Master’s in finance grad Joy Wong uses education to move finance industry forward

The W. P. Carey School of Business develops innovative leaders with cutting-edge curriculums and experienced faculty who want to help students grow. Graduates like Joy Wong (MS Finance ’21) emerge with the knowledge and skills to make a difference in their organizations and lead the future.

The W. P. Carey School of Business develops innovative leaders with cutting-edge curriculums and experienced faculty who want to help students grow. Graduates like Joy Wong (MS Finance ’21) emerge with the knowledge and skills to make a difference in their organizations and lead the future.

“As technology continues to advance, I found it valuable to have been part of a forward-looking master’s program,” says Wong, who currently works as a senior finance analyst for Intel and its manufacturing processes.

Wong spoke to W. P. Carey about her experience in the master’s of finance degree program, the connections she made, and how it applies to her current career.

Why W. P. Carey?

Wong graduated from W. P. Carey with bachelor’s degrees in marketing and business communication in 2018 and began working in business. She decided she wanted to further her education to carve out a niche for herself in the industry.

The MS-FIN at W. P. Carey fit what she was looking for: a program rooted in the fundamentals of corporate finance and investments that also incorporated new technology and innovative methods to solve the common problems within finance.

“Having a futuristic outlook on the finance industry made the MS-FIN program competitive, and that innovation inspired me,” says Wong.

She started the degree program during the pandemic and took classes both online and in-person on ASU’s Tempe campus, which gave her the opportunity to form bonds with faculty and her classmates. Wong says the situation taught her the value of collaboration and connecting with others.

“My cohort strongly bonded during a time that called for resilience, and I cherish those connections to this day,” she says. The MS-FIN at W. P. Carey features small class sizes and frequent team projects to promote a tight-knit community feeling among students.

Along with strengthening her communication and collaboration skills, the program also helped Wong develop practical skills in technologies like machine learning and coding to set her apart in the job market.

“My career aspirations were to seek experiences that would challenge and advance traditional finance concepts using technology,” she says. “Having exercised that mindset during my MS-FIN studies helped set me up for success in my current role.”

Why finance?

When choosing a master’s degree program, finance caught Wong’s attention because “you discover the stories the financial figures have to tell.”

This passion for the industry and what it can do has stayed with Wong throughout her time in the MS-FIN program and into her current position at Intel. There, she works on financial analysis and forecasting for its manufacturing divisions.

New business processes have allowed Wong to draw on skills and techniques learned in MS-FIN to innovate her position. “This is exciting for me as my role directly seeks to drive change within the company and explore creative solutions in procuring, planning, and forecasting our manufacturing capital assets.”

Core classes like managerial finance and accounting have been continuously useful in her everyday work. Other courses give students experience in using AI and other technology to find new, creative ways of accomplishing finance tasks.

What's next?

Wong continues to grow in her position with Intel and has greatly enjoyed the knowledge and skills she has acquired there, finding it to be a rewarding experience.

“It has allowed me to develop a technical understanding of the complexities of manufacturing wafers, and the advanced tools needed for production,” she says. “It is inspiring knowing the products and services Intel produces impact the lives of many across the world.”

She is also involved in recruiting efforts with her company to help others begin their finance careers, including her fellow W. P. Carey graduates. In the future, she hopes to pursue an MBA to further her own career growth.

When not at work, Wong has developed a passion for ice skating and has become a part of the skating community at ASU’s Mullett Arena. Her advice to future students echoes the need to enjoy your free time and connections with others while pursuing your education and career goals. “Don't be afraid to slow down and savor the time with your peers.”