Suzy Wang started her time with Teach For America by overcoming a tough first day to thriving in front of the classroom. She now applies her classroom experience in strategic leadership and advising roles.

Q&A

What would you tell someone thinking about applying to TFA?

Whatever problem you decide to solve, someone is on the other side of that problem, feeling the impact of your actions. Teaching made that concept real for me, and that belief centers me in my professional journey. It gave me the empathy and courage to create positive change.

What skills and beliefs developed in the corps do you use most often?



First, you learn the economy of language as a teacher—in other words, you learn how to be succinct and intentional with your words. Whenever I pitch for funding, present a project, or participate in class, I remember to take a deep breath, structure my thoughts, and speak clearly and confidently. 

The second thing I use frequently is design thinking. That’s been the skill that’s helped me the most. Failure is so common, whether you are thinking about the graduate school or startup space. We are in a never-ending process of learning and iterating, which is scary but also incredibly energizing.