Online Student Stories: Felix L.

Felix Lo is currently enrolled in the MBA program at Champlain College Online. He works for Fidelity Investments as a Principal Systems Services and Support Analyst and enrolled at Champlain by way of Fidelity’s truED partnership with the College.

What was your motivation for going back to school?

It seems like now more than ever before, there’s an upskilling trend happening in our workforce, especially in the finance industry. I have noticed many companies and employers making hiring decisions and issuing promotions based on higher education experience. I decided it was finally the right time to upskill myself, so I made the commitment to go back to school to earn my master’s degree.

How did you hear about, and then choose, Champlain?

I have worked at Fidelity Investments for more than 12 years. About three years ago, I transferred from their Hong Kong team to a team here in the U.S. One of my colleagues has been enrolled in Champlain’s online MBA program for a while now and shared his positive experiences with me, which led me to explore my options.

Fidelity’s generous tuition reimbursement program and their truED partnership with Champlain make it extremely affordable for me to go back to school. Additionally, Champlain’s MBA program aligns with my career goals and interests really well. While I had some initial hesitations around the idea of online learning, I have been pleasantly surprised by the entire process.

Champlain’s MBA program is way more flexible than I imagined. The asynchronous format means I don’t have to follow set start times or attend formal lectures. This layout makes it really easy for me to balance my work obligations while simultaneously completing my academic assignments. I have been working from home since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has actually made it really convenient for me to commit to work and college successfully. Since I am already spending most of my time at home, I can dedicate my time efficiently to ensure all of my deadlines are met.

Tell us about your experience with your advisor, instructors, and/or classmates.

I have had nothing but positive experiences with the entire Champlain community so far. My instructors, in particular, have made it their mission to promote a community of connection. They all shared their contact information with me on day one and encourage me to reach out whenever I require assistance. I have found all my instructors to be responsive and helpful anytime I reach out to them for guidance, questions, etc.

My marketing class stands out to me in particular. Despite the course only being eight weeks long, my instructor has made a point to have weekly check-ins with me to guide projects I am working on. It’s amazing how much work we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time. Everything has come together quickly and my education so far has impacted the direction I take my projects and assignments.

What do you do for work? How has your Champlain experience impacted your work?

My official job title at Fidelity is Principal Systems Services and Support Analyst. Essentially, I offer technical support for equity trading. What this means is any kind of tech request, question, or problem that comes in gets elevated to me for support. My daily responsibilities are centered around understanding what’s going on and finding solutions to issues at hand.

My MBA has undoubtedly impacted my work directly. The coursework is eye-opening not only on an individual level, but also as I think about the world at large. Champlain’s program pushes me to reflect on social and economic issues and the effects they have on the world, people, finances, and myself. It’s quite impressive to realize how things happening in the world around me have an impact on what I do in my profession every day.

What advice would you give to someone considering going back to school at Champlain?

If someone were to ask me why they should consider getting their degree online at Champlain, I would say it comes down to one key benefit: flexibility. Champlain’s online learning format is far more flexible than I could have ever imagined. I can work anywhere I want or need to and I can complete my coursework on a timeline that works best for me. I also appreciate how connected I am not only to people locally but also to my classmates all around the world. Having international connections is a fantastic way to broaden my network. I have met so many talented and brilliant people already and appreciate that we can connect on LinkedIn to stay in touch well beyond our program comes to an end.

At the end of the day, I would recommend anyone to give Champlain College Online a try. You will be amazed by how convenient the programs are and how many connections you make right away.