When Bob Lincoln was growing up in Vietnam, being a banker was his dream job.

Bob Lincoln

“I remember watching movies and seeing how people who worked in banks always dressed well and seemed so successful,” the Houston resident said. “As I grew up, banking also aligned with my interests, and I was able to start a successful career.”

Lincoln moved to the U.S. in 2009 at the tail end of the global financial crisis. At that time, he’d already been working in banking in Vietnam, but he was ready to make the shift into the industry in his new home country. He worked his way up to become a branch manager of a Chase Bank in Houston. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and circumstances aligned to help him make a game-changing decision: earning a master’s degree from the University of Houston-Victoria.

During the pandemic, the bank closed its lobby and only offered services via drive-through, over the phone or online. Because fewer people were out and about, work at the bank slowed down to a trickle and the employees found themselves with lots of extra time while on the clock, Lincoln said.

“Many of our employees filled the time between tasks with reading, playing games or even watching shows on their phones,” he said. “But I noticed one young woman was taking the time to do coursework and earn her master’s degree. That was an impressive decision, and it made so much sense, so I decided to do the same.”

He initially first signed up for the UHV College of Business’s Master of Accountancy program but then shifted to the Master of Business Administration in Finance, which was a better fit for his career goals, he said. He worked on the degree throughout the pandemic, and when it was over in 2022, he had a master’s degree under his belt. He also had been transferred to manage a larger branch at that time. In that role, he was recognized as a National Achiever Branch Manager at Chase Bank, a distinction awarded to top-performing leaders.

“Getting my degree from UHV was a game changer,” Lincoln said. “It laid a foundation that helped me move forward much faster than my peers. My life has changed in so many positive ways because of how UHV’s program helped me learn and understand finance.”

After he earned his master’s degree, Lincoln began looking for a new challenge in his career. That led him to a position as a private client advisor at J.P. Morgan, where he helps affluent customers decide how to invest their wealth.

“UHV’s impact on my career has been profound,” he said. “The MBA program not only equipped me with technical expertise but also gave me the confidence to take on bigger challenges and embrace new opportunities. Today, as I work with high-net-worth clients at JPMorgan, I often reflect on my journey and how the knowledge and skills I gained at UHV continue to influence my success.”