Wilbur Liao

My name is Wilbur Liao, and I am a master’s student in the IBMBA program at the College of Management, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU). I am originally from Taipei, but I moved to Kaohsiung to study at NSYSU from the first year of my undergraduate program. That transition itself was a major turning point for me. Starting over in a new city pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me how to adapt, build relationships, and grow in unfamiliar environments, skills that continue to shape how I learn and work today.

I completed my undergraduate studies in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, with a focus on English literature, foreign languages, linguistics, and language education. At the time, I believed this background would naturally lead me toward a career in education. While it did prepare me for English tutoring and Chinese teaching roles for expatriates at Samsung Taiwan, I later realized that this training offered far more than I had initially expected. Studying literature, linguistics, and even religious texts helped me develop cultural sensitivity, critical thinking, and a genuine curiosity about people from different backgrounds. These experiences shaped my global mindset long before I formally entered the business world.

In fact, my decision to apply to the IBMBA program was influenced by meeting IBMBA and GHRM seniors from language and humanities backgrounds like myself at business-related workshops and interdisciplinary courses at NSYSU, where they encouraged me to apply to these master’s programs. Through these interactions, I realized that diverse academic backgrounds were not only welcomed but valued here, and that my skills could be meaningfully applied in management and international business contexts. That realization gave me the confidence to step into a new field and challenge the limits I had previously placed on myself.

During my undergraduate years, I actively engaged in NSYSU’s multicultural environment, built friendships across cultures, and participated in exchange opportunities in Australia. I worked on an international documentary project, collaborated with global teams, and contributed to an English science fiction novel. These experiences strengthened my ability to communicate and collaborate across cultures, making my transition into the IBMBA program feel both exciting and natural.

One of the most meaningful surprises for me was realizing how transferable my previous academic training truly is. My background in corpus linguistics directly connects to text mining and social media analysis, which are increasingly important in business research. Through IBMBA, I have taken related courses and found a thesis advisor specializing in this area, allowing me to bridge my past studies with my future goals. As part of the ACT dual degree program, I have also reconnected with my early German studies, strengthening my engagement with Austrian and German peers and deepening my appreciation for their culture, work ethic, and sense of responsibility, all of which are positively shaping how I work today.

IBMBA has shown me that no background is limiting. The program is inclusive, international, and deeply enriching. I have met classmates from multiple countries and industries ranging from healthcare and architecture to semiconductors, and we constantly learn from one another. My time here has taught me that growth comes from embracing uncertainty, trusting your past experiences, and staying open to transformation. IBMBA has not only expanded my skills and network, but also helped me become a more confident, adaptable, and globally minded professional. For that, I am truly grateful.