Student Spotlight: Jason Lee
Jason Lee is a Manufacturing Engineer originally from Taipei, Taiwan who completed his undergraduate work at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is now a Northwestern MEM student. In his spare time, he likes to dance and work out. An animal lover, Jason gets along with everyone’s pets as well. In this month’s student spotlight, we hear from Jason about what brought him to MEM and what stands out for him at this point in his journey.
What made you decide to pursue a MEM degree?
I was initially planning to apply for MBA programs until one of my colleagues, an MEM alumni, told me about the program. I have personally witnessed the benefits of the MEM program through him. After talking to this colleague and my manager for some time, I realized that as someone who’s trying to succeed in an engineering career path, MEM would certainly be my best-suited option. At the time, I also felt the need to differentiate myself from others within our organization if I was going to make some vertical progress within the company.
Favorite Class/Professor?
I enjoyed Professor Gail Berger’s creative teachings. In both of her “Leadership and Organizational Behavior” and “Negotiation for Engineers” classes, I felt as if I was constantly being challenged. I felt that I’ve been equipped with great tools to face bigger challenges at work. The materials taught by Professor Berger were very practical and made an immediate contribution to my career.
What is the most surprising aspect of your experience in the program?
The connections I was able to make between course materials and my work. I was surprised by how much the two relate to one another, and these connections were helping me to do better both in school and work.
How does the program experience prepare you to reach your professional and career goals?
After working in Siemens for several years in different Engineering roles, I was able to acquire knowledge on our medical imaging products; however, I never really understood the importance and our impact as an individual contributor to the business and our customers. MEM’s curriculum has exposed me to many aspects of the business. The knowledge and skills handed down from a great team of faculty in Northwestern has made me a better engineer and opens up new doors for professional and personal growth.
What is distinct about your program experience? What draws you in?
Our professors are industry veterans, leaders, and practitioners who are constantly bringing invaluable knowledge and insights well beyond what I’d expect out of our curriculums. My peers came from very diverse backgrounds and experiences. The interactions I have with my peers have helped me learn just about as much as I have from our faculty.
What do you feel you’re learning from Northwestern’s program that you might not be experiencing elsewhere?
The students here were selected because of their outstanding history and a good mix of their academic and work experience. Having projects requiring real-world collaboration assigned in teams with this diverse workforce, the opportunities to learn are limitless. Our in-class discussion is always well beyond theories taught through text because students and faculty are constantly bringing new values through their own experiences.
Once you’ve graduated and are looking back, what do you think will have been the most valuable thing you will have received or learned from this program?
The world-class education experience and the fantastic connections/relationships I’ve made throughout this MEM journey.
What advice would you give future/prospective students?
You could never go wrong, entering an unfamiliar challenging space. You will grow better and stronger through each challenge. There are many opportunities Northwestern offers throughout the year. Participate and take advantage of this wholesome learning experience. You will look back on the journey and be glad that you were part of it.
