Empowering Conversations with UMass Asian Business Club

The Office of Access, Collaboration, and Engagement for Success (ACES) and the UMass Asian Business Club (UABC) recently hosted a fireside chat featuring guest speaker Changyong (Cindy) Shi, financial advisor at Edward Jones. Moderated by first-year sport management student and UABC Co-President Claire Kang—the event provided students at the Isenberg School of Management with career insights and dialogue surrounding cultural identity.

"Guided by Cindy’s impressive career and welcoming presence, I not only gained insight into industries I was previously unfamiliar with, but I also learned what it means to be an Asian woman in the business world,” said Kang. “The fireside chat taught me the importance of advocating confidently and leveraging my cultural background as a strength for both personal and professional growth."

Throughout the event, Shi shared advice and insight with students based on her experience of nearly 20 years in both public and private investing. Before her current role, Shi served 10 years as a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) executive at Banes Group. She also played a key role on top-ranked U.S. healthcare and global real estate teams for UBS Investment Bank as an equity analyst with positions based in New York, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. She also shared her experience with students on topics such as investing, M&A, and her journey to finance from early beginnings in engineering—as well as stories of memorable projects and overcoming challenges.  

Shi expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share life lessons with the members of the UMass Asian Business Club: “The students impressed me with their intelligence, curiosity, and genuine eagerness to seek guidance for their personal and professional growth. I was also encouraged to see how supportive UMass Amherst is of student-led initiatives.”

ACES Assistant Dean Jesenia Minier-Jennings described how events like this emphasize the value of shared stories and cultural connection.

"Members of UABC have been active stewards in hosting events that help shape the future of business,” she said. “The Office of ACES was happy to sponsor and collaborate with UABC toward the shared responsibility of hosting this event."

“It was a platform to have the guest speaker, Changyong (Cindy) Shi, share the real business challenges and opportunities that Isenberg students may face in today's workforce,” added Minier-Jennings. “The Office of ACES welcomes more collaborative efforts with UABC and other Isenberg student clubs and organizations for engagement opportunities in the next academic year.”

• Learn more about the impact of the Office of Access, Collaboration, and Engagement for Success here: https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/aces