In this in-depth CEIBS alumni interview, Diego Garcia Fernandez, Deputy Director - Global Strategic Partnerships at Ant International and alumnus of CEIBS MBA Class of 2017, shares his remarkable global career journey from CEIBS to Alibaba and Ant Group, offering rare behind-the-scenes insights into how Chinese technology companies expand internationally.

After completing his CEIBS MBA (2015–2017), Diego was selected for the highly competitive Alibaba Global Leadership Programme, recruiting top talent from leading business schools worldwide. During the programme, he worked across AliExpress, Alibaba Cloud, Alipay, and Alipay+, helping Chinese digital platforms scale across Europe, Southeast Asia, and global markets.

In this conversation, Diego discusses:

• How CEIBS prepared him for a cross-cultural leadership career in China
• Building AliExpress’s local e-commerce strategy in Spain and Europe
• Scaling Alipay and digital wallets internationally, from Malaysia to Europe
• The origin and global vision behind Alipay+ and QR code interoperability
• Lessons from working inside an emerging market multinational
• Why localisation, speed, and long-term vision are critical for international expansion
• Career advice for CEIBS MBA students interested in Chinese companies going global

This interview is especially valuable for:

• MBA candidates considering careers in China or Asia
• Professionals interested in fintech, e-commerce, and digital payments
• Leaders navigating internationalisation from emerging markets
• Students exploring roles at Alibaba, Ant Group, AliExpress, Alipay, or global tech firms

About CEIBS
China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) is one of the world’s leading business schools, known for developing global leaders with deep insight into China and emerging markets.

Learn more about the CEIBS MBA programme here: https://www.ceibs.edu/mba