Broader horizon: from P&G to Shanghai Juahwa
Figure: Kang Yajun, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Jiahwa United Co., Ltd., a 2002 graduate of China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).
In 1996 when Kang Yajun graduated from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics with a Master's degree, she began to work in P & G. In 2001 when her career developed smoothly at P & G, she decided to be study at CEIBS to enrich her knowledge. "Management = arts + science, and one can only meet the requirements of 'science' through systematic management education."
The MBA program has not only fueled the development of her career, but also provided her with "broacher horizon, more comprehensive perspective, and more effective implementation".
"Feel Painful" for Inadequate Time
CEIBS' attraction to Kang Yajun lies in its internationalized faculty, curricula structure, students, teaching contents and approaches and others. In 2001 when she got full scholarship from CEIBS, she began her "painful but happy" MBA life.
What made her most "painful" during the period was that she always felt that she had not enough time. Except for the time spent in internship and working outside school, the time for study was actually only one year, during which the students had to learn many specialized courses, analyze cases in different fields, and attend various symposium and lectures… Everyone hoped that he could get as much as possible the essence of foreign managerial theories and know managerial practice in a short time so that he could quickly shape his own managerial framework and thinking. At that time, five-hour-sleep a day could be most luxurious to her. Sometimes, she would have a nap at noon for about ten minutes, but she would wind an alarm clock.
Feel Happy with the Campus Life
"In retrospection, I feel that I was really full of vigor at that time!" Kang Yajun says, "I still felt mentally happy because I could learn something new and accumulate the knowledge, though I was physically tired. The relatively simple campus life enabled me to devote myself into study and make full use of my time, leaving aside for the moment the outside business competition."
During her study at CEIBS, Kang Yajun was selected by a Belgian multinational to visit its headquarters in Europe and participate in forging its plan for global business. Her cooperation with the top management had greatly expanded her international horizon. Later, she led a team of 8 members from both France and China to formulate an overall promotion plan for a brand of L'Oreal Group. During the process, she applied what she had learned and gained a proactive insight into the world of cosmetics. As founder and chairman of CEIBS students' club, Kang Yajun was in charge of cultural and academic exchange activities internally and externally. These activities made her feel life at CEIBS colorful and happy.
A New Starting Point in Career
The MBA program has not only provided Kang Yajun with two-year happy campus life, but also expanded the room for her career development.
After graduating from the MBA program, she hoped that she could integrate her knowledge and managerial framework gained from the business school with the practice in Chinese market on a complete and comprehensive managerial platform, which the local enterprises are more willing to offer their staff. Out of this consideration, she rejected politely offers from many renowned multinationals and chose Shanghai Jiahwa as a new starting point in her career.
"Shanghai Jiahwa boasts of excellent corporate culture and leaders as well as good managerial basis and atmosphere. If I can apply the managerial approaches and experience I've gained from outstanding foreign companies and business school to local brands and market, I think it is highly possible that I can achieve unprecedented success. On the other hand, Deputy General Manager at a listed company like Shanghai Jiahwa is a very comprehensive position, which offers me a broad platform to lead all departments concerned to display their potential as well as a chance to benefit the development of the company with my capabilities. To me, this can hardly be possible in foreign companies or foreign-funded companies.
