The successful applicants who make up each year’s new Global EMBA class are drawn from across an expansive range of personal and professional backgrounds. The chances of gaining a place in the same class as someone you interned with over 16 years ago are slim, but that’s exactly what has happened this year for two members of our Global EMBA 2021 class!

Feijie Chen and Min Qu have both built impressive careers for themselves in the automotive and manufacturing industries, respectively. Feijie has developed her engineering path to become the APAC Purchasing Manager for the recently launched eMobility unit launched by power management firm Eaton. Meanwhile, Min has followed a consultancy path that has led her from Roland Berger and Dupont to her current position as the Asia Strategy and BD Head for Milliken, a 150-year-old private firm headquarted in the US that is responsible for a breadth of business disciplines, including speciality chemicals and textile manufacturing.

However, 16 years ago, the two of them were interns together at the Shanghai branch office of Accenture, a highly respected global professional services company.

 Feijie

“I couldn’t believe it when we met again here at CEIBS. Both of us instinctively knew on sight that we knew each other, and it all clicked into place when Min asked if she had interned with Accenture. I think some people are meant to meet, and are meant to reunite at some point in their lives when the time is right. You always make connections with people; you just never know how that connection is going to manifest itself later in life.”

 Min

“It’s remarkable, a minor miracle! Of all the times and places to do an EMBA, we picked the same programme, applied and successfully got in. Feijie and I have had very different career paths, working for different companies in different fields, but here we are, together again!”

All roads lead to CEIBS

Despite the divergent paths that Feijie and Min have taken in their careers, their motivations for joining CEIBS and the Global EMBA programme were remarkably similar. Having achieved executive positions at their respective organisations, both decided that they needed to broaden their understanding of key business functions in general. At the same time, they both wanted to be challenged in a totally new and exciting manner, opening up new horizons within their professional worlds.

 Min

“Now is the time for me to refresh my ability to take on new skills and knowledge. I’ve been out of the academic learning environment for a long time, and I’ve been focused purely on what’s happening in my industry, on things directly affecting my company and role. I applied for the Global EMBA at CEIBS because I wanted to be brought up to speed on the latest business strategies and trends, while hearing from talented people across all manner of positions and industries. CEIBS was my one and only choice!”
 

Feijie

“With my engineering background, I thought it was the ideal time to extend my professional understanding of the business functions that are essential collaborators with my unit. Like everyone else, I have gaps in my knowledge that CEIBS can fill, while helping me understand my industry from a much wider perspective. I don’t just want to catch up though; I want to get ahead of the game. I knew that CEIBS was the place to do that, because of its reputation for attracting innovative thinkers. I can’t wait to learn everything I can from the amazing cohort and professors sharing this journey with me.”

 
The motivational power of friendship

Though Min and Feijie are still at the beginning of their Global EMBA journey, they have been quick to make plans to collaborate and learn from each other wherever they can. More generally, both leaders are keen to emphasise the importance of the new (and renewed) friendships that they have made with their classmates. It has been a long-standing objective of the Global EMBA programme to actively encourage bonds of friendship between its students, to help them better collaborate and learn from each other more effectively. Beyond the obvious benefits of adding an enjoyable social layer to each student’s academic journey with CEIBS, this also serves as another vital channel for their learning and overall personal growth.

 Feijie

“Already, at this early stage of the programme, I have received such useful and honest advice from my friends and classmates. This is not a luxury you have in your daily job. You may have friends at work, good friends even, but there is always the unspoken issue of competition to consider. Maybe you are competing for the same promotion, or more resources, better projects, etc. This is not an issue in the Global EMBA progamme and it really shows in the way we open up to each other. I cherish this the most.”

 Min

“It’s difficult to get completely transparent and helpful professional advice from any source. Your colleagues have their own work considerations, and your family and friends outside of work probably won’t have the full knowledge and understanding of your work situation necessary to give the best advice. However, at CEIBS, we quickly formed such a warm, understanding group of like-minded professionals. We are not in competition with each other. We don’t have to hold back, we can share and help one another unreservedly. It is already proving essential in making my studies more valuable, and more fun!”
 

Taking the next step together as classmates

As they prepare for their coming series of modules, Feijie and Min urge their classmates, and all current CEIBS students, to enjoy their time here to the fullest. They advise making the most of every learning opportunity available – from discussions within the classroom, to more informal chats outside of it.

Looking back on their progression from interns to business leaders at major multinationals, both women say that they owe much of their success to the people who helped mould them, professionally and personally. They both aim to continue making the most of what is on offer at CEIBS, whether the learning takes place in a classroom, during a company visit, an impromptu meet-up between friends, or any other setting.

Looking back on the 16 years that have passed between their internships and their recent reunion at CEIBS, Feijie and Min are thrilled to share their story, and that they get to play a part in each other’s journeys once again. Their final message to their classmates is to be bold, be yourself, and be responsible for shaping your own learning journey.

Feijie

“Try to get to know everyone as much as you can. You never know who will be an important influence on you, and who you might bump into later in life. This reunion is a proof of that!”

 Min

“This is the ideal place to rediscover yourself and expand your mindset on what you can achieve. My advice is not to always wait for the ‘perfect time’ to make changes in your life. Think deeply about what you want and, if it’s important to you, then just go for it.”

We hope that everyone in the current Global EMBA classes, and all students at CEIBS, are similarly enjoying forging new friendships while reaching out to any old acquaintances in our community. Always remember that we can go further when we learn together!