Irene Chen 

CEIBS (China Europe International Business School)

“Life is a journey. I will never stop to explore the world and challenge myself.”

Hometown: Jinhua Zhejiang, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: Although New York City has rarely been hit by a hurricane, the first time I travelled to the US, I encountered a strong hurricane, also named Irene, there.

Undergraduate School and Major: 

University College London – Mathematics

Columbia University – Financial Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Minsheng Royal Asset Management – Vice President

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While working at my former company, I developed a trading strategy according to the seasonal trading patterns of a fixed income market, which successfully lowered the financing cost of our portfolios. I built a model that could proactively anticipate the possible timing of a lack of liquidity in the market to help the company successfully get through the liquidity squeeze and achieve the expected return rate. Furthermore, my deals made the biggest contribution to our department’s KPIs and help the company achieve the expected return rate.

What is the biggest appeal of earning an MBA in China? After studying in the UK and US, I decided to come back to China to develop my career. China has been rapidly growing for many years and it is now an important player in the world. As a budding entrepreneur, I hope I can grasp this opportunity to develop my career. A successful business is always built on a foundation of strong teamwork. Therefore, building a talented team is my top priority. Earning an MBA degree in China gives me a chance to establish my network with other local talent. There is no doubt that it is the ideal place to build my team.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates and why? Obliging. They are smart and willing to share. My classmates are from different academic backgrounds and industries, most of them from the first class, global universities such as Harvard and Oxford – and with very successful careers. Despite the amazing things they have achieved, they are all humble and more than willing to share their knowledge and deep insights of their industries. Through personal talks, sharing forums, and discussion panels, we share and learn from each other. One popular saying in CEIBS is that we swap a piece of life with each other.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the MBA curriculum or activities that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? 

I wanted to learn more about the local business environment. I had been living overseas for a long time, completing my higher education in Western countries. I knew there were significant differences between east and west. To be an entrepreneur in China, I needed to learn more about Chinese business.

‘China Depth, Global Breadth’. That is what attracted me to CEIBS the most. As a top ranked MBA business school, CEIBS attracts talented people from all over the world with diverse and interesting backgrounds. The interactive way of teaching inspires everyone and brings about positive synergies amongst people from different cultures, ethnicities, and industries. At the same time, we are fascinated by the development of Asia, especially China, and eager to build our careers here. CEIBS offers many China depth programs, from China-related courses to an Integrated China Strategy Project (ICSP) to China modules, which give us a better understanding of its unique history, culture and business ecosystem.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? None. I was very determined to join CEIBS.

What do you see yourself doing ten years from now? My family business is a traditional OEM, which produces vacuum bottles. I would like to take over the company and help establish a consumer brand. 10 years from now, I want to see myself managing a factory with an efficient management system and high-tech equipped employees and having an established consumer brand covering several kinds of products. Through joint ventures with artists, I also hope my products will inspire people’s creative desire to embrace art in their lives.