I first met Giang Biscan in the summer of 2006 at the Anderson School of Management welcome orientation. I realized early on how truly special this remarkable woman is. She possesses all of the tangible and intangible skills that it takes to succeed in any endeavor she decides to undertake. Her standout qualities are her leadership, time management, and people skills. In these areas she is second to none.
Giang’s most compelling quality is her leadership. She was the first to truly understand that business school is much more than the classes that students take and the books they read. At its core, business school is about people. With that understanding she founded Joined Forces; a club that has now been integrated with the school. Joined Forces is a networking association that gives students at Anderson an avenue to meet new people to enhance their career opportunities. It secondary purpose is to allow students at Anderson the opportunity to mingle with those in similar situations. This gives students the chance to address their concerns with the program and foster new ideas as to how the Anderson School could be improved. The club has been a tremendous success. Thanks in no small part to Giang Biscan.
Giang’s time management skill is impeccable. She is not simply a student; she is a mother or two small children, a wife, a scholar, as well as a friend to numerous individuals within the program, she takes on many different roles to many different people. All of these responsibilities would stress even the most efficient but Giang seems not only be able to handle all of these responsibilities but thrive as well. She dedicates herself to a very demanding job, working upwards of fifty hours or more, finds time to support her friends, and still makes an effort to be there for her children. She does all of this without any complaints or resentments. The have been a number of times when I have asked for her assistance with various projects knowing full well how stretched she was, and she has pulled through for me time and time again.
If Giang’s leadership is her most compelling characteristic then her people skills are her most striking. What makes her so effective when she deals with other people is her high emotional intelligence. I know many people who are able to carry a conversation but I have never seen anyone work a room like Giang. I have witnessed this first hand. The two of us were at a networking event few months back and every time I looked in her direction she was busy putting a smile on someone’s face. She has an uncanny ability to relate to anyone at anytime. She has the capacity to not only listen to what you are saying but also to empathize and understand your point of view. It is a necessary skill for anyone who wishes to succeed in business and Giang can grasp it in a way like no other person I know.
In closing I cannot say enough great things about her.
Ralph Chapoco
