Yingchao Fu

“Passionate about designing vehicles and test facilities, engaged in the technical engineering industry to improve lives”

Hometown: Shanghai, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: I play a crucial role in visually representing the innovative and technical aspects of the automotive industry through photography.

Undergraduate School and Major: Tongji University, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechatronics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: NIO Inc., senior manager of the vehicle noise vibration harshness performance development section

What word best describes the UC Riverside MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far?
Helpful! Due to personal reasons, I missed the summer workshops and had some registration issues. But, my peer mentor, academic advisor, and admissions officer all helped me patiently and gave me practical advice that was clear, direct, and reasonable. I found that the UCR admission system works very effectively. The alumni also care about the students and help us adapt to this new environment.

Aside from classmates, what was the key part of UC Riverside’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? 
Diversity. The students here have a range of backgrounds. This diverse community is new to me, and it has been a comfortable environment for me to leave my comfort zone.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at UC Riverside?
One of my favorite organizations is the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM) Student Association. The people in the club are energized, friendly, and supportive. It’s a great way to connect with colleagues and get involved on campus.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
At NIO Inc., our mission is to create a sub-brand vehicle within a very short engineering time, including architecture, performance, and vehicle development. NIO recruited some top engineers in the industry to establish an engineering team. I was asked to build a team responsible for vehicle noise, vibration, and harshness performance. I recruited about 20 people—who were efficient, careful, and cost-driven—to finish the architecture and vehicle development. The prototype vehicle performance turned out to be very good, and it was a successful project. Later next year, there just may be a new economical vehicle model in the market to provide people with a better experience.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:
One of my biggest accomplishments as an MBA student so far is being selected for a teaching assistantship. I am honored to have been chosen for this great opportunity. I look forward to connecting with the professor and students and leveraging this opportunity to sharpen my leadership skills. I am also grateful for the additional funding this opportunity awards me to cover the cost of my tuition.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there?
I am excited to get my driver’s license in the U.S. I will explore all the amazing places in Riverside with my classmates. My first stop to visit is the Mission Inn in Riverside!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation?
It was the right time for me to start a new journey. I have 12 years of work experience in vehicle engineering, and I can clearly see the promotion path I will have in the vehicle industry. I have varied engineering and team-management experience, and the UCR MBA program is a good chance for me to explore future career opportunities.

I hope to design even better vehicle products with lower prices, efficient performance, driving ease, and less energy consumption. I’d like to merge new technology into vehicles to redefine the expectations of a car. In the future, automobiles will serve as more than just transportation with integrated functions and innovative technology—almost like a home that’s mobile as people spend more time in their cars.