If you grew up with a sibling, you probably know the feeling of having a partner to share life’s highs and lows. As we grow older and chase our dreams, life often takes us to different places. But sisters Daffodil and Heaven Xiong chose to write their next chapter together at the Daniels School of Business. Pursuing master's degrees in human resource management and marketing, respectively, they are building distinct professional identities while navigating the challenges of graduate school with their closest ally right by their side.
In three questions, they share what shaped their individual choices, giving us a glimpse into what it’s like to experience this chapter of their lives together.
“I have always been driven by a desire to help those around me, which naturally led me to this degree," says Daffodil. "I find real purpose in supporting others, and I see HR as a powerful way of making a positive impact on both the workforce and organizations.
"That’s why I wanted to pursue a program that treats human resource management as a strategic business function rather than just an administrative one. The Daniels School of Business stood out to me immediately because of its global reputation and a curriculum focused on turning HR professionals into true business partners. I was particularly drawn to experiential learning opportunities like internships and workshops, which allow me to gain real-world experience alongside my coursework.”
Her sister, Heaven, shares that sentiment. “Growing up, she has always been the rock I’ve leaned on — not just because she is my older sister, but because she is a naturally supportive and considerate person. She has an instinctive way of listening and supporting me and everyone around her, so seeing her pursue HR makes total sense.”
"Right from the beginning, Purdue has given me incredible opportunities to grow far beyond the classroom," says Daffodil. "One of my defining moments came just eight weeks into my first semester when my team won first place in an HR case competition. We proposed a resource chatbot to help employees navigate AI tools — a solution I came up with by applying insights from previous work experiences.
"Beyond these learning opportunities, the program is deeply focused on developing essential soft skills like leadership and relationship building in courses like our program’s Leadership Series Course that brings us to the frontline of our field’s work through connecting us with alumni. Our professors are incredibly encouraging and genuinely invested in our growth, pushing us to evolve into the professionals we aspire to be."
To Heaven, her sister’s achievements are a true testament to her grit. “Opportunities are everywhere, but Daffodil is incredibly courageous for stepping out of her comfort zone and making an effort to seize them. She has never been afraid to face a challenge, which is something about her that truly inspires me.”
"I see my professional journey evolving in two key phases," explains Daffodil. "First, I want to gain deep industry experience, applying my HR knowledge to drive meaningful change in critical areas like employee mental health and organizational inclusion.
"However, my long-term goal is to return to academia as a professor. I want to bring those real-world insights back to the classroom to mentor future HR leaders. My ultimate dream is to eventually return to Purdue to teach. The way my professors have supported my growth here has been incredibly inspiring, and I want to do the same for the next generation.”
“I have always felt a strong pull towards the creative side of business, but the real turning point came when I served as the PR Manager for my undergraduate student council,” explains Heaven. “That experience made me realize that I wanted to follow my passion for storytelling and use creativity to drive real business impact.”
"I was searching for a program that wouldn't force me to choose between my creative instincts and technical rigor. The Daniels School of Business became the clear choice because the curriculum successfully fuses these distinct approaches. It moves beyond standard marketing theory, emphasizing the need to validate creative intuition with analytical evidence. It provides the exact balance I need to ensure my work is not just imaginative but credible and human-centric.”
Daffodil says this evolution was inevitable. “Heaven has always been the artistic one, constantly pouring herself into writing and bringing new concepts to life, which is why her pursuing marketing comes as no surprise to me.”
“The program has significantly expanded my professional toolkit,” says Heaven. “On the technical side, I am building hard skills in Python and SQL to stay competitive in today’s market.
“Beyond the classroom, serving as the VP of Marketing for the Krannert Graduate Marketing Association (KGMA) has been a pivotal learning experience, helping me refine the essential skills for my professional journey. It gave me the creative freedom to lead real campaigns and shape the strategy for key events like the recent MSM Chicago networking trip, where I developed the marketing plan and executed it alongside a committee of dedicated peers from my cohort.
“The faculty here have been instrumental in my growth as professors constantly challenge me to look beyond the surface, encouraging me to ask sharper questions and connect data to real human behavior. It is an environment that genuinely motivates me to excel and transform into a well-rounded professional.”
To Daffodil, her sister’s professional edge comes from her calculated approach to growth. “I see Heaven as a positive risk-taker because she pairs that boldness with deep reflection and responsibility.”
“My goal is to work in creative development within the entertainment or publishing industry, where I can help elevate storytelling to be as nuanced and real as the audiences watching. I want to tell stories that actually feel true to the cultures they represent.
"That’s why I’m here. I’ve always had the creative intuition for what would work, but Purdue is giving me the hard skills to validate it. I’m learning that data is really just listening to people at scale. By bringing empathy and analytics together, I want to build campaigns that don’t just reach people but make them feel undeniably understood.”
If you would like to receive more information about pursuing a business master’s at the Mitch Daniels School of Business, please fill out the form and a program specialist will be in touch!
