Hello,
I am Rachel Qian.
The Most Important Things
About Rachel
I grew up in Hangzhou, China, a city known for its scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage. My passion for design led me to move to Los Angeles, where I attended ArtCenter College of Design for my undergraduate studies.
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Choosing design was natural for me, as I’ve always been driven by a desire to solve problems and create solutions that alleviate pain and bring joy to others.​​
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I draw inspiration from the people around me—especially those who bring passion and purpose to their work, such as entrepreneurs turning ideas into reality and volunteers dedicating themselves to social causes.
My Beliefs As An Innovator
I believe that design does not happen in a vacuum —collaboration with other functions and teams is key to creating successful outcomes.
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While it can be challenging, I firmly believe that designing for users, rather than for ourselves, is at the heart of meaningful innovation.
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Design decisions should be informed by user needs and pain points, balanced with the business context in which these decisions are made.
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Last but not least, I believe that design should be fun! Infusing joy into the design process leads to more creative and human-centered solutions.
Why Did I Pursue an MBA
As you might have gathered by now, my design journey eventually led me to pursue an MBA. Here are a few reasons why MBA is helping me grow:
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Bridging Design and Business: To learn how to translate business goals into design objectives and understand the business implications of design decisions.
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Enhanced Collaboration: To improve my ability to collaborate with other key stakeholders.
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Advocating for Innovation: To become more effective at advocating for innovative changes.
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Informed Decision-Making: To harness quantitative tools and data analysis to inform my design work and decision-making.
And Some Fun Things About Me
I’ve been dancing for 9 years and have performed in concerts and film festivals. I am currently teaching dance class with Kellogg's fitness club and having a lot of fun!
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I’m an animal enthusiast through and through—whether it’s cats, dogs, turtles, or hamsters, I love them all. On weekends, you’ll often find me volunteering at animal shelters, enjoying the company of furry (and not-so-furry) friends.
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I love cooking. Ask me anything about making Chinese food, Korean food, pasta, steaks, or ice cream!