Eli Wang

Experience

Tell us what your greatest academic, professional or personal awards/achievements have been.

I was the minister of the Academic Department of Students’ Union. My team and I have organised many events, among which, the Peer Mentor Program can be considered as the only platform that created connections among students from different schools.

Why did you decide to study your Summer School course and why specifically did you choose to study with Imperial College Business School?

I always want to start my own business because on one hand, I prefer being a leader, and on the other hand, I like more challenging tasks. Imperial College Business School is a global business school, which focuses on helping students to develop innovative thinking and this is a skill I’m looking to perfect.

Programme

What makes your Summer School unique?

Firstly, students from all kinds of backgrounds come to study at Imperial, forming a mixed and exciting atmosphere for the classroom. Secondly, professors and guest speakers are world-class experts in their own fields and provide high-quality entrepreneurial education. Moreover, Summer School offers various social events, which are perfect opportunities to make new friends and have fun together!

What aspects of the course did you most enjoy?

There was a case study on Mercato Metropolitano, which is a company that offers a range of ethical street food. We spent a whole morning discussing them and their concept, but what surprised me most was that we got to visit Mercato Metropolitano in London and got the chance to listen to the CEO Andrea Rasca speak about insights into the business. He is a very charming, confident, and humorous person which made him more engaging and the whole day a lot of fun.

What was the most challenging part of the course? 

To form a team in one week and work out what we wanted our business pitch to be in a short timeframe while taking lectures (and joining social events) at the same time. To make this work we needed good time management skills and strong self-discipline.

People

Imperial places a large emphasis on group work, what inspires you the most about working in this type of environment?

There are three religions, five nationalities, and six study backgrounds in our class. Although we all have different backgrounds, we were able to collaborate as a team. This inspires me the most, as one of my goals is to work in an international corporation, so having this type of experience is essential to helping me achieve this.

How would you describe your Summer School class?

In three words I would describe my class as mixed, harmonious, and energetic.

What parts of the social programme did you most enjoy?

The boat party was the social event I enjoyed the most. We had good drinks and good food on our boat, but most importantly, we danced and had an awesome night together.

Opportunities

What has been the greatest opportunity during your summer at Imperial that you don’t think you would get anywhere else?

The Business School is in London, the innovation centre of the UK or even the whole of Europe. Secondly, there are three amazing museums – the Victoria & Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, and Science Museum around our campus. You can even go check them out between classes. Lastly, Imperial’s campus is in South Kensington, which is an affluent district with plenty of restaurants, cafés and grocery stores to enjoy.

What are your future career goals and how do you think your time at Imperial will help/has helped?

In the future, I would like to become a successful Angel Investor. This requires me to know how startups work and know the type of people who are deciding to put their time and effort into their startups. Being around future entrepreneurs has helped me understand the process of this.

Location

Whereabouts did you stay in London and why did you choose to stay there?

I stayed right next to Notting Hill station, which is close to the South Kensington campus (about 20-minutes by bus or underground) and super close to Hyde Park, which is gorgeous during the summer – a must-visit chill spot for you and your new friends.

What can a weekend in London look like for a Summer School student?

A weekend in London begins with a full English breakfast and then visiting many of the sights around the city. This could be many of the museums or galleries with your friends. In the afternoon you can hang out at one of London’s many trendy cafés, read novels or watch Netflix. Another great experience is watching the various musicals that are on offer, they are just amazing. Weeknights usually end uphaving fun with friends in an English style pub and getting to know your new friends from the class.

In your opinion, tell us about the most exciting thing you’ve done in London.

I was lucky enough to celebrate my 20th birthday in London! It was the most memorable birthday party that I’ve ever had. My new friends and I went to do karaoke - singing and dancing for hours. Everyone was so excited and energetic; it was a great atmosphere. My classmates even surprised me with a cake while singing the Happy Birthday song.

Tips

What advice would you give someone who was thinking about applying for the Summer School?

Don’t hesitate and be too worried. Get yourself prepared for an intensive period of having fun and learning. Know the purpose of coming here – how it can benefit you and your goals.

Share with us a handy hint or trick that made settling into Summer School that much easier! 

Aim to prove to yourself that you are prepared for the course and anything that comes your way - academically and mentally.