Alumni Spotlight: Andrew Wong, MBA '15

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In celebration of Webster Vienna's 40th anniversary, we're catching up with alumni to hear about how their experience helped shape their careers, and any words of wisdom to share with today's students at Webster Vienna Private University.

Andrew G. Wong
Master of Business Administration, 2015
Fundie Venture, Partner
Forles List 30, Under 30 – Europe – Finance 2018

WongAndrew Wong knew that furthering his career with an MBA in a world-class city like Vienna was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. Today the partner in Fundie Venture fondly recalls his courses and the architecture of the Palais Wenkheim at Webster Vienna, which he says "very much lends itself to a feeling of openness."

What made you choose Webster Vienna?

I knew I wanted to further my career by pursuing my MBA and having the opportunity to study in a world-class city like Vienna was an experience that I could not pass up. Growing up in the United States, we are often indoctrinated with an unfortunately insular and U.S.-centric view of the world. I was looking for a university that would help impart a more global perspective. I had also fallen in love with the city while visiting a few years prior and completely embraced the chance to spend a more meaningful period of time in Vienna while investing in my education and career.

What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?

In my freshman year, I wish I was more proactive about creating friendships and participating in more clubs during my program, so that's what I would recommend to all new students. The Webster Vienna community is really multi-faceted, and students can get a lot out of their time if they throw themselves headlong into the experience. It is easier said than done, but that is what I would do if I had a second chance. Also, if you are studying business, take the time to properly learn accounting. I can not tell you how many times I've had to reference online accounting resources while working on financial models that likely could have been just as easily learned during the program. 

How did Webster Vienna prepare you for your career?

After my MBA, I went on to study for a Master's in Advanced Finance at IE Business School in Spain. I can safely say that I would not have been admitted to the school without my MBA from Webster Vienna and, even if I had been, I would have been utterly lost without first having the strong foundation in business that I received at Webster Vienna. Currently, I work in the impact investing world directly with entrepreneurs, and classes like competition and strategy, marketing, and finance have been instrumental throughout my career.

How would you describe the campus atmosphere? Any fun facts you would share?

The Palais is a gorgeous space to learn. I think the architecture very much lends itself to a feeling of openness yet holds a vestige of unpretentious regality. It felt very much like a second home in Vienna during the program.  

Did you have a favourite course or teacher?

My favourite course was the strategy and competition capstone. My team took the capstone business competition game quite seriously, and I think having that kind of buy-in from our team made the game more fun and was a great chance to build better friendships. It was also extremely helpful in understanding how product development, operations, marketing, and finance interrelate to build a successful firm, and having an overview of competitive strategies has really helped me in working with entrepreneurs and their go-to-market strategy.

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