Nathan Chang

Q: “Tell us about yourself, Nathan.”

A: “I was born and raised in California and reside in Los Angeles, CA, with my wife, 9-month-old daughter, and our two dogs. In my spare time I enjoy working out, hiking, stand-up paddle boarding, scuba diving, skiing, and traveling.”

Q: “Please describe your professional experience.”

A: “I have been working in the financial technology sector since 2008. Currently, I am the Director of Business Applications at Causeway Capital Management, an asset management firm based in Los Angeles, CA. At Causeway, I manage a team of Business Analysts and oversee the support for all business-related applications. I am also responsible for the firm’s vendor management program. The firm manages assets worth $45 billion on behalf of institutional investors. In addition, I serve as a Major in the Army Reserve.”

Q: “What was your motivation for pursuing your degree?”

A: “My motivation to pursue an MBA was to enhance my leadership skills, grow in my understanding of business principles and prepare me for managerial opportunities within my organization. I aspire to become the Chief Technology Officer for my firm.”

Q: “Why did you choose Norwich?”

A: “Norwich’s influence in my life began prior to my attendance in the MBA program. I received my bachelor’s degree from Norwich University in 2007, where I had the opportunity to be a member of the Corps of Cadets. As a member of the Corps of Cadets, I learned the guiding values of Norwich and sought to live by the Norwich motto “I will try”. Persistence, perseverance, and a desire to always give my all helped me jump into a career field where I had limited background on. Through that experience, I realized I found an institution that would challenge me and always seek me to be the best version of myself.”

“When I began researching institutions to obtain an advanced degree, it only made sense to see if my alma mater offered a program that would fit my needs. Not only did Norwich offer an MBA program, but they offered an MBA program with a concentration in technology management, which directly aligned with my career field.”

Q: “What was the deciding factor in pursuing an online degree versus a traditional on-campus degree?”

A: “Norwich’s online program fit perfectly for my lifestyle. It allowed me to continue working full-time to provide for my family while obtaining additional skillsets that would assist me in moving up within my firm.”

Q: “Prior to beginning your courses, what were some of your expectations for an online degree program and how were those met or challenged based on your experience with Norwich?”

A: “A challenge that I was expecting prior to beginning my course was the level of accessibility and engagement of instructors and classmates. Those concerns were quickly alleviated when I had an opportunity to meet my instructors and classmates. Instructors in all my courses were readily available. There never was a time where I could not reach or speak to one of my instructors. The same was true with working with my peers.”

“While many of us attending the program were working professionals, we all made time to engage and work together. Norwich emphasized collaboration among students and each class required some level of group participation. This allowed me to meet and work with different classmates throughout the program.  Working with such a diverse group of students helped to foster creativity and innovation and was a value add throughout the program.”

Q: “What is one piece of advice you would give to future students enrolling into one of Norwich’s online programs?”

A: “Embrace the challenge and take the time to network with your classmates. An online program isn’t always the easiest thing to do. There is a level of self-motivation and maturity that is needed to participate in an online program actively and effectively. Make the most of your time while completing the program and take the time to speak and interact with your classmates. You will be surprised on how much you will learn from each other.”

Q: “How do you plan to use your degree in your career?”

A: “I planned to use my MBA to advance within my career field. By completing my MBA, it provided me the opportunity to advance within my organization to a director position.”

Q: “Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your experiences at Norwich or the impact of Norwich on your life?”

A: “Attending an MBA program 14 years after graduating is a daunting task. Being so far removed from the learning environment and jumping back into academia was something that I was very nervous about. However, I quickly learned that I was surrounded by classmates who were in a similar position and together we were able to learn, develop, and grow as professionals.”