Bincheng Wu, BBA 2007
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International Operations Intern,
Aegon Direct Marketing Services
While some college students have a myopic focus on their GPA, others look
for ways to differentiate themselves. Bincheng Wu’s appreciation for technology allows
him to easily learn emerging technologies, giving him a competitive advantage over other students. Before
to college, Bincheng already saw technological advancement as the main driving force for societal
progress. He heard UT’s program was one of the top in the nation and came to Austin to
put his skills to use.
During his first semester, MIS 310: Information Technology in Business (now MIS 301) convinced him that MIS was the right path. "They advertised the program so much and it worked. They talked about the big picture of technology and business, and it helped me see MIS from a more top-down view." This strategic perspective helped Bincheng do well during his summer internship with Aegon Direct Marketing Services. He applied the skills he had developed in MIS 304 and 325 to create a product management database used by employees around the globe. In a company filled with financial analysts, Bincheng and his manager were the only two employees responsible for the international IT needs of Aegon's U.S. division. While designing and implementing the database during the main portion of his internship, Bincheng also had to troubleshoot for overseas associates in Europe and Asia. The international aspect of the summer excited Bincheng and redefined his own perceptions of MIS.
For students interested in projects that impact a global company, Bincheng suggests students (1) build confidence with their interpersonal skills for meetings with employees and clients, (2) familiarize themselves with e-mail etiquette to maintain inoffensive global communication, and (3) increase their core business knowledge and technical skills so that they can offer more value to the company.
Bincheng praises the MIS program at UT for having students take the strategic MIS 301 course first in the curriculum. He found that it provided a broader view of what IT has to offer the business world rather than jumping students straight into coding. He believes that "breaking out of the stereotype" is essential for the success of any MIS student; having solid core business knowledge is just as important as being able to normalize a database. Successful IT employees know what a company’s needs are and how to satisfy them by integrating technology with other departments. "If you only know how to code, you will never get promoted. Every MIS student must expand their expertise in order to progress their career."
Living his words of advice, Bincheng enjoys classes outside of the business school like TC 357: Politics and Economics in American Thought. The class studies the undercurrents of today’s political and economics theories, tracing them to their origins. After graduation, Bincheng hopes to integrate and apply his broad knowledge by finding a manager position with a large company. "Given so many responsibilities at Aegon, it will be difficult to enter into the workforce where I might be doing grunt work."
While not working or in class, Bincheng enjoys reading novels and the UK newspaper Guardian Unlimited for its comment and design column. He also enjoys playing computer games like Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri or X-Com UFO Defense that focus on content and depart from the norm of graphical genres.
