The 10 most influential people in China's economic realm were named at CCTV's awards ceremony for the 2008 China Economic Annual Figures on January 20, 2009. Among the honorees are three SEM alumni. They are Si Zefu, Manager General of the Dongfang Steam Turbine Plant( SEM MBA Class of 1993); Chen Guangbiao, president of Jiangsu Huangpu Investment Corporation( EMBA Class of 2008), and Liu Shaoyong, President of China Eastern Airlines(EMBA Class of 2002).

The other eight figures recognized by CCTV were: Li Ning, President of Li Ning Company Limited, Zhu Xinli, President of China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd, Han Sanping, President of China Film Group, Lin Yifu, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of World Bank, Wang Yixin, Lu Wenbin, CEO of Little Sheep Group, Ma Xingrui, Manager General of China Aerospace Corporation Organization, and Jiang Xipei, Board Chair of Far East Holding Group Corporation.

Si Zefu and Chen Guangbiao won the top prize in the awards.