Meet The China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) Class Of 2026

Q&A WITH CHINA EUROPE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL MBA DIRECTOR

P&Q: Please give us your one-minute pitch for your business school. What makes your program unique?

Zhang: The CEIBS MBA programme, consistently ranked first in Asia by the Financial Times for eight consecutive years (and ranked #21 in the world for 2024), is dedicated to cultivating future global business leaders. Our programme offers a unique blend of “China depth” and “global breadth”, preparing students to excel in both Asian and international markets.

We offer cutting-edge courses in digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability, along with personalised mentorship and a wide range of extracurricular activities. This creates a comprehensive platform for your growth. Through immersive learning, both in China and abroad, and real-world market explorations, we prepare you to confidently handle the complexities of global business.

When you join the CEIBS MBA, you become part of Asia’s most influential business elite community. You’ll access exceptional resources, advance together with like-minded peers, and lead sustainable business transformations with responsible management and strong leadership.

P&Q: What are the two most exciting developments at your program in the past year and how will they enrich the MBA experience for current and future MBAs?

Zhang:  1. Expansion of Digital Learning and Innovation. Over the past year, CEIBS has significantly expanded its focus on digital learning and innovation, integrating cutting-edge technologies into the MBA curriculum. With new courses in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital transformation, students now have access to tools and frameworks that are crucial in navigating the future of business. This development prepares current and future MBAs to lead in an increasingly digital and tech-driven world, enhancing their competitive edge.

2. Enhanced Global Immersion Programs. CEIBS has also strengthened its global immersion offerings, with more opportunities for students to engage in international learning experiences through global study trips, exchange programs, and partnerships with leading business schools. This year, the program has deepened its ties with top institutions across Europe, North America, and Asia, providing students with direct exposure to diverse business environments and leadership practices. For future MBAs, this international exposure will be a cornerstone of their development as global business leaders, fostering cross-cultural understanding and global networks.

P&Q: Sustainability has emerged as a major attraction to prospective MBA students. How does your full-time MBA program integrate sustainability across its curriculum?

Zhang: The CEIBS MBA program recognizes the importance of sustainability in today’s business world and integrates it across the curriculum in multiple ways. The program offers dedicated courses on sustainable business practices and ESG, allowing students to explore how businesses can thrive while contributing positively to society and the environment.

In addition to these specialized courses, sustainability principles are embedded into core subjects, such as strategic management, finance, and operations, ensuring that students can apply sustainable thinking across different areas of business. The program also promotes hands-on learning opportunities, such as projects and collaborations with organizations focused on sustainability, giving students real-world experience in driving sustainable initiatives.

CEIBS’ commitment to sustainability is further reflected in its partnerships with global sustainability-focused organizations and its emphasis on preparing students to become leaders in the green economy, making sustainability a central part of the CEIBS MBA experience.

P&Q: How does your school incorporate technology into the curriculum and how has it engaged students and faculty on the use or incorporation of such new, emerging technologies?

Zhang: At CEIBS, technology is deeply integrated into the MBA curriculum to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly digital world. The school has embedded emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, and digital transformation, into both core and elective courses. These topics are designed to help students understand how technology is reshaping industries and how they can leverage these tools for strategic advantage.

CEIBS also provides hands-on learning experiences through partnerships with tech companies and startups, allowing students to work on real-world projects that involve applying emerging technologies to solve business problems. This integration is supported by dedicated labs and resources focused on innovation and digital skills development.

To engage both students and faculty, CEIBS hosts regular workshops, seminars, and guest lectures featuring industry leaders and experts in tech.
These events foster discussions on the latest trends, such as the role of AI in business decision-making and the future of blockchain in finance. Additionally, CEIBS faculty members are continuously involved in research that explores the intersection of technology and business, ensuring that the curriculum stays at the forefront of innovation.

By incorporating technology into both the academic and extracurricular aspects of the MBA program, CEIBS ensures that its graduates are well-equipped to lead in an increasingly digital and tech-driven business landscape.

P&Q: What are some key elements in your teaching of leadership? What types of options does your school offer that deepens student experience with leadership and makes them more competitive in the marketplace?

Zhang: Experiential Learning. CEIBS places a strong emphasis on experiential learning, where students engage in real-world leadership challenges. This includes case studies, leadership simulations, and hands-on projects that allow students to apply leadership principles in dynamic and complex situations. These activities help students develop problem-solving skills, emotional intelligence, and decision-making abilities in a team environment.

Personal Leadership Development. The program offers personalized leadership coaching and development workshops, where students can assess their leadership styles, receive feedback, and work on specific areas for improvement. The goal is to help each student develop a unique leadership approach that aligns with their strengths and career aspirations. This personalized coaching, combined with 360-degree feedback, ensures that students understand their leadership potential and areas for growth.

Global Leadership Exposure. CEIBS provides opportunities for global leadership exposure, such as global study trips and exchanges with top business schools worldwide. These experiences expose students to diverse leadership styles and international business practices, broadening their perspectives and strengthening their ability to lead in cross-cultural and global environments.

Leadership in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. CEIBS has a strong focus on entrepreneurial leadership. Through its Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre, students have access to resources like startup incubators, pitch competitions, and mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs. This equips students with the leadership skills necessary to lead innovative projects and start their own ventures.

All MBA students are encouraged to take the leadership roles in a diverse array of big student-organised events, including TEDxCEIBS for sharing groundbreaking ideas, the Investment Forum for finance enthusiasts, the Female Leadership Forum for empowering women in business, the Healthcare Forum delves into medical industry trends, the Social Impact and Responsibility Forum (ESG Forum) to explore and promote sustainable business practices and ESG initiatives.

These leadership development elements, combined with the diverse learning environment at CEIBS, ensure that students leave the program well-prepared to take on leadership roles across industries. The holistic approach to leadership, grounded in both self-awareness and practical experience, makes CEIBS graduates highly competitive in the marketplace.

P&Q: What is your biggest student-run event of the year and what does it reflect about your school?

Zhang: One of the biggest student-run events at CEIBS is the TEDxCEIBS. This event is one of the biggest annual events independently led and organized by the CEIBS MBA students, integrates the TED spirit of “ideas worth spreading” with CEIBS’ signature “China Depth, Global Breadth”. Since its inaugural event in 2013, TEDxCEIBS has become a highly anticipated event among the TEDx community, thanks to its slate of well-regarded speakers from various industries and backgrounds. Bringing the names of TEDx and CEIBS together, we hope that TEDxCEIBS will become one of China’s most influential platforms for stimulating innovative ideas to the public through our efforts.

What makes the event truly unique is its student-driven nature. It’s organized entirely by the CEIBS MBA students, who take the lead in curating the program, selecting speakers, and managing logistics. This provides students with an opportunity to develop and demonstrate key leadership and event management skills.

P&Q: What are your two most popular traditions at the school? How do these reflect the spirit and mission of the institution?

Zhang: Shanghai Night. Surrounded by our motto “China Depth, Global Breath,” Shanghai Night started in 2005 and has been one of the most remarkable annual MBA events. CEIBS offers a vibrant student life that combines world-class education with the dynamic culture of Shanghai. The event has successfully become an opportunity for students of different programs to network and create memories with one another, alumni, directors, esteemed faculty, and staff.

CEIBS MBA CLASS OF 2026 STUDENT PROFILES

Name	Hometown	Alma Mater	Last Employer
Kofi Asare-Adjei	Takoradi, Ghana	MEng Civil Engineering	Asadtek Group of Companies
Gero Baltschukat	Berlin, Germany	Mannheim University	BCG
Jincai Fan	Leshan, China	University of Nottingham	Mininglamp Technolog
Yu Han Lin	Xiamen, Fujian, China	University of Toronto	Duo Kuai Hao Sheng Network Technology
Sasinipa Laowachara	Bangkok, Thailand	University of Nottingham	Mininglamp Technology
Sunjung Lim	Seoul, South Korea	HKUST	Estée Lauder
Takahiro Shimada	Tokyo, Japan	Kyoto University	McKinsey
Ariel Tee	Singapore	National University of Singapore	Ministry of Health
Estelle Xu	Shanghai, China	Tongji University	Sensoramatic by Johnson Controls
Kelly Xie	Shanghai, China	Cornell University	Deloitte
Harvey Zhao	Wuhan, China	Boston University	DXC Technology
Yao Wen	Jiangxi Province, China	Wuhan University	Strategy and Transaction Service

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