Mei Yee Chew '25 MBA: Living in Minneapolis
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Program
MBA '25
Hometown
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fun Fact About Yourself
I have lived in 8 cities across 3 continents.
Undergraduate School and Major
University of the Ozarks, BS in Mathematics and Secondary Education
Teachers College, Columbia University, MA in International Education and Development
Most Recent Employer and Job Title
Teach For Malaysia, Head of Leadership Development
Meet the Carlson School community and learn about the experiences and career connections we offer.
What has been your favorite part of the Twin Cities so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA?
The people and the lakes. There is a wealth of wisdom from the faculty and students who are so open to sharing their knowledge and experience. And the lakes represent the wealth of nature to unwind and live a holistic life amidst the hustle and grind while going through the MBA.
Since arriving or starting your program, what’s been your impression of job opportunities in the Twin Cities?
I was surprised to learn about so many fortune 500 companies who are headquartered or have a strong presence in the twin cities. Furthermore, these companies span a wide range of industries such as med tech, CPG, and food and agriculture. This has allowed my classmates and I to explore different opportunities and gain exposure to a wide variety of industries and companies.
What’s surprised you the most about the Twin Cities area?
How mostly everything is within a 20 minute drive! Fortunately, I have a car and can drive to explore different parts of the city and it’s been fun to explore the different areas within a relatively short drive. I love going to different restaurants and it’s nice to be able to easily access different types of cuisine across the metro area.
What activities have you enjoyed doing in the Twin Cities?
When it’s not too cold, I love going into the lakes, especially with my nephew and niece who love the water as much as I do. When it’s too cold to be in the lake, walking around the lake always brings me a sense of peace. I’ve also enjoyed learning to play pickleball for the first time! I’ve also enjoyed shopping for second hand stuff at Turnstyle, I’ve bought most of my winter clothing from there.
Minnesota is known for its winters. How have you embraced the "Bold North"?
Thankfully, this past winter has been much milder, as I’ve been told. Nevertheless, I’ve embraced it by participating in winter activities, such as joining a skiing class through the university with some of my classmates or walking around/on frozen lakes. It was always nice to be out and, while it was cold, I was always reminded about how fortunate I am to be experiencing this (because I come from Malaysia where it is 90 degrees all year round).
Photos courtesy of Mei Yee Chew
