Taking his hands-on education seriously
Zhuo Ling decided that his chances for grad school would be improved if he combined his studies in finance at the John Molson School of Business (JMSB) with a second major in economics. But that meant a joint degree between two Faculties (economics is in the Faculty of Arts and Science).
It had never been done before. For most students this is where the anecdote would end; however, Ling is not a run-of-the-mill student.
He got the chairs of both departments and George Kanaan, Associate Dean Academic and Student Affairs at the JMSB, to back his proposal. Although Ling is graduating, he’s passed the torch to the incoming Vice-President Academic of the Commerce and Administration Students’ Association who has pledged to see the double major through to its institution.
“I know it’s a long process,” says Ling, reflecting on the 18 months that have passed since he began the project. “I won’t be benefitting from the double major, but hopefully future generations of JMSB students could have that choice.”
Before beginning his campaign, Ling was already involved at Concordia, participating in the Chinese Students Association. He received so much support for his double-major proposition that he was selected by student reps to sit on Senate so that he could better voice the idea.
Meanwhile, on the academic front Ling was admitted to the prestigious Kenneth Woods Portfolio Management Program, designed to give a small number of undergraduate finance students unparalleled investment-management experience by providing them with a real-life portfolio of stocks and bonds worth over $1 million.
“It’s a lot of responsibility,” Ling says. “You’re making real money or losing real money. We’re very attached to it. But it gives you a good idea of what it’s like to work in the industry.”
With such intense experiences under his belt, it might be surprising that Ling contends he learned as much outside the JMSB as he did inside it.
He says, “From my experience with the Concordia Student Union, I was able to meet people from all the other Faculties with their different views. There’s a very wide spectrum of personalities and views. Almost half my education came just from talking with them to see what they’re interested in, what their passions are, and what they’re learning. That’s something you don’t learn in business school.”
Related links:
• Concordia's Department of Finance
• Concordia's Department of Economics
• Concordia's Kenneth Woods Portfolio Management Program