Ms. Hong Pham currently serves as Senior FW Flyknit Programmer at Nike. Coming from a purely technical background, her decision to pursue MBA Talent marked a pivotal turning point in her career development – a meaningful challenge in transitioning from technical thinking to management vision.
With a stable position at a multinational corporation like Nike and deep technical experience, what motivated you to step out of your “comfort zone” to pursue an MBA?
My greatest motivation was the desire to broaden my perspective. I wanted to shift my career direction: transitioning from a technical specialist role toward pursuing senior leadership positions. I understood that to contribute more significantly to the company, I couldn’t rely solely on technical expertise – I needed the ability to make strategic decisions and create deeper value. MBA was the path I chose to make that transformation.
Who inspired or influenced this decision?
I was actually quite hesitant. I questioned whether, at my relatively young age and with a technical background, an MBA would truly fit and help me clarify my career direction. The person who helped clear my doubts was Duy, currently a Manufacturing Manager at the company. He’s an MBA Talent alumnus who gave me invaluable advice. Beyond that, observing the positive changes in colleagues from previous cohorts also greatly inspired me to embark on this journey.
Entering an MBA classroom with a technical background, what was the biggest challenge you faced?
The biggest challenge was the barrier around foundational knowledge and specialized terminology.
As someone from engineering, courses in Economics, Finance, or Human Resources Management were completely new territories I’d never had the opportunity to explore. Initially, it was very difficult to understand the terminology. I had to “run a parallel race”: taking Pre-MBA classes to build foundational knowledge in Marketing, Finance, etc., while simultaneously working hard to absorb knowledge from the formal courses. On top of that, time management was truly a major challenge.
While being proactive has always been my life principle, the MBA environment demanded a much higher level. I didn’t passively wait for knowledge to come. I sought out professors after class to clarify confusing points, read additional books on my own to resolve questions. When I found answers, the knowledge stuck deeper and faster. That process of self-exploration helped me overcome my own limitations.
After nearly two years of refinement, what’s the biggest shift in your thinking compared to before starting the MBA?
It’s a change in perspective. Previously, I only viewed problems from a technical angle. Now, when facing a challenge, I have a more holistic view. I can analyze issues from multiple perspectives, considering solution options based on effectiveness in terms of human resources, finances, and fit with current resources. The solutions I propose now have much greater strategic depth.
Throughout the program, was there a particular course or professor who left a strong impression and sparked a new interest?
I was particularly impressed by Professor Howard Nicholas in Economics for Business. Thanks to him, I gained a deeper understanding of how economies operate and became extremely interested in this field. I even proactively contacted him after class to learn more. You could say MBA Talent “unlocked” a new interest in me, and I plan to continue exploring economics in the future.
After completing the program, how do you assess your readiness for a C-Level position?
Honestly, in terms of readiness, I feel I haven’t yet reached the level I aspire to. I recognize there’s still much knowledge and critical thinking skills I need to develop further.
However, the most valuable thing the MBA gave me is confidence. I now have a solid start, a roadmap showing me where I need to go and what to do next. I’m confident in pursuing and continuing to develop on this path toward conquering senior leadership positions.
Anh Hong’s MBA journey demonstrates that stepping out of your comfort zone is never easy, but the “sweet reward” is exceptional growth in thinking. As she advises future students: “Embrace challenges wholeheartedly. Because you won’t know what awaits you ahead – a journey that pushes your limits and opens incredibly valuable perspectives.”
MBA Talent is a comprehensive training program designed to cultivate talented C-level executives. The program combines the strong academic foundation of Western Sydney University and the ISB.IEI Institute, with real-world business cases developed by the PSO Institute, empowers students to skillfully apply modern leadership knowledge to complex business scenarios.
MBA Talent
