Every student’s path to Harvard Kennedy School is unique, and what our alumni go on to do after graduating is equally varied.
We asked several HKS alums to tell us about their experiences before, during, and after HKS, and to reflect on how their time at HKS has shaped their careers and lives.
Chu Q. Wang MPP 2020 came to HKS seeking to expand his understanding of global affairs. Through the school’s mix of academic and experiential learning opportunities, he graduated ready to tackle issues of international importance.
Here’s what he shared.
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“HKS opened my eyes to a spectrum of career pathways—and equipped me with the analytical rigor, negotiation savoir-faire, and global outlook that I now rely on every day.”
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2024
As head of partnerships, Chu oversees the office’s strategic partnerships with member states, private sector and civil society partners, and others to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in China. He stood up the office’s inaugural partnerships portfolio and has developed a newer portfolio of work on sustainable financing for gender equality through strategic partnerships with multilateral development banks, commercial banks, and other financial institutions in China.
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2023
“I forged innovative partnerships across the UN system to deliver operational support and identify efficiency savings.”
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2022Returns to BCG as a project leader
Back at BCG, he advised social impact executives on strategic plans and fundraising strategies.
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2021
At the Southern Communities Initiative, public-private coalition with the mission of accelerating wealth creation and economic growth in Southern communities, Chu managed strategic direction and operations. He crafted a $2 billion racial equity investment strategy and orchestrated a network of 90+ partners from the public, private, and civil sectors.
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2020Graduates from HKS and returns to BCG
After HKS, Chu returned to BCG to focus exclusively on public sector and social impact projects. He advised senior executives in the public sector on COVID-19 response strategies, working with governments to analyze the impacts of COVID-19 and increase supply chain resilience to better respond to the pandemic.
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2019Stays involved with activities on campus during his second year
Outside of the classroom, Chu was involved in various student caucuses—including the LGBTQ+ Caucus, Canada Caucus, and the Diplomacy Professional Interest Council—which helped him build community and shape conversations. One of his fondest memories was leading a group of LGBTQ+ Caucus students on a trip to Alabama and Mississippi to explore strategies for advancing LGBTQ+ rights.
“I still remember meeting different civil society leaders, policymakers, and community members—including local drag queens—to better understand the local context.”
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2019Completes his summer internship at the United Nations Executive Office of the Secretary-General in New York City
Chu leaned into his management consulting background and newfound skills in public policy and diplomacy. With a new set of tools, he helped the UN Secretariat develop its inaugural, visualized annual report with standardized results and human-centered stories. He also developed a new methodology to assist some of the most senior UN discussions at the UN Senior Management Group meetings.
“Seeing my work inform decisions at that level convinced me that analytical rigor and strategic stakeholder management can move institutions forward.”
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2018Begins the MPP Program
Chu prides himself on cherishing every minute at HKS, but a few experiences blaze brightest. One of his favorite courses was IGA 116: Great Power Competition in the International System with Professor Nicholas Burns. This course pulled back the curtain on 21st-century geopolitics and was an eye-opening experience in understanding the world through different lenses of power.
Inspired by this course, Chu went on to work under Professor Burns on the Future of Diplomacy Project (FDP) at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. His experience at FDP gave Chu the opportunity to research innovative topics and support visits from high-level global leaders, including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon MC/MPA 1984, former High Representative of the EU for Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, and former Prime Minister of Senegal Aminata Toure.
“Working with these heads of state and foreign ministers allowed me to improve my diplomacy and communication skills, while expanding my worldview on international and global affairs. I remember when I met former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and asked for his advice on how to navigate a successful career in diplomacy—he told me to value my East Asian heritage while leaning into my Canadian upbringing.”
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2017
Chu’s exposure to public sector and social impact cases at BCG gave him a glimpse into public policy and socioeconomic development. While he was able to advise senior executives on these topics, he felt he lacked a public policy perspective and wanted to expand his understanding of the world vis-à-vis international and global affairs.
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2015Begins working as an associate at Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
During his first stint at BCG, Chu worked on projects in five countries—Canada, the United States, Kuwait, Saudi Araia, and the United Arab Emirates. BCG helped him build foundational business and strategic-thinking skills and offered him the chance to explore multiple industries—including the public sector, financial services, consumer goods, and more.
“Some of my fondest memories were working with senior executives to develop socioeconomic strategies and plans for local cities and national governments, as well as learning about the different cultures and approaches to inclusive development.”
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2015Graduates from Queen’s University with a bachelor’s degree in commerce
“HKS gave me an arena to explore ideas, refine my skills, and discover my voice in diplomacy and global affairs. The school’s mix of conceptual rigor, soft-skill training, and hands-on practice formed the backbone of my work today at the United Nations.”
