On April 12, the CEIBS Alumni GEMBA Club (hereinafter referred to as the “GEMBA Club”) successfully convened its first council meeting at the Shanghai Campus of China Europe International Business School. Twenty-two founding council members from different locations gathered to witness this milestone moment. The meeting marked the official establishment of a dedicated alumni organization for the Global EMBA Programme, creating a vibrant, alumni-led and alumni-serving platform for GEMBA graduates across the globe.

Professor Bala Ramasamy, Professor of Economics, Associate Dean and Global EMBA Programme Director, extended his warmest congratulations on the founding of the Club. In his keynote address, he traced the journey that brought the Club into being and outlined his vision for its future through four guiding key words:
Inclusion — “It is for every single person who has earned the GEMBA name. Every cohort. Every background. Every story.”
Community — “Community is not built by proximity. It's built by intention. We choose to stay connected — not out of convenience, but because connection creates greater value and unleashes greater strength.”
Global Mindset — “A true global mindset is the rich, nuanced practice of working across borders, languages, assumptions, and worldviews. The CEIBS Alumni GEMBA Club is where we bring this vision to life.”
Mutual Empowerment — “I want every member of this club to walk away from every interaction — every event, every conversation, every late-night phone call — feeling stronger. Sharper. More capable. More seen.”

Professor Bala concluded his remarks with heartfelt words: “Years from now, when someone asks about the CEIBS Alumni GEMBA Club, I want them to hear this story: that it started with twenty-two people who believed that a great education deserves a great community. That over 40 people raised their hands before a single meeting was held. That from day one, this was not top-down — it was ground-up. Built by alumni, for alumni.”

From Framework to Collaboration
Guided by Isa LUO, Administrative Director of the CEIBS Global EMBA Programme, the council members began with an icebreaker activity followed by individual introductions, helping forge connections across the group. Ren Delan, Head of the Preparatory Committee, then delivered a comprehensive report on the progress of preparatory work to date. Isa subsequently presented the Club’s mission, positioning, and proposed organizational structure in detail. Following a formal vote, the council members approved the final organizational framework.

Learning from Sister Alumni Chapters: Building a Global Alumni Network
The meeting was honored to feature guest sharing from representatives of the CEIBS North California Chapter (USA), the CEIBS Singapore Alumni Chapter, and the CEIBS Europe Alumni Chapter. Their insights on cross-regional collaboration and proven practices provided invaluable reference points for the GEMBA Club as it charts its own path forward.

From Blueprint to Action
The council committee then broke into working groups for in-depth discussion, developing a preliminary action list centered on the Club’s near-term priorities, which were subsequently shared and refined in plenary session. From community event planning to industry resource matchmaking, from cross-regional alumni engagement to lifelong learning initiatives, the Club’s work will focus on two core pillars:
1. Alumni Services — The CEIBS Alumni GEMBA Club will serve as the central coordination and empowerment hub for the 10 vertical GEMBA student clubs, connecting, supporting, and energizing their activities. It will oversee alumni outreach, services, and relationship management worldwide, acting as a bridge between alumni and their alma mater, and among alumni themselves.
2. Branding & Events — The Club will regularly host industry forums, company visits, themed salons, and other engagement activities, creating a platform for alumni to share resources and foster meaningful collaboration. In parallel, it will strengthen external communications to elevate the visibility and recognition of the CEIBS GEMBA Club.

The successful convening of this inaugural board meeting marks the official launch of the CEIBS Alumni GEMBA Club. As a pivotal step forward in building the CEIBS GEMBA alumni community, the Club is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, globally minded, and mutually empowering platform.

With the collective dedication of its council members and alumni, the CEIBS Alumni GEMBA Club will surely grow into a steadfast platform that unites GEMBA strength, connects a global network, and empowers lifelong growth.

Appendix: CEIBS Alumni GEMBA Club Council Members