Kylie Lin
"Coming to Fuqua, I knew teamwork would be a big part of the experience — but I never imagined how much I would learn from working with such a diverse team. I learned how important it is to listen actively and ask thoughtful questions to truly understand ideas that may be unfamiliar to me. This experience has sharpened my ability to find common ground, even when our approaches seem worlds apart."
MMS: Duke Kunshan University
Industry:
Prior Education:
Fashion Institute of Technology
Why I Chose Fuqua
With my background in fashion and retail, I needed a program that would teach me the foundational business skills I hadn’t studied in undergrad — but just as important, I wanted to learn these skills in a truly diverse, team-oriented environment. I wanted to grow in a program that could bridge my creative instincts with rigorous strategy.
Fuqua is a great environment to explore business as an opportunity for reconnection. Having spent years studying and working in New York, I wanted to reconnect with my roots in China while building a global network, and the DKU program felt like the perfect fit. Fuqua’s emphasis on teamwork, leadership, and authentic collaboration resonated deeply with me — and I could already see that Team Fuqua wasn’t just a slogan, but a real culture that alumni and students live out. At Fuqua, I knew I wouldn’t just be learning from professors — I’d be learning from my classmates’ experiences in industries I knew nothing about. That’s exactly the kind of growth I was looking for.
Before Fuqua
At Moda Operandi, I saw how CRM systems could make or break client loyalty. However, I lacked the technical frameworks to scale these insights. Fuqua’s MMS program filled gaps in my quantitative decision-making, empowering me to turn raw data into actionable strategies for high-value client retention.
After Fuqua
After graduating, I plan on returning to the fashion and luxury industry, focusing on client development and customer engagement strategy. I want to work in a role that allows me to combine data analysis with creative client engagement — ensuring brands understand their most valuable clients while creating experiences that truly resonate. In the long term, I hope to move into a leadership role where I can influence global CRM strategies, helping fashion brands build deeper and more personalized relationships with their top clients.
5 Tips for Maximizing Your Time at Fuqua
- Embrace the Team Fuqua culture from day one. Be open, be supportive, and invest in getting to know your teammates beyond the classroom. Those relationships will shape your experience more than anything else.
- Step outside your comfort zone both academically and socially. Join a club you know nothing about or attend an event you've never experienced. Fuqua is your safe space to experiment, and you never know what will spark a new passion.
- Use Fuqua's career resources early and often. Even if you're not actively recruiting yet, book those coaching sessions, attend workshops, and build relationships with the Career Management Center team. Their insights, especially tailored to international careers, are invaluable.
- Say yes to spontaneous moments. Some of my favorite memories so far weren't planned. They came from late-night case preparation that turned into karaoke or random lunches with classmates I hadn't met before. Stay open to serendipity.
- Document your journey. Whether it's journaling, vlogging, or just saving photos, you'll want to remember how much you grew here — not just professionally, but personally. Fuqua is a whirlwind, and capturing the small moments makes it even more meaningful.
Gaining My Confidence
One personal goal I had when I started at Fuqua was to become more confident speaking up in a room full of diverse opinions. I’ve always been comfortable in fashion and retail conversations, but I wanted to push myself to contribute even when the topic wasn’t my area of expertise. I’m proud of the progress I've made over the last year. Whether it’s offering a fresh take on a finance case discussion or leading brainstorming sessions in our marketing projects, I’ve found my voice — and it feels amazing.
MSQM:HA students "meet" in Durham without leaving home
Global Executive MBA
Top Areas of Career Focus
Financial Services (20%)
Consulting (5%)
Sales/Business Development (5%)
Energy/Chemical/Gas (9%)
Marketing/PR/Advertising (6%)
Consumer Goods (3%)
Average Age
Average Work Experience
Countries Represented
Women
Non-US Citizenship
Master of Management Studies: Duke Kunshan University
Undergraduate Majors
Business/Accounting (51%)
Economics (22%)
Liberal Arts (14%)
Engineering/Natural Sciences (10%)
Other (4%)
Average Age
Average Work Experience
Countries Represented
Women
Non-US Citizenship
Master of Management Studies: Foundations of Business
Undergraduate Majors
Liberal Arts (33%)
Business/Accounting (24%)
Engineering/Natural Sciences (18%)
Economics (17%)
Other (8%)
Average Age
Average Work Experience
Countries Represented
Women
Non-US Citizenship
Weekend Executive MBA
Top Areas of Career Focus
IT (16%)
Financial Services (14%)
Health Care/Health Services (10%)
Manufacturing/Operations (9%)
Sales/Business Development (8%)
Consulting (8%)