"I was one of the first Korean students at CEIBS graduating in 1999. Only a year after my graduation, the IMFG financial crisis struck Asia, and I soon hit rock-bottom worrying about the future of my new investment business. Korea was near bankruptcy. The thought of being penniless for the rest of my life brought upon me unimaginable anxiety for my future and my family. As a symbolic gesture, I started saving up my lunch money as a small token to the efforts to help pay back Korea's huge debt at the time. 

Just as I was feeling the whole world was turning against me, one of my former classmates at CEIBS wrote about my situation in a local Chinese newspaper, explaining that a Korean student was skipping lunch just to save a little more money. I suddenly felt an outpouring of support and understanding from my former colleagues that helped me understand what the CEIBS network is all about, and that I was not alone. 

Fifteen years and dozens of transactions later with my successful VC firm investing in Chinese industry, I can reflect back on that moment and feel grateful for all the support that CEIBS has given me to help me throughout my career. The network it provides was undoubtedly indispensable for the success of my business. China now has become my second home, and CEIBS is an integral part of my family."