Sabrina Li

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“An amateur climber and musician, part-time cook, full-time cat mom, and lifelong student.”

Fun fact about yourself: My scallion pancakes are lowkey to die for.

Hometown: I always have a long answer for this as I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but grew up in Sichuan, China. After that, I lived in Potomac, Maryland for four years before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota for the last eight years. Home is where the heart is and currently, it’s in the Land of 10,000 Lakes!

High School: Edina Senior High School

Major: Finance, Marketing

Minor: Business Analytics

Favorite Business Course: Taking IBUS 3019 – Striving for Equity in International Business with Wendy Lutter was an amazing experience. Traveling to New Zealand with a group of 30 not only introduced me to incredible people and their stories, but also gave me a whole new perspective on life. From inspiring guest speakers to interacting closely with nature, every moment was eye-opening. It was especially meaningful for me to visit the Kate Sheppard House where New Zealand women’s suffrage was born, to witness how women around the world support each other and how they work to change the system. I came back feeling recuperated and ready to tackle new challenges.

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work, and Leadership Roles:

Carlson Ambassador
Peer Career Coach
Teaching Assistant – Marketing Research (MKTG 3011), Strategic Management (MGMT 3004), Design Your Career (BA 2021)
Carlson Consulting Enterprise – Consultant, Undergraduate Principal
Undergraduate Consulting Club (Spring 2023 – Fall 2024) – Vice President of Outreach
180 Degrees Consulting (Fall 2023 – Spring 2023) – Consultant, Team Lead, VP Finance
Chinese American Student Association (Fall 2022 – Spring 2023) – Events Coordinator, Co-President
UMN Treble Choir

Awards and Honors:

Dean’s List (2021-2025)
Cargill Thrive Scholar
Schwan’s Carlson School Scholar
BBDO Commemorative Scholar
China Bridge Challenge Scholar

Where have you interned during your college career?

Optum – Product & Operations Analyst Intern – Minneapolis, MN (Summer ‘22)
UnitedHealthcare – Network Pricing Intern – Minneapolis, MN (Summer ‘23)
Deloitte – Strategy Summer Scholar – Minneapolis, MN (Summer ’24)

Where will you be working after graduation? Deloitte – Strategy Analyst

Who is your favorite business professor? I really enjoyed taking Marketing Research with Professor Byungyeon Kim. He cared deeply about his students’ success and was always open to feedback. He was also well-prepared and incorporated in-class activities such as case studies and small research presentations to make his classroom engaging. Additionally, while working as a TA for his class, I was inspired by his passion for research, care for his family, and general kindness.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? I used to be reluctant to interact with strangers, especially in a more formal setting. Throughout my four years at business school, I learned that nothing matters more than people. It’s so important to get to know the people you’re surrounded by and discover who they are besides the role they play in a professional setting. Additionally, take the initiative to surround yourself not only with those who bring you the gift of fulfillment and comfort, but also those who are willing to challenge and push you to think critically.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? The most effective way to learn about business is to be hands-on, so start exploring internships, research opportunities, extracurricular activities, and the amplitude of resources your school offers as early as possible. Even if you don’t know where to start, do something and you might end up discovering new interests or crossing out jobs you are not drawn to doing. It’s always better to go in the wrong direction for a bit than to not move at all.

Additionally, business students are gifted with the freedom to be innovative and curious. So, if you can, pursue other academic interests and obtain interdisciplinary knowledge, talk to people to hear their stories, keep up with geopolitical news, and give yourself room to grow in different directions.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would’ve networked earlier and much more frequently. I came into business school with the common misconception that networking is talking to people just to get a job. I became a lot more comfortable talking to others when I realized that establishing real relationships and genuine curiosity to learn about aspiring personalities is what networking is. After that shift in mindset, I unveiled so many more cool sides to people and established new friendships and mentorships that I will cherish for decades to come.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? My school has incorporated AI mainly as a study and learning aid for students. Grammar checks, resource gathering, and generating writing templates or email starters are common use cases I witness. I personally used AI frequently when writing my honors thesis, mainly to look for potential databases and other related studies, and to check my writing quality. One insight that I gained throughout this process is that the tool will become increasingly integral to all aspects of our lives, and it’s crucial for us to explore ways to better live with the new technology. I’m aware that Carlson has incorporated AI more into the new curriculum as well as our experiential learning programs, and I find that exciting for the new students who are matriculating.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? This is such a small thing compared to my other engagements in school, but I’m proudest of taking and doing well in Biology and Chemistry courses during the last semester of my college career. It took me an ample amount of mental debate and preparation to decide that I would start taking prerequisites for a potential master’s degree in biology. Even now, as I’m taking these courses, the thought of picking up a new academic topic that I haven’t touched in three years still frightens me. But, like I said, it’s never too late to take on new challenges and explore another interest.

Which classmate do you most admire? I’ve known Ethan Yao since the first year of college and he has always inspired me in some way. We’re very different people in how we approach careers, life, and relationships. Speaking with him often opens new perspectives for me. I also admire his ability to act right away, even if that means deciding something originally in his plan is no longer working and quitting immediately. Seriously, dropping things from your plate takes a lot of courage and is still something I’m working on improving.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I owe a large part of my success to Dr. Siddharth Chandramouli. He was one of the first professors I reached out to – and from the very beginning, he offered invaluable guidance. As a mentor, he played a key role in shaping my decision to pursue a career in consulting. I’ve always appreciated our candid conversations over coffee—whether about life’s challenges, mental well-being, long-term career planning, or my ever-evolving academic interests. His encouragement helped foster my confidence to chase opportunities and find ways to give back to my community. I truly don’t know if I’d be where I am today without his support.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

Do something about the start-up idea that I’ve had for a while
Obtain a master’s degree in biology or biotechnology

What made Sabrina such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Sabrina Li represents the best of the Carlson School of Management and the University of Minnesota—a dedicated, driven, and thoughtful student who has made a meaningful impact on her peers and the broader Carlson community. Over four semesters with the Carlson Consulting Enterprise (CCE)—first as a consultant and then as an Undergraduate Principal—she not only delivered high-quality work for clients but also took on a leadership role in mentoring and developing the next generation of CCE undergraduates. As a consultant, she tackled complex business challenges, helping her teams craft go-to-market strategies and conduct insightful analyses. As a Principal, she provided invaluable guidance, ensuring that newer students felt supported, received meaningful feedback, and had the resources to grow into strong consultants. Her ability to lead with both competence and kindness has made her a standout in CCE.

As Managing Director of CCE, I’ve had the privilege of watching Sabrina grow in confidence and leadership over the past two years. Beyond her work in CCE, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to student success as a Peer Career Coach, helping fellow students with career planning, resume reviews, and interview preparation. She’s consistently earned the respect of her peers, faculty, and clients—not just for her intelligence and work ethic, but for her generosity, humility, and willingness to support others. Sabrina is exactly the kind of student who makes Carlson and the University of Minnesota proud.”

Siddharth Chandramouli
Managing Director of Carlson Consulting Enterprise

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