October 21, 2021. Shanghai – The student committee for CEIBS MBA2023 was officially elected today after a closely contested election which came down to the difference of just three votes. Eight members with diverse backgrounds and experience make up the student committee this year. The SC will support the MBA2023 cohort of 120 students throughout the next 16 months in terms of study, life and career development. Here are their stories.

Jing LI
President

“Hello! I am from Weifang, Shandong, the capital of kites. Although I majored in computer science at university, I chose to join an international oil and gas company because I didn’t want to sit in the grid and write codes all day. I have worked in nine countries and worked with colleagues from more than 40 countries, engaging with stakeholders from various backgrounds. I hope that these experiences can help the MBA2023 students become a solid group and make the 16 months of the MBA journey one of the best memories of their lives.

In addition, I am an outdoor sports enthusiast. I have been sponsored by The North Face for mountain biking, seen penguins in the Antarctic, chased tiger sharks 50 meters under the ocean, almost got caught in an avalanche while snowboard-mountaineering, and was robbed by three gunmen in Africa. In addition to the work of the student union, I also hope to take my classmates to participate in the Desert Adventure competition and unlock their first 5,000-meter snow mountain.”

Connor BRALLA
Vice President

“My name is Connor, and I am delighted to serve as the SC Vice President! Originally from the US, I made the fateful decision to come to China shortly after graduating from Haverford College in 2014. I had only the scantest understanding of this country and of my direction in life when I arrived seven years ago. However, in that time, and after a great deal of experience in the education and education consulting industries, I’m proud to say I have made extraordinary progress in my understanding of the depth of China and the breadth of the world, as well as of my own place in all of this. In the 21^st century, the most valuable ability we can cultivate is simply the ability to learn – to adapt to and find meaning in rapidly changing circumstances while at the same time holding onto the unchanging essence of the human condition. CEIBS represents the best chance I have yet had to further accelerate my growth and development, and I am extraordinarily eager to share this experience with my classmates, as well as with my family, friends, and future colleagues.”

Peter ZHANG
APCC Chair

“I was born and raised in Dalian, a northern seaside city where the summer is cool and the winter is windy. I studied in Tianjin and Los Angeles, and came back to Shanghai in 2012. I have a flexible character which I believe is a good match with my APCC position, because I must stick to the rules when necessary, and, at the same time, I need soft skills to foster a sense of belonging in the student body, which is more important to our academic success and career development. I will work hard with my SC teammates to better serve our student body.”

Sabrina YU
Director of Communications

“As the Director of Communications for MBA2023, I will mainly take care of the promotion for various marketing events and provide all of you with informative and interesting content via newsletters and other social media platforms. Meanwhile, I will help your to realise your growth and achievements and record our beautiful shared memories.

I was born and raised in Wuhan, worked in the marketing team at a top-tier FMCG company, then switched to operations/strategy for a few Silicon Valley startup as an early member in China. The pursuit of challenge is carved into my DNA at work, and I enjoy cooking and playing the drums in my spare time. On this MBA journey, ‘experience’ and ‘friendship’ are the key words for me – I cannot wait to explore more with you!”

Shirley CUI
Director of Career Development

“As the ‘intermediary agent of job hunting,’ I will be dedicated to bridging the student body with the CEIBS Career Development Centre, decreasing information asymmetry and connecting the student body with opportunities more efficiently and precisely.

Though born in Taiyuan, Shanxi, I am not a fan of vinegar or fenjiu, but I have inherited good qualities from my Huangtugaopo ancestors, including aiming high, but also being down to earth, hospitable, genuine and kind. I am actively learning snowboarding, tennis, guitar, podcast and scuba diving. I love talking to all sorts of creatures (including my pet cat), enjoy talk shows and dream about becoming an amateur talk show host someday. I believe the MBA is one of the most precious journeys in life, and I sincerely hope I can accompany the MBA2023 batch for a bright, fabulous and fruitful time.”

Richard SUN
Treasurer

“I was born in Kunming, in Yunnan Province, a city with mild climate. I then came to Shanghai, a city with only hot summers and freezing winters, as an undergraduate at Tongji University. After that, I went to Imperial College London for postgraduate studies and achieved my master’s degree there (in the MBA 2023 batch, I am lucky to have two Tongji alumni and three Imperial College alumni with me). Upon graduating, I came back to Shanghai, settled down here and now am a father of a two-year-old boy. I have been working in the real estate industry as a project manager in developer for six years. I can talk with designers about art and culture in CBD, and I can also work with workers on noisy and dusty construction sites. Being prudent and dedicated is my philosophy for work. Although I don’t have a background in accounting, I do want to serve the whole batch as a treasurer with my experience in budgets and contract management. I love sports combining human power and mechanics, and have a deep enthusiasm for cycling and F1 (I’m a big fan of Michael Schumacher). A career combining my engineering background with an MBA is a dream formed when I was in high school, and now my dream is being realised at CEIBS. It’s my honour to be with you on this MBA journey. Once classmates, always friends.”

Sam LI
Director of Campus Affairs

“As the Director of Campus Affairs for MBA 2023, I am responsible for listening to the needs of students in various aspects of campus life. The MBA journey is intense and fast-paced, and I hope to create a better experience for my classmates on campus as they embark on this journey. Having extensive living and traveling experiences abroad gives me perspective on how different environments shape our lives. During my free time, I enjoy exercising (basketball, yoga, and fitness) and trying new things.  I have completed the Shanghai Marathon and competed in Rubik’s Cube speed solving, and most recently, focused on brewing a great shot of espresso. I hope to engage in new experiences with my classmates in the next 16 months and create unforgettable memories of a lifetime.”

Rena FAN
Director of External Affairs and Campus Activities

“As the Director of Social Activities and External Affairs for MBA 2023, I am responsible for organising social activities that are fun and meaningful, as well as connecting the CEIBS family. I wish to improve the quality of each event and create unforgettable memories for our fellow students (instead of just throwing random parties). During my free time, I enjoy photographing, trying new things and reading detective novels. I am devoted to creating a special journey with all of you and stay tuned for the activities.

A journey of only 16 months in the CEIBS MBA programme is also an extraordinary experience for all of us. We are ready, to help you have a life of ease in the campus; we are ready to cheer for you despite all the challenges waiting ahead; we are ready to grow together and applause for every single progress! Together, we form the lifelong bonds and friendships!”