gave her more than that. She says it awarded her the opportunity to dig deep, sharing her identity and life story. “We built relationships and friendships with each other as we shared so many beautiful words about how we view each other, what we appreciate about each other, and what we hope for each other.”
Meanwhile, in Professor Allison Henry’s Business Models course, Liu created a recommendation pitch deck for a nonprofit, complete with a thorough evaluation of the company, a financial analysis, and recommendations based on the Porter’s Five Forces structure.
To immerse herself in film, Liu also chose to attend CinemaCon this past spring for her Immersion, Development, and Experience Advancement (IDEA) Fund project. As the largest gathering of movie theater owners, it br
ings together Hollywood studios, exhibitors, and tech companies to preview upcoming films and discuss trends.
The IDEA Fund provides practical, flexible, and customizable resources for MSLCE students to help them accelerate their career strategy and work toward career goals. “It was a great chance to be exposed to the film industry in all value chains,” she explains. “Not only did we see production studios, but also laser studios and suppliers of products that are going to change the film industry.”
With the experiences MSLCE has provided, Liu says she feels equipped to perform no matter which path she chooses, whether it’s chasing a dream in film or pursuing a career in finance. “I am ready to face whatever challenges come up in the future.”
Connecting MSLCE International Students
As part of the MSLCE program, Yuhan Liu ’24 had the opportunity to serve as an international communications assistant. Her goal was to build strong relationships among the international students and alumni spanning different years of the program. In this role, she:
- Provided support for MSLCE staff who traveled to different cities across China, helping them make plans to meet up with MSLCE alumni living and working there.
- Built alumni dinner groups in select cities across the United States to bring former MSLCE international students together.
- Established communications channels in WeChat so alumni can connect and share information and activities.
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