Likun (Nikki) Yang
BA in Accounting '17, Broad College of Business
Investment Manager, Union Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Beijing, China

Her cheery disposition is infectious, and the easy chatter feels familiar—like reconnecting with an old friend.

Upon first meeting Nikki Yang, there’s almost nothing that reads “accountant.” 

Yang says she fell in love with MSU as a high school exchange student in a “football-obsessed town” in Minnesota—of all places.

“MSU’s powerhouse sports culture and top-ranked Broad College of Business felt like a perfect match,” she says.

And while Yang enjoyed her fair share of games at Spartan Stadium, she is quick to point out her academic journey was much more than numbers and spreadsheets.

“I studied abroad at the University of Melbourne in Australia, which was an unforgettable semester blending academics with adventure. I worked as an orientation leader where I organized activities and helped new students adjust to campus life, and I joined multiple business-related organizations like the Multicultural Business Students program and the honors organization Beta Alpha Psi, serving as VP of Communications,” says Yang.

“All of these organizations and activities significantly boosted my career readiness.”

Today, Yang works as an investment manager in Beijing, focusing on cross-border equity investments between China and global markets. 

“My MSU experience directly prepared me for this role. The Career Center helped me plan my CPA path early, student organizations like Beta Alpha Psi helped me develop my professional skills, and the senior year-audit internship led directly to my master’s at the College of William and Mary and a subsequent position at Ernst and Young in the D.C. area,” Yang explains.

“When I returned to China in 2021, the combination of my U.S. education, professional experience and bilingual abilities—all rooted in my MSU education—gave me immediate credibility in China’s finance sector. I am deeply grateful for how MSU equipped me as an international student to navigate both markets.”

Yang also serves as the president of the Spartan Beijing Alumni Association with nearly 500 local Spartans.

“When alumni tell me how much they value the connections they’ve made at our events, or when new graduates find mentors at our gatherings, I know the time we invest is truly worthwhile. It’s proof that the Spartan spirit connects us across borders and generations.”

Banner image: Yang is pictured with MSU faculty and staff who attended the Spartan Harmony concert in Seoul.