Kristen Wong

Syracuse University, Whitman School of Management

“Five-foot girl with big impact.”

Fun fact about yourself: I have a twin sister who is five minutes older, but she studies biology at George Washington University.

Hometown: Clifton, New Jersey

High School: Clifton High School

Major: Marketing and Public Relations

Minor: Asian/Asian American Studies

Favorite Business Course: MAR 445: Brand Management

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

• Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society
• Martin J. Whitman School of Management Dean’s List
• Reneé Crown Honors Program
• Whitman Leadership Scholar Award
• Filipino Student Association (September 2017 – Present)
• AAPI Heritage Month Planning Committee (May 2018 – Present)
• Hill Communications (September 2017 – May 2018)
• IMPRESS Program Peer Mentor (August 2017 – May 2018)
• The WellsLink Leadership Program (September 2016 – May 2018)

Where have you interned during your college career? (List Companies, Locations and Roles)

• Paid Social Strategy Intern at WarnerMedia in New York, NY (June 2019 – August 2019)
• Corporate Communications Intern at Weight Watchers (WW) in New York, NY (May 2018 – August 2018)
• Sales Intern at EventBank in Hong Kong (November 2018 – December 2018)

Where will you be working after graduation? Undecided

What company do you admire the most? I really admire Salesforce and its CEO, Marc Benioff. Salesforce truly exemplifies business as an engine for social change, utilizing a model that maximizes its philanthropy and positive impact. The company understands that the future of business means not only addressing the most pressing issues of society, but brainstorming ways to solve these problems. Salesforce and its CEO aren’t afraid to tackle controversial issues that other companies might shy away from.

Who is your favorite professor? My favorite professor is Professor Wimer. I had him for my introductory business class as a first-semester freshman and then again for my introductory marketing class as a sophomore. His classes built the foundation for my business knowledge, and he was always funny and engaging.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? Every time I walk into a class, I can count on seeing people I know. Although Syracuse is a big school, Whitman feels like a small, tight-knit community. I also enjoy how Whitman embraces a holistic learning experience, where we are exposed to other fields of business besides what we study in our majors.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Business can be a force for good. The bottom line isn’t the only metric that matters – as the expectations of business continue to transform, a company’s impact on all its stakeholders determines success.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? I would tell students to learn as much as possible about anything and everything. Business is dynamic and ever-changing, so you never know what skills or knowledge you might need in an unpredictable future.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I used to think that majoring in business led to only one path. However, business is so broad and its breadth is intriguing. There are so many possible opportunities to choose from, and you’re not confined to only one field or job. As your goals change, you can pursue anything.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of deepening my relationship with my own roots and culture by helping to expand the Asian American presence on campus. I’ve been a member of the Filipino Student Association since its inception. I’m also involved with the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Planning Committee, where we plan events for the month of April to raise awareness about what it means to be Asian American. These experiences have solidified my own identity and my drive to promote diversity on campus.

Which classmate do you most admire? I admire Cafui Awasu. She’s a senior majoring in Entrepreneurship & Emerging Enterprises and Spanish and is also in the Reneé Crown Honors Program. I’ve known her since freshman year and she has always gone above-and-beyond, pushing herself to experience new things outside of her majors. Cafui studied abroad in Chile for six months, and she is also doing her honors thesis on women microentrepreneurs in Chile. Her curiosity and drive always amaze me and she makes me want to better myself in the classroom and in the workplace.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my twin sister, Samantha, for my success. She always has my back and she motivates me to put in my best effort to achieve my goals. Without her, I don’t think I’d be where I am today.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I’d like to work abroad and go to grad school!

What are your hobbies? I love to read books, watch movies, eat good food, and explore.

What made Kristen such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2020?  

“Kristen is a leader inside and outside of the classroom. She is a driving force on team projects in classes, a dedicated peer mentor to new students in their first year at Whitman and attends a myriad of non-academic events to learn, grow, and network. Kristen is very personable and easily relates to students, staff members, and faculty. Her style of leadership is inclusive in that she makes sure everyone is heard from on teams she participates in.”

Ray Wimer
Professor of Retail Practice
Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University

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