On the morning of November 15, 2015, current Tsinghua-MIT Global MBA students had the privilege of meeting with alumni mentors at Tsinghua SEM. Ten mentors, from various industries, including finance, insurance, IT, consultancy, medical care, and energy, with an extensive array of work and life experience, attended the inaugural meeting, the first of its kind. To pass the torch to their junior classmates and to give back to their alma mater, mentors set aside time out of their tight schedules to return to campus and share with MBA students about the trends in their industries, their stories at Tsinghua, and, for some, the moments of doubt and momentary failure that were ultimately overcome by persistence in their respective career choices and paths.
Group Photo
The meeting was hosted by MA Pinyu and GU Yu, with ZHU Yidan, Director of the 2015GMBA Class, delivering the opening remarks at 9:30am, followed by the self-introduction and stories from mentors, all under the leadership of LI Yinghong, the director of the mentors’ team.
Opening Remarks
Ms. LI Yinghong previously worked in bio-pharmacy for 14 years before later deciding to transition to insurance. With years of work experience in the industry, she now works as Assistant Vice President of MetLife. She shared her career path with students, her pursuit of an MBA degree, and the outward bound experience in her spare time. She said that her highest goal was to spread a positive attitude toward life and to offer advice and assistance to students in four respects: sharing previous experience to enable students to avoid inefficiency, expanding her interpersonal network, offering information and becoming a potential cooperative partner, and discussing life hobbies.
LI Yinghong
Mr. YU Lijian, Big Data and Analysis Director for Greater China at CSC Technology Co., Ltd., has been working for 20 years in the industry. He introduced to students big data and its implications for the future of various industries within the larger business context. He also shared his personal experience, especially his study at Tsinghua.
YU Lijian
Ms. LI Huibin, as the voice of business start-up experience, shared her stories of starting her own business, for example, how she had provided data analysis service for pharmaceutical companies in the early stages as well as about EDETEK Inc, in which she has been investing her recent efforts. She said she enjoyed the process of setting up a business from scratch and expected to provide assistance to students who would like to found their own businesses. “At Tsinghua, like in a big supermarket, you could pick up anything you want, but at least you should know what you want,” she quipped in closing. For many students, especially those in the stressful information overload of their first GMBA semester, her advice hit the nail on the head, ringing pertinent and practical for their own situations.
LI Huibin
Mr. LI Xiankai, working in auditing, accounting and taxation for years, is a model of dedication. His advice is for students to be dedicated to one area because ten years of accumulated experience would make the difference.
LI Xiankai
Ms. GAO Yan, Partner of Phoenix Century Capital Management Co., Ltd., shared from her previous years of experience in capital management in New Hope Group and provided an in-depth analysis of bankruptcy restructuring, one of her primary areas of interest.
GAO Yan
Mr. LI Pandeng, Executive Vice President of Antonoil, who carries himself with an uncommon modesty and sincerity, emphasized the importance of maintaining a down-to-earth approach for each incremental step.
LI Pandeng
Mr. CHEN Hongwu shared his experience in venture capital and principle of using personnel with years of industry experience.
CHEN Hongwu
Ms. YU Tong, Vice President of Huaxicun Co.,Ltd. and General Manager of One Village Capitals Ltd., shared insights from the finance industry in which she has been working. She encourages every student to clarify their real interests: whether they genuinely love finance and whether they are truly suited to work in this industry.
YU Tong
Mr. YANG Ning from GE Medical provided an overview of the medical industry and its potential. To promote medical care at the basic level and provide assistance to Chinese patients is, in his eyes, the meaning of and single biggest motivation for his job.
YANG Ning
ZHANG Xinzhao
After the mentors’ introductions and sharing, students divided into three groups of finance, IT and consultancy and had more in-depth discussions with their group mentors. Mentors were candid in their responses to students’ questions, which mostly focused on changing careers, making best use of the Tsinghua platform, and mentor perspectives on particular industries.
Although the meeting has ended, the communication between students and their mentors has just begun. As summed up by the 15G Class’s own YANG Shufan: “I would like to share some of my thoughts after attending the meeting with alumni mentors: in our 30s or 40s, despite the youth and passion fading away, there’s so much more to do. Take the courage to do the things you like, even if it is just for sustaining the vitality of life. Be dedicated and conscientious. You could do it well if you would make the effort. We might be exhausted by the burden of life and work, however, we should still keep our interests and hobbies without turning to be utilitarian. There may not be any guidance for us at work, and we may take a wrong path or may be lucky to find the right way in groping for our own way. However, we should never quaver or quit but remember to give back to others when we are successful. There is still a long way to go and we need to make every step steadily.”
“Be dedicated and seize the moment; be worthy of the heart and give back to society.” All told, these are among the gains students drew from the insights of their predecessors.
(Report/Photo: WANG Yue/Yang Xiangsheng, 2015GMBA Class)
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