Kelly Xie

“Interested in diplomacy, international affair, kpop and kdrama”

Hometown: Shanghai, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: Use map navigator for every route

Undergraduate School and Major: Cornell University, Mathematics and Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deloitte Consulting, Consultant

What were some of the key motivating factors behind pursing your MBA, and why did this seem like the right time for you?

MBA can fill my knowledge gap and strengthen my leadership ability. Through MBA, I can understand the current opportunities and challenges of Chinese enterprises. At Deloitte, my clients are mostly foreign “big-name” companies and I actually learnt from them about the current situation of Chinese companies as their competitors. I would like to gain a deep understanding of Chinese companies and doing business in China from the China’s perspective and through first-hand information.

When you think of your school, what is the first word that comes to mind and why?

Relationship.

The alumni network of CEIBS is diverse and influential in various industries in China. When I told my boss that I wanted to apply to CEIBS, he immediately matched me with another partner who had attended CEIBS. Although it was more than ten years ago, he spoke highly of the faculty and student body. I really love this collaborative alumni culture where everyone supports each other. CEIBS also offers many resources like career development center, exchange program, mentorship program, etc.

What are one or two key aspects of this MBA program that stood out among the others, and why were they so important to you?

CEIBS faculty come from all over the world, providing diverse and global perspectives. As most CEIBS professors live and work in China, they will share the most relevant and up-to-date China issues. At the same time, every student is required to have some degree of overseas experience. That’s exactly the MBA program I was looking for, which demonstrates a perfect balance between China depth and Global breadth

What course were you/are you most interested in taking coming into the program and why?

Marketing course. As someone who never studies marketing systematically, I find the basic concept and framework very interesting. Also, the case-based method is very effective and engaging, pushing my limits to always think a level deeper.

What club, activity, or experience at the school have you most enjoyed so far, and why?

I am taking the role of Career Development & Social Affair Chairs on Student Committee. I secured sponsorship for Sunny Cup, which is a sports competition among top MBA schools in Shanghai. I am very happy to see students practice and train heavily for the competition (I also compete in women’s basketball) and students enjoy themselves in sports.

What do you consider the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

Built an intelligent integrated business model from scratch that minimizes the time and workload of collecting continuously updated from 9 business units and enables multi-perspective and multi-level attribution analysis.

Developed a customized and user-friendly interface from scratch where users could know real-time revenue/volume/price forecasts in different scenarios by adjusting forecasts of the macro environment or industry

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to other prospective MBAs? 

I recommend the book “Breaking Through: My Life in Science” from Katalin Karikó, who is the winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Karikó’s decades-long research led to the COVID-19 vaccines. Her life story is very authentic and inspirational.

What are two things you have learned at your school that have surprised you so far – one academic and one non-academic?

For the academic part, one surprising aspect is how deeply interconnected different concepts are. I expected finance, marketing, operations, and strategy to have clear distinctions, but in reality, they blend together. This integration has broadened my perspective on decision-making within a business context.

On the non-academic side, I’ve been surprised by the power of networking and collaboration within the MBA program. The bonds formed during group projects, discussions, and social events have been invaluable, far beyond just professional connections.

What advice would you give to help prospective MBAs gain admission into an MBA program?

Plan your long-term career goals and do backward induction