Adam Smith Business School

Name: Chih-Jou (Doris) Kao

"I'm a project coordination and fintech specialist from Taiwan, with experience delivering software implementations for asset management firms managing up to £4.89bn in assets. To sharpen my financial expertise, I moved to the UK to complete my Pre-Master's at Glasgow International College and my MSc in Investment Banking & Finance at the University of Glasgow." 

Why did you choose the Adam Smith Business School?

Having already worked hands-on with regulated fintech platforms, I wanted to build a stronger theoretical foundation at a globally respected institution. Adam Smith Business School stood out for combining academic rigour with real market relevance, exactly the blend I needed to bridge practice and theory.

What did you enjoy the most about your programme? 

The practical skills workshops were my favourite part, especially learning how to network strategically. That skill paid off directly: it's what let me pitch my dissertation idea to professionals at Barclays and the Financial Conduct Authority, who ended up granting me access to their data. Getting people already working in the industry to take my research seriously was one of my proudest Glasgow moments.

How has your degree helped you in your career?

It bridged my hands-on fintech delivery experience with rigorous financial theory. Understanding how markets, governance, and regulation actually work has made me far sharper at translating complex requirements for senior stakeholders and gave me the confidence to walk into rooms at places like Barclays and the Financial Conduct Authority.

What have you been up to since graduating from the Business School?

I am currently based in the UK, teaching English online to professionals in Taiwan's semiconductor and tech industries, a sector now central to the global tech supply chains. Drawing on three years of living and studying in the UK, I help them rebuild their confidence in English so they can communicate more effectively with Western clients, while I prepare for my next role in digital transformation in finance.

What was the most important thing you learnt while studying at Glasgow?

How to tackle ambiguous, high-stakes problems with structured, data-driven thinking. Running a multi-country quantitative research project on a fixed deadline taught me resilience, focus, and confidence under real pressure.

What is your top piece of advice for current students - our future alumni?

Connect the dots between your past experience and where you want to go next. Network actively, it's often what opens doors data alone can't, and treat every difficult assignment as a growth milestone, not just a grade.

Tell us your fondest memory of the Business School.

One of my fondest memories is the moment I got confirmation that the FCA and Insig AI would give me access to their data. After months of cold-emailing and pitching at industry events, having professionals at that level say "yes, we believe in your research" made all the late nights worth it.

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First published: 5 October 2026