September 13, 2025. Shanghai – Marking 30 years from the day that CEIBS admitted its very first English-language EMBA class, recently the school hosted the largest alumni reunion in the Global EMBA programme’s history.

With over 230 attendees representing classes from 2022 right back to the pioneering cohort of 1995, the reunion gathered Global EMBA alums who had flown in from all over the world. 

As the event’s MC, Global EMBA Director and Associate Dean Professor Bala Ramasamy gave everyone in attendance a warm welcome, saying:

“Today is more than just a reunion – it is a homecoming. To CEIBS, to the GEMBA family, and to the memories and friendships that bind us across three decades. From the pioneers who walked these halls in 1995, to the graduates of 2022, this gathering is living history.”

CEIBS Prof. of Economics, Associate Dean and GEMBA Programme Director, Bala Ramasamy hosts the event

Opening Remarks: 30 Years of Building Bridges

CEIBS President Professor Wang Hong gave an opening address, looking back to the mid-90s when the Global EMBA programme began. Professor Wang applauded the gathered alumni, praising them for their personal and collective achievements, saying:

“Over the following 30 years, our Global EMBA has forged ahead, evolving into the largest, most diverse and top-ranked international EMBA programme in Asia. Dear alumni, all these achievements belong not only to the school but also to you. You are the school's most valuable asset, and you are all global ambassadors of the CEIBS spirit.”

Opening remarks by CEIBS President Wang Hong

Then followed Vice President and Dean, Professor Frank Bournois, who echoed the sentiment that CEIBS’ alumni are the lifeblood of the school.

“Thirty years ago, this programme was born from a simple but powerful idea: to create an English-language EMBA in China that could grow leaders with international outlooks and global horizons. Today, more than 2,400 Global EMBA alumni are leading and working in over fifty countries. What unites them is not only their success, but also their role as bridge-builders. They remind us all that the value of this programme is not only measured in rankings, but in lives transformed, careers elevated, and connections forged.”

Opening remarks by CEIBS Vice President and Dean, Frank Bournois

Dialogue: Reviewing GEMBA’s Growth

Professor Bala then invited three of the “architects of CEIBS’s success” to the stage. To date, these three veteran CEIBS professors have given a combined 74 years of service to the school.

During a short dialogue, they shared their respective reasons for joining CEIBS, along with their opinions on how the Global EMBA programme has changed since its inception.

“China opened the door, we saw the world and we knew we had to develop in a confident yet logically sound manner. Across every major sector, China wanted to improve the “scientific management” of its key companies – to produce leaders capable of viewing global business trends and practices, learning from them, and applying them intelligently to their own circumstances. That is what CEIBS offered from the very start. It was an offering supported by both the European and Chinese governments, because both understood the inherent value of learning from each other.”

“It felt like joining a startup but one with serious ambition – a vision to bring China and the world closer together and build better business practices as a result. From the outset, it always felt like this dream would come true. Today, I want to say to all our alumni, stay curious, stay grounded, and continuously invest in yourself – not just in your skills but also your mindset. We are living in extremely complicated times, so learn how to ask the right questions that will lead you to make the right decisions.”

“Naturally, the makeup of EMBA classes has changed over the past three decades. In the beginning, we had more students from SOEs and MNCs, and some government institutions. Now, each new cohort is increasingly diverse in terms of the students’ professional backgrounds, experiences and future goals. They are more openminded, more globally aware, and more intellectually curious. Given the mission of CEIBS, I think these changes are indicative of the programme’s success.”

Keynote Speech: Leading Through Time, Transforming for Tomorrow

Professor Ramasamy returned to the podium to deliver a speech that explored the similarities between the growth and evolving role of CEIBS and that of China. Against a backdrop of China’s increasing trade potential, economic strength, multinational partnerships and industrial transformation, CEIBS has moved in step with these times of extraordinary change.

“CEIBS Global EMBA cannot just be classroom-based; it must be immersive and based on real-world situations. It cannot focus purely on China; it must encompass the world. It cannot be just about receiving; it must also be about giving. CEIBS Global EMBA has come to represent the best of what business can be; it embraces sustainability, genuine partnership, the open exchange of knowledge and expertise, and, above all, responsible leadership. It is a community whose members understand that the world is their classroom, and that the impact they make out there is what matters most,” said the professor.

GEMBA Club Initiative

Professor Bala recognised the recipients of the 2024 Global EMBA Alumni Ambassador Excellence Award, celebrating alumni who have gone above and beyond in mentoring, admissions support, and strengthening the Global EMBA community worldwide.

He then announced the official launch of the CEIBS Global EMBA Alumni Association (“GEMBA Club”), a new platform designed to represent alumni, promote the programme’s GLOCAL ethos—global connections with local expertise, and collaborate with existing Global EMBA alumni clubs around the world to amplify the voice of the CEIBS community, and ensure every Global EMBA graduate feels represented and empowered.

Following this announcement, Administration Director Ms. Isa Luo invited the preparatory working group on stage to be acknowledged for their leadership and contributions. Dr. Ma Lei, CEIBS CPC Secretary, presented flowers to the group as a gesture of appreciation. The initiative now moves forward to the formation of its first council, with nominations open to the wider alumni community.

Keynote Speech: China through the Looking Glass

The second half of the anniversary event began with a keynote speech from CEIBS’ special guest Anke Schrader, China Director of the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network. In it, she examined the unfolding challenges that the Chinese economy currently faces.

Ms Schrader homed in on the spike in geopolitical volatility that accompanied the arrival of ‘Trump 2.0’. While disruptive, she believes that the rapidly shifting tariff landscape will not bring about an immediate reshuffling of the board.

“We are in a protracted and challenging phase of the US-China relationship. The frictions are deeply structural and cut across multiple dimensions, which means adjustments are difficult and will be gradual. The US remains the world’s primary source of demand, while China is the largest hub of global manufacturing – positions not easily replaced by any other economy or bloc. Tensions in areas such as technology, security, and resilience are being managed rather than resolved, with China steadily working to strengthen its domestic ecosystem and reduce exposure to external pressure.”

After delivering her speech, Ms Schrader was then invited by CEIBS Professor Howei Wu for an open Q&A session. The attending CEIBS alumni were able to pose their questions to the guest speaker, with the conversation focusing on potential next steps for the Chinese economy and viable strategies for companies wishing to enter, survive and thrive here.

Fireside Chat by CEIBS Professor Howei Wu (Left) and China Director of the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network, Anke Schrader (Right)

30 Years on, GEMBA is Going Strong

After receiving a combination of heartfelt addresses, milestone celebrations and new business insights, the 300+ GEMBA alumni then retired for lunch followed by a series of classroom-based case studies led by CEIBS professors Byron Lee, Shameen Prashantham and Taiyuan Wang. 

This expanded agenda for the annual alumni reunion supports the GEMBA philosophy of lifelong learning. As Professor Bala said: “Whenever you come to school, you must come away having learned something new. This holds true even if you’re here primarily to catch up with old friends!”

30 years after its inaugural class entered the Shanghai campus for the first time, CEIBS’ GEMBA programme continues to go from strength to strength. Its alumni community keeps growing in size, stature and diversity every year, and its members remain committed to the idea that through continuous learning and responsible leadership, they can positively impact the world around them.

Here's to another 30 years of building bridges. Together, we achieve more.