Xiaoyu Qu
University of Washington, Foster School of Business
Age: 44
“I am a daughter, wife, mother, laboratory geneticist helping cancer patients, and an entrepreneur.”
Hometown: Yichang, China
Family Members: Husband and two children
Fun fact about yourself: I love cooking. It is the one thing I miss the most since starting the Executive MBA program.
Undergraduate School and Degree:
B.S. in Biology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
Ph.D. in Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Where are you currently working?
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Director of the Clinical Cancer Genomics Laboratory
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: I support organizations that represent health care professionals nationally and locally. I volunteer at the Cancer Genome Consortium (CGC), an organization committed to providing high-quality education and promoting best laboratory practices in clinical cancer genomics. Last year, I chaired the virtual meeting committee and co-chaired the workshop committee at the annual conference. I look forward to contributing more once I finish the Executive MBA program.
Through connection with an Executive MBA program alumnus, Dr. Elena Rechkina, I also joined a professional organization in the Pacific Northwest, the Organization of Regulatory and Clinical Associates (ORCA). I serve on the Board of Directors as the Treasurer of ORCA.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud that I have done well in courses related to strategy and management. Foster Executive MBA curriculum truly pushes students out of their comfort zone. Everyone is challenged differently, depending on their education and career background. Subjects heavy on numbers were initially intimidating, but with a STEM background, I knew I would do well once I learned the language. However, I was somewhat unsure about subjects emphasizing soft skills, such as General Management and Strategy by Dr. Charles Hill, and Organizational Leadership by Dr. Michael Johnson. Through these courses, I learned that although leadership is an art, there are evidence-based research findings and real-life case scenarios for us to learn, and we can improve via intentional exercises. I am proud that I not only scored well on these subjects, but have applied them at work and in life.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? At the Clinical Cancer Genomics Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch), I am fostering an environment where technical innovation and production augment each other. I am proud of this because of the following: (1) for the well-being of patients and health care workers, we cannot stay at the status quo; and (2) innovation and production require different skill sets and can sometimes be viewed as contradicting each other.
Before the Executive MBA, I led the development of the first next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay for clinical use at the Fred Hutch Specialty Labs. In the past three years, our lab has grown significantly in all areas. Our molecular genetics team saw its testing volume tripling and employee count doubling. We maintain the mentality of learning, applying, and checking. As we scale up production, I guide our team to use experience obtained through the new assay (NGS) to help standardize other lab areas to enable efficient and quality production.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? My classmates would agree that we have a truly exceptional lineup of business school faculty at the Foster Executive MBA program. I may not remember what the textbooks said, but I will never forget those brilliant simulations and real-life cases carefully put together by our professors.
It is hard to single out one faculty member. If I must do so, perhaps I would mention our negotiation professor, Dr. Elizabeth Umphress, whose class fundamentally changed me and my attitude towards the subject. She taught us what negotiation really is. Before her class, I would avoid negotiation at all costs. After her class, I now embrace negotiation and would be happy to take it on with diligent preparation.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I chose Foster’s Executive MBA program because of the cohort of students, the faculty, and the in-person learning experience. Our cohort represents professionals from diverse backgrounds, making the classroom discussion truly exceptional. In-person learning is key because it enables peer support and fosters bonding among classmates. Finally, the University of Washington campus is a beautiful place that embraces innovation.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? It is hard to describe the biggest lesson as a discrete subject, but rather an attitude. The education through the Executive MBA program presents the “why” behind many challenges organizations face. It can be overwhelming to see all the “whys” being laid out so clearly and realize that one just has to fall in love with the problem and carry forward, knowing that the headache is unavoidable. At work, it made me a more inquisitive person. When there is a problem, I feel compelled to ask why, which helps get to the root causes and the real solution.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? The challenge with juggling is real. I thank my parents and husband for sacrificing their time to support me through this program. I thank my supervisors and colleagues for being extremely supportive and understanding. Their support enabled me to fully immerse myself in education, which worked out in intriguing ways for my teen children. My daughter loves to talk with me about my learning. My son competes with me on grades. I remember last summer, my children and I looked at each other and sighed at the same time, because summer was ending and we all had to go back to school.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? For those still deciding, my advice would be never to hesitate to invest in yourself, especially when it comes to systematically obtaining education. For those who have already enrolled, I would recommend creating opportunities to apply the MBA knowledge at work or in life as early as possible.
What was your biggest regret in business school? Foster provides many opportunities for students to connect. Many teams were formed during those events, and they went on to become successful startup companies. I wish I had participated in more of those.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? This is a hard question to answer. I have met many kind, intelligent, and capable people in our 2025 cohort. If I must name one person, Celica Cantu comes to mind. I admire Celica’s courage and sincerity. She came from a rich career background in biotech startups and pharmaceutical companies, specializing in quality control and quality assurance management. Perhaps because quality in patient care is so critical for my work, I feel we speak the same language. Due to organizational changes at her employer, Celica faced career challenges while pursuing an executive MBA. I admire how she handled it with grace and strength, continued to contribute to our learning together, and demonstrated a great work ethic for her teams. She is also venturing into building her own health tech startup, Mosaik, LLC, focusing on Women’s Wellness with a concentration on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Go Celica! We are rooting for you!
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? The Executive MBA has a serious price tag. I got reimbursement for a small part of the tuition expense and paid mostly out of pocket.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? As I reflect on my learning through the program, I think what excites me is solving the pains felt by people or organizations so they feel in control. This is my long-term professional goal. It takes skills, abilities, and resources. My professional training helped me obtain subject-matter expertise, while the MBA training showed me the art of leadership and the skills in managing resources.
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