Echo Jin

CEIBS (China Europe International Business School)

“No matter what hand life deals you, be resilient!”

Hometown: Jiangxi, China

Fun fact about yourself: After graduating with a degree in law, I started my career in the commercial department of a healthcare company instead of pursuing life as a lawyer.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Master of Law, Renmin University of China (Beijing, China)

Bachelor of Law, East China University of Political Science and Law (Shanghai, China)

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Product Manager at Smith & Nephew, a medical technology company listed on both the LSE and NYSE.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2020? Allergan Aesthetics (Shanghai, China)

Where will you be working after graduation? Danaher Corporation as a Strategy Marketing Manager

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

CEIBS Excellence Award Scholarship

Leader of the MBA2021 Healthcare Club

Best Professional Club and Best Club Activity

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Our Healthcare Club was recognized as the best professional club by our classmates. We were the first club to help our classmates hunt for internships and prepare for online interviews during the pandemic. We reached out to our club members to introduce opportunities in China’s healthcare sector. In the end, despite the uncertainty in the job market, about 20% of our classmates landed internships in healthcare-related positions. In addition, students who had ambitions in the healthcare industry secured post-MBA jobs much earlier when compared with their peers pursuing careers in other industries.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Even though it was perceived as one of the most stable jobs in China, I quit a job I had with the Shanghai government when I realized that career path would not meet the expectations I had for my future. With a strong interest in the healthcare industry, I focused on providing solutions for Chinese surgeons in the form of advanced medical devices and cutting-edge surgical techniques. As a Product Manager for a medical device company, I successfully relaunched two portfolios that had been neglected by repositioning them and initiating new marketing campaigns. With this increased investment in marketing, these portfolios became new growth engines for the company.

Why did you choose this business school? I wanted to gain a new perspective on how to run a business in China and connect with more potential business partners.

Looking at the big picture, given the country’s trajectory as the fastest growing economy in the world, I wanted to seize the opportunity to become a business leader in China. I was also eager to acquire a global perspective to strengthen my business acumen in China’s commercial environment. Famous for its ‘China Depth’ and ‘Global Breadth,’ CEIBS was my number one choice for learning how to lead a global business in China.

Once I joined CEIBS, I was even more impressed by its reputation and how closely connected it was to China’s healthcare industry. The school is an important bridge between MBA students and target companies and organizations in the healthcare industry. What inspired me the most was the enthusiasm from CEIBS alumni in helping us progress academically and grow in the real business world.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? I benefited a lot from the rigorous and practical approaches to teaching at CEIBS. If I had to choose one professor as my favorite, it would probably be our professor of microeconomics, Dr. Bala Ramasamy, who is a talented and honorable professor.

Professor Ramasamy taught us microeconomics by guiding us through an understanding of the underlying logic of economic phenomena, rather than by just teaching theories. I might have forgotten some of the concepts from the textbook, but I will always remember the fundamental principles he taught us in class.

Away from the classroom, Professor Ramasamy is a gentleman with a strong sense of justice and goodness. He devotes his time to helping children from low-income families, and helps to improve their spiritual lives by running development camps in his hometown in Malaysia and also in China.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? I really enjoyed the annual ‘Shanghai Night’ student party, during which we took a cruise on the Huangpu River surrounded by the most modern architecture in the city. Everyone was dressed in traditional Chinese outfits, and the event was an exciting combination of a modern city and traditional Chinese culture. The evening concluded with an auction for lunch or a one-day city tour with some of the most popular professors and students.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would spend more free time with my classmates. I think I spent a little too much time studying, and sacrificed the precious little time I had to socialize with friends. Being able to constantly communicate with classmates is equally important for me to engage with the business world.

What is the biggest myth about your school? The biggest myth is that the school is only focused on ‘China Depth.’ I was well aware of CEIBS’ reputation in China before my MBA. However, I am still surprised by the breadth alumni network. The school serves as a strong endorsement when I introduce myself as a CEIBS MBA to top management from almost all of the healthcare companies I have encountered in China.

What surprised you the most about business school? It was the criteria by which success is judged. CEIBS’ inclusive culture respects people with determination and integrity rather than those who earn the most money or get the highest positions.

What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? I emphasized that I had more work experience and prided myself on my resilience in life. This convinced the admission officers that I could leverage what I learned from CEIBS to accelerate my career.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Shawn Wang. He is a smart young man with a super high level of enthusiasm. He is nice to everyone in his life and tries to influence his environment with integrity and energy. He explored many different industries during the MBA programme. He is always hard-working and never misses opportunities for fun with his classmates. What inspired me most is that he is very consistent with the ways he treats others. He is like a beacon, lighting up the people around him.

How disruptive was it to shift to an online or hybrid environment after COVID hit? The virus outbreak disrupted our MBA journey. We had only started our MBA lives a mere four months prior to the pandemic and many of us were left confused and uncertain about the future. Fortunately, CEIBS responded quickly and resumed teaching and communications online. I got a lot of support from the Career Development Center with preparing for job applications, CV modifications, and interview preparations. I think the virtual classes greatly decreased the efficiency of communication, but the experience also helped us learn to be prepared for unexpected changes. Focusing on what can be changed and not getting distracted by what cannot be changed is an important lesson I learned from CEIBS during the pandemic.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? I was influenced by a senior executive from my first company, Johnson & Johnson, who was an MBA graduate from another top business school. I was attracted to her business acumen and personal charisma when I worked with her. She also encouraged me to pursue an MBA when she saw I had encountered a bottleneck in my career. She described how attending business school would change my understanding of the world. With her inspiration, I decided to start researching MBA programmes.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Firstly, it would be to lead a business unit in the fast-changing healthcare industry in China. Secondly, I want to work in the headquarters of an MNC as a way to better bridge the China market with the world.

What made Echo such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2021?

“As her CDC consultant, it has been very pleasant watching Echo grow and transform into a mature, self-disciplined, empathic, and responsible manager. She has a passion for what she does, understands the differences between people, and strives to be at her best. She is a positive thinker and enjoys helping and motivating others. I see great potential for her future and have no doubt she will realize her dreams in the days to come.”

Jenny Wei
Career Development Center
CEIBS

DON’T MISS: THE FULL LIST OF MBAS TO WATCH IN 2021