Meet The CEIBS MBA Class Of 2023

CEIBS MBA Halloween Party, 2021

P&Q: CEIBS is known for housing a very strong faculty. Give us an example of one of your professors who sets the bar. What can CEIBS MBAs expect in his or her class and what makes him or her such a standout teacher?

MZ: “I think all of our professors really do set the bar and we are very proud of that. But if I were to nominate one off the top of my head, it would be our MBA Director and Professor of International Business and Strategy Shameen Prashantham, who is definitely one of the crowd favorites.

Prof. Shameen has done extensive research on how small startups can partner with big organizations and has recently published a book on the subject, which is entitled Gorillas can Dance. In the classroom, he draws a lot of insights from his research.

Prof. Shameen also leads our domestic module to Nanjing which is about “Globalization of Chinese Companies,” wherein he also incorporates RSLM. The Nanjing module also happens to be one of the more popular domestic electives that we offer.”

CEIBS MBA students

P&Q: Two hallmarks of the CEIBS MBA experience are the Integrated China Strategy Project and the eLab. Talk to us about these programs and how they prepare MBAs for the future? Are there any other programs that have earned strong reviews from alumni?

MZ: “The Integrated China Strategy Project (ICSP) is designed as an integral part of our MBA curriculum. All the sponsor companies are real businesses with real problems, and all of them are looking for real implementable solutions. In the end, they gain an outsider’s perspective on the problem they are facing and also get to judge our talent pool (from which they could possibly recruit). For our students, it’s also an excellent opportunity to practice what they have learnt in the classroom and also an opportunity to explore different industries and functions. When we release the list of available projects, we just list the industry name and the problem statement. Only after the teams have successfully bid for the projects do we tell them about the company they will be working for. We do this because we want our students to work on projects they are passionate about rather than being motivated by the brand behind the project.

The CEIBS eLab is an excellent place for our students to practice entrepreneurship. Many of our students have entrepreneurial ambitions, either immediate or long-term. Based on the entrepreneurial curve they are on, we have a three-level approach starting from  the Technology Entrepreneurship Camp to the Technology Acceleration Programme and finally leading up to connecting with the ecosystem.

Apart from these, the mentoring programme that we run is also very well-received. Through the programme, we pair MBA students with our alumni, who serve as mentors. Each mentor only takes up to two mentees. This makes the programme very personal and very impactful. The mentors, who have all gone through the CEIBS journey, serve as guides and friends. Although the programme is entirely voluntary, we have a lot of alumni who wish to participate and who view it as an opportunity to give back to the CEIBS community.

CEIBS interior

8 REASONS TO APPLY TO CEIBS

1) Cultural Immersion: “I would have to say the full immersion into Chinese business culture (especially if you speak fluent Chinese). While the programme is conducted in English, 60% of my classmates are from China and even more are Chinese-speaking, so many informal class discussions, social interactions and campus events do inevitably happen in Chinese, especially those that involve students from the other Chinese-language programs. This is great practice for future business interactions, especially in a culture full of subtleties in terms of communication and body language. At the same time, this is achieved without sacrificing the international element, as so many of my classmates, Chinese or otherwise, have amazing international experience, which bring more unique perspectives onto the campus.”
Karen Xi Manqi (’23)

“The biggest appeal of earning an MBA in China at its top business school is to gain a deep understanding of the Chinese market, its opportunities and challenges in particular, through the various cases developed by the brilliant minds of the CEIBS faculty. Considering China’s importance in the global economy, the world needs business leaders and entrepreneurs who understand China’s history, its business culture, its markets, and its people. With the majority of the CEIBS student body being Chinese nationals, doing an MBA at CEIBS is the ideal place to make life-long friends with China’s business leaders of tomorrow and to gain access to a vast network of inspiring CEIBS alumni.”
Sabine Katrin Neuhaus (’23)

2) China Focus: “The differentiator for CEIBS is fairly clear: its focus on China-Europe business is unrivalled by any other school, in China or elsewhere. In addition to CEIBS, I also received offers from leading US schools. After long consideration, I decided that my career plan was to be positioned at the juncture of China and Europe; this was where I was going to learn the most relevant content and be exposed to the most relevant ideas. A large number of the cases we look at here and the work we carry out are focused on international businesses coming into China, or (sometimes) vice versa.”
Archie Preston (’23)

3) Integrated China Strategy Project (ICSP): “I thought this strategy project perfectly matches with its vision of “China Depth, Global Breath”. To come up with a strategy, first we need to understand the Chinese market and then develop innovative and practical ideas with classmates from different backgrounds. Through this big project, I hope to get insight into real business in China and develop professional skills to think more strategically.”
Jeina NA (’23)

CEIBS exterior at night

4) Alumni Quality: “I was attracted by the outstanding alumni network at CEIBS. Especially in China, I found that lots of people whom I admired turned out to be CEIBS alumni. This included lots of senior leaders that I admired in various industries, as well as many entrepreneurs. They were my role models, whose stories inspired me a lot, and I hope one day I can become one of them. At the moment when I started to think about career transition, CEIBS naturally became my first choice.”
Stella Jin (’23)

“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.”
Echo Jin (’21)

5) Mentorship Program: “CEIBS offers a mentoring program to provide MBA students with valuable advice beyond the classroom in order to help them grow and develop as business professionals. All of the mentors are CEIBS alumni and come from various industries and functions. As a middle-level manager hoping to continue my career in the same function, I’m looking forward to listening to real work experiences from those who have been in my situation. Also, I’m hoping to create value for the mentor by sharing my experiences in different cultures.”
Jeina NA (’23)

6) Case Methodology: “I would say CEIBS’ case-based approach and the split between Chinese and international cases. I attended the CEIBS MBA summer boot camp in 2019, where I was able to experience a few case study discussions with the professors. That was what really convinced me to apply to CEIBS (and, indeed, CEIBS was the only business school I applied to)! Anyone can listen to lectures online and a lot of business has to be learnt and understood by doing. However, I love the case method in particular because it’s based on real-life situations; you have to use problem-solving and analytic skills, and you get to discuss them with your classmates and professors, who all bring different backgrounds and views. It gives you a little window into that specific industry and that specific business problem or model it is intended to highlight, like a little tantalizing sneak peek.”
Karen Xi Manqi (’23)

7) Shanghai Night: “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.”
Echo Jin (’21)

8) The Gobi China Module: “Leadership in Action. It is an amazing opportunity to learn how to lead, while facing adversity and uncertainty. Alumni describe it as unforgettable bonding experience with classmates.”
Radina Arnaudova (’23)

“I’ve heard great things about the Gobi Desert Module – 88km and five days full of challenges that test teams to the limit.”
Iñaki BERASATAEGUI PASMAN (’23)

The CEIBS campus is also home to some feline friends

ADVICE TO FUTURE APPLICANTS

“Clarify your China angle, your future goals (can be more than one if you are not sure) and what you can offer to CEIBS. Being able to prove experience in multi-cultural environments is key, so emphasize any relevant experience in that regard. Finally, even though the applications for business schools are quite dry, try to make sure your personality comes through in your application. That is what will really make you stand out.”
Archie Preston (’23)

“In your essays and interview, make sure your international background comes across… what value will you add in a class that is 60% from China?”
Iñaki BERASATAEGUI PASMAN (’23)

“Before you apply for the CEIBS MBA, it is essential to know yourself and justify why you need an MBA in China. After I met my classmates, I was very surprised that most of them were very specific about post-MBA life. That means they know what they need to achieve their plans, and that has acted as a powerful motivators to get into CEIBS. A person who has a strong motivator can win over others who do not have it.”
Jeina NA (’23)

MBA Student Hometown Undergrad Alma Mater Last Employer
Radina Arnaudova Varna, Bulgaria Brandeis University Ernst & Young
Iñaki BERASATAEGUI PASMAN Buenos Aires, Argentina University of Barcelona IQVIA
Morgan Fourdrigniez Nice, France George Washington University Ledgity
Sabine Katrin Neuhaus Zurich, Switzerland Zurich University Kellerhals Carrard
Christopher Ku Taiwan, China University of Illinois Apple
Jing LI Weifang, China Tsinghua University Shanghai Petroleum and Gas Exchange
Jungyuen (Jeina) NA Seoul, Korea University of Illinois Samsung Display
Archie Preston London, UK University of Cambridge DealGlobe Capital
Agnes Wen Shenzhen, China University of Oxford Arup
Karen Xi Manqi Singapore University of Oxford Focus Reports
Chris YUE Yi Yuncheng, China The Chinese University of Hong Kong Goldman Sachs
Stella Jin Shanghai, China Shanghai Jiao Tong University Schneider Electric
Eleni PETRI Arcadia, Greece University of Piraeus European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

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