Office Space

Step into Tommy Pan Fang’s office at McNair Hall, and you’ll find more than just a workspace. His office reflects his dynamic approach to teaching — blending research, strategy and interactive learning. Here are some of the objects he uses to transform abstract business concepts into memorable, real-world applications. 

• Lego bricks and board games. In Pan Fang’s office, ideas take shape, students think critically and strategy comes to life. Visitors might find themselves in a strategic duel over a board game or assembling a Lego model to explain a business insight. “The best lessons rarely come from textbooks alone,” he says. “I want students to leave my class with more than just knowledge — I want them to have the confidence to apply it.”
• A tote bag of two-liter sodas. Against the wall sits a mysterious tote bag of two-liter sodas — not an emergency caffeine stash, it turns out, but props for a hands-on lesson in market research and brand positioning. “You should see students’ faces when they hear we’re doing a taste test,” he chuckles. “But they’ll remember that lesson better than any slide deck.”
• Student thank-you cards and conference name tags. Markers of his career and relationships sit next to books by his mentors from Penn and Harvard, telling a clear story of his teaching and research journey. “The best ideas often come from conversations,” he says, “whether with students or peers. Those exchanges push my thinking and keep my work relevant.”
• Personal memorabilia of a global perspective. Pan Fang has always seen the world through a wide lens — probably because he grew up with one. Born in Canada and raised in China and Italy, he absorbed different cultures and ways of thinking. Next to his monitor are a llama figurine from Ecuador and a postcard from Rome. “A global perspective isn’t just about geography,” he says. “It’s about understanding different ways of solving problems and seeing the world.” 
  
  That philosophy is reflected in his office, a space designed for exploration. Whether it’s a board game that challenges strategic thinking, a Lego set that sparks creativity or an unexpected lesson involving soda, Pan Fang ensures business strategy isn’t just a way of thinking — it’s a way of experiencing and shaping the world.