Alice Gao '94 MBA has worked closely with individuals and businesses in the United States and China throughout her distinguished career as a banker. Currently a senior vice president at East West Bank in Pasadena, California, she leads a new cross-border team bridging banking operations between the world's two largest markets, the United States and China. Growing.
April 25, 2022
When Alice Gao ’94 MBA first immigrated to the United States from China in 1990, she started working at a bank in New York City. While she wanted to advance her career, she was concerned that she would not have the opportunity for a promotion unless she had a degree from an American university. She began considering earning her advanced degree.
Gao, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from a university in her home country, was excited about the possibilities a master's degree, especially an MBA, would offer. She applied to the University of New Haven, hoping to make new connections while laying the foundation for achieving her career goals.
“I was very, very excited when I passed,” she said. “Then I moved from New York City to New Haven. I knew what I wanted – to get an American education and fit into the mainstream. And to achieve that in college. is completed.”
“I feel much more confident.”
In addition to the skills she developed in the classroom, Gao felt a sense of belonging at the university. She appreciated the connections she made with her classmates and the diverse community she was able to be a part of.
“The university has a sizable international student population, and I was able to interact with them easily,” said Gao, who earned an MBA with an emphasis in computers and information systems. “There were a lot of participants, especially from Taiwan and Thailand. We shared a similar culture with students from Asian countries. At the same time, we were able to interact with local students and did a lot of group study. I learned so much from them.”
Gao's MBA helped her advance her career the way she wanted. She applied for and received a higher level position as a loan officer at Bank of China in Los Angeles. In 1994, Gao loaded up her car and drove across the country to begin the next step in her career. Even when she accepted the position and started working, she felt she was ready.
“Some people with an MBA still need a training period, but I was able to step into my role right away,” she explains. “Since my university days I have gained a lot of confidence and life skills. I am determined to learn so I pick things up quickly. This degree really gave me a way to get through the door. Otherwise, I don't think my resume would have been considered.”
“I want to help our customers”
Since then, Gao has stayed on the West Coast, advancing his career and exploring new areas in the banking industry. Her success at Bank of China caught the attention of a headhunter who offered her a position at her local bank. She said Ms. Gao was something she was interested in, and she eventually accepted the position.
Over the next few years, Gao moved to what is now Bank of the West/BNP Paribas and focused on lending, expanding from small business lending to middle market lending. Her responsibilities also included asset management and branch operations. Her next role was as a team leader and senior credit approver at HSBC Bank USA, allowing her to expand her skill set between the marketing and credit departments. She then spent nearly 10 years as Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Banking at ICBC USA, a subsidiary of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations, where she led a multi-functional team. led with success. Worldwide.
By this time, another bank was looking to hire Gao. East West Bank needed someone who understood business in the Chinese market. Mr. Gao, who is from mainland China and has extensive experience working with Chinese companies, was a natural fit. She started working at East West Bank, the largest independent bank headquartered in Southern California, late last year.
As senior vice president, Gao leads a new team called Cross Border Commercial. An experienced banker and an engaging leader and mentor in the commercial banking sector, Gao has achieved strong results by helping ambitious executives and financial institutions find ways to grow their businesses. I inspire my team and customers with my passion for achieving. As the team continues to grow, she looks forward to continuing to expand her services and expand her global impact.
“I like helping customers and I like doing business,” said Gao, who is based on the East West Bank in Pasadena, California. “When we lend at East West Bank, we also help Chinese companies grow. We are bridging the banking businesses of China, Hong Kong and the United States.”
“I have to get ready.”
Gao has received numerous honors during her banking career, including Meet the Money, MIT World Real Estate Forum, Urban Land Institute's Emerging Trends in U.S. and Canadian Real Estate Annual Conference, and Women in Executives. He frequently speaks at industry associations and conferences. forum. In 2014, Gao received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of New Haven. She also serves as executive director of the China Enterprise Council and the Los Angeles World Trade Center Advisory Board.
Ms. Gao's career has allowed her to regularly collaborate and connect with individuals and companies on two continents. She credits her experience in college for helping her learn how to bridge Chinese and American cultures. She says her student life in the United States was “completely different” from attending school in China and was a valuable learning experience.
“In China, you basically listen and follow instructions,” explains Gao, a member of the Pompea College of Management's advisory board. “There's not a lot of encouragement for creativity or trying new things. It's all basically about following directions and being a good listener, and being humble and modest and not challenging your professors.” I had to adapt a little bit.”
That adjustment, she says, gave her the confidence and skills she needed to excel professionally. She encourages all students, especially international students, to step out of their comfort zones and take advantage of every opportunity. She hopes the lessons she learned will help them succeed as well.
“For many international students, we have been taught to be humble and humble,” Gao said. “I believe that needs to change. You need to use your voice and speak up. In China and other Asian countries, behaving this way may be seen as disrespectful. Yes, but it's different in the US.
“I want students to know that they cannot expect opportunities to come to them right away,” she continued. “You have to be ready, you have to be ready for them, you have to grab them. For example, to ask them to move to the next level position, instead of waiting until they are 125 percent ready, they are 50 percent or Ask when you're 75 percent ready, and use your skills to make an impact.”
