Rico Lu joined the Illinois MBA family in August 2005. He came to the program with a B.A. in Finance and Taxation. Prior to joining the Illinois MBA, Rico worked for an outstanding securities broker company in Taiwan and was a star financial representative. Through diligent study of stocks and derivatives, while simultaneously expanding his network with professional investors, he increased his top ten clients’ assets by 20% in two years. Furthermore, Rico learned teamwork and marketing skills through leading a team that developed new financial products. This hands-on experience cultivated a solid foundation for his career.

During his first year in the Illinois MBA, Rico was elected as an Illinois Student Senator. He successfully lobbied for state senators to raise the budget for the University of Illinois so that students would not be burdened by the tuition rates. “I really care about the students’ lives,” said Rico. “The quality of graduate education is particularly important to me, and I do my best to ensure that it is always improving.”

Rico was the assistant for the Part-Time Evening MBA, helping answer part-time MBAs’ academic questions and sharing his experience of studying in the full-time MBA program. He is continuing to network with part-time students, furthering his passion of building relationships with people by learning about their career plans. The insight and information he is sharing and gaining in this position has been invaluable, giving him excellent practice for interviews—“30-second elevator pitches”—and allowing him to increase the likelihood of success in corporate America.

Rico has never stopped exploring job opportunities, but the Illinois MBA has made him feel more prepared for succeeding in his job search. This summer, Rico is working for Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor, which is a successful start to his career in the United States.

Furthermore, Rico is inspired by his classmates who come from all different parts of the world and, thus, have extremely diverse backgrounds and career goals. “This advanced education is awarding me not just another diploma but a whole new world, which is broadening my mind to the excellent career opportunities available to me.”