Meet the MBA Class of 2024: Kempei Hori (Leung), CEIBS

Kempei Hori (Leung)
China Europe International Business School (CEIBS)

“A father of two who never missed a single event for his children.”

Hometown: Tokyo, Japan

Fun Fact About Yourself: I lived in Hong Kong for 16 years, the US for seven years, and Japan for nine years.

Undergraduate School and Major: B.A. (Marketing Major, Chinese Minor) / University of Oregon

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Panasonic, Assistant Manager of Corporate Planning

Aside from your classmates, what was the key programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The strong and diversified community of Chinese (including international students/alumni) professionals. The journey at CEIBS doesn’t end with just doing your MBA. It’s a life-long journey with the whole community which consists of many other programs such as the EMBA and Global EMBA programs. While studying with the bright future leaders of China on the MBA, being able to connect with established leaders who went to CEIBS or still learning at CEIBS was one of the most attractive aspects of the programme to me as an applicant, and I wasn’t wrong. It is important to me as an international to always have the community to learn from and to rely on since China is just huge, evolving, and diversified in all aspects.

What course, club or activity excites you the most? The Student Ambassador programme. I wouldn’t have chosen CEIBS or received an offer from CEIBS as an applicant without the support of the Student Ambassadors. Now, I want to give back to future applicants and anyone who is interested in pursuing an MBA or career in China.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I set the company record for the highest annual revenue and profit for consumer batteries (disposable) in Japan at Panasonic for three consecutive years (2016-2018). It might be less stressful and easier to just follow the established operations working in a huge company like Panasonic in Japan, where business infrastructure and tradition have been the same for decades. I was always thinking outside of the box. Challenging the company regulations to develop new business partnerships, restructure the supply chain from scratch or creating new product categories for the first time in 10 years, you name it. Ultimately, this led me to be chosen as the only sponsored MBA student from Panasonic amongst over 100 applicants within the company in 2020.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? The story of Dabbawalla and its “SHARE MY DABBA” initiative. This is a beautiful story of serving the community with business that every business leader dreams of achieving someday.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into CEIBS MBA program? Think of what you want from the whole CEIBS community, not only the MBA, and also how you can contribute to the community. Also talk to both local and international students and alumni to better understand the programme as a whole. Good luck and I am looking forward to hearing your stories!

Read more profiles from the CEIBS MBA Class Of 2024.