Tiffany Lieu

Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Vietnam. My family relocated to America a few years ago for me to pursue my studies here. It has been a pleasant surprise that I am able to "travel the world" every day right here at UNC Charlotte. I never imagined that I could run into students from almost all of the countries on the world map.

When did you graduate?
I graduated with two degrees in accounting and finance in May of 2016.

In your opinion, what are the 3 best things about UNC Charlotte?
My favorite things about UNC Charlotte are the variety of leadership opportunities, campus diversity, and the top-notch Student Union. Thanks to UNC Charlotte, my passion for student leadership blossomed through many programs such as Leadership Fellows, Women in Business, and Women in Leadership. Even though I was a foreign-born student, I never felt like it because the Niner Nation was such a big family to me. We were different together! The Student Union wraps up my top 3 best things about UNC Charlotte simply because it was my go-to place for fun on campus.

Where was your favorite place on campus?
I loved going to Student Union to hang out with friends, get a green tea latte from Starbucks, and watch great movies for free.

Tell me three random things about yourself.
I am a fan of soccer, which I called football until I came to America.
I studied Japanese and hope to work in Japan in the future.
Boston is my favorite city in the U.S., and I plan to settle there in the next few years.

 

Alumna
2016
Accounting
Finance
Tiffany Lieu graduated in May 2016. She double majored in accounting and finance. She fell in love with the campus the first time she visited and describes UNC Charlotte as a big family.
Why did you study accounting and finance?

Back when I did not know what career path to be on, I took an accounting class for elective credits and just fell in love with the subject. As I progressed in the business curriculum, my exposure to finance completed the remaining pieces of my career puzzle. The accounting-finance combination best suits my personality and capacity as a lover of numbers and as a critical thinker.

Why did you choose the Belk College of Business/UNC Charlotte?

UNC Charlotte was one of my top university choices because of its well-established history in education. I saw the great potential of Charlotte as one of the fastest growing cities in America, and it made sense for me to start my dream at UNC Charlotte. I finally decided to become a Niner because I felt I was part of the university the first time I came to visit.

What activities were you involved in when not working/studying?

I participated in the Leadership Fellows program during my first semester at UNC Charlotte. The leadership experience and the wonderful fellowship I obtained from that program opened many opportunities for me to continue my student leadership journey with the Student Alumni Ambassador, Women in Business, and Women in Leadership programs. I was a member of Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society for International Scholars; and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Also, I am served as the Communication and Reporting Secretary of Beta Alpha Psi, Accounting Honor Society.

What was the best part of your academic experience?

One of the best things I did at UNC Charlotte was participate in the Student Managed Investment Program (SMIF) in the fall of 2015. It was a real-life experience managing a live portfolio. My team members and I were entirely responsible for the investment decisions involving the composition of the portfolio. We established the stock selection criteria, researched the prospective stocks, generated reports, made decisions to invest or liquidate, and executed the trades. It was fun and exciting to be able to make big decisions and be accountable for them.

How would you describe the Belk College of Business to someone who is thinking about applying?

The Belk College is where you can start your own dream in the world of business. The faculty members are very dedicated to the success of each student. Personally, I developed many wonderful connections with my professors and they became my career and life mentors. The college also receives huge support from top Charlotte businesses and city organizations.  Because of this, students have wonderful post-graduation opportunities.

If you received a scholarship or financial aid, how did that help you?

I was the recipient of the Debra Hahn Memorial Scholarship awarded by the Department of Accounting in 2015. It was truly an honor that the faculty recognized my academic excellence and leadership potential. Not only did the scholarship help me financially, it also motivated me to excel in my program.

What are plans are you pursing now that you have graduated?

I am pursuing a professional career in corporate finance and accounting.  I am currently doing the Finance Management Associate Program (FMAP) summer internship with Bank of America in Charlotte. This amazing opportunity is considered my 10-week "interview" for the FMAP full-time position starting the following year. In the meantime, I will be working on finishing up my master of science in accountancy degree and becoming certified as a CPA. Eventually, I am looking for an opportunity to work abroad.

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