China depth, Global breadth

Experience during the program

China depth, Global breath is what I was looking for, and is why I actually only applied to CEIBS in the first place.

Without any doubt, China depth is getting more and more important, However, it isn't easy to get by at all.
Before joining CEIBS I had been living in China working for an MNC for 2 years. I picked up the language fairly well and was able to function completely independently in this amazing country.
However, I felt that I didn't meet the exciting, innovative young locals and that I had no exposure whatsoever to any of the thriving new industries in China such as e-commerce or Fintech.
Through CEIBS this changed. First of all, the cohort is half Chinese, the smart, hungry kind that one is unlikely to get to know when working in an MNC. It has been amazing to get to know and to experience working with my school mates. Both lessons and friendship for life. Secondly the ecosystem around CEIBS is quite amazing. Local champions like JD.com and tencent or emerging ones like dxy employ many alumns and therewith become accessible. The academic leadership consists mostly of Western educated Chinese that are both well connected and well respected in China and bring insightful cases to the class room such as Didi vs Uber. The e-lab, the part of CEIBS incubator, is gaining traction and visibility. And the reputation of CEIBS alone opens many doors so that I was able to source exciting consulting projects instead of doing a classic internship. Additionally, you are strongly encouraged to take language courses to further hone your language skills, which is greatly appreciated by the locals.
My learning curve in terms of skills, knowledge and network was amazingly steep.

Global breath also comes along the way but to a slightly minor degree.
All the classic HBS cases get covered. And all the global MNCs send their recruiters to the school. However, the student body as well as the professors are clearly mostly Asian. And the reputation of the school is stronger in Asia than it is in the Western hemisphere and therewith also among recruiters of Western MNCs. The focus for recruiting hence also is clearly on hiring people for the Chinese market. What compensates this perfectly, in my view, is the amazingly extensive exchange program to most of the top Western schools from LSE and INSEAD in Europe to Wharton, Booth and Kellogg in the US. I personally embraced this opportunity and did an exchange at INSEAD in Singapore, which was absolutely perfect for me. I was able to continue working on my start-up in quite close-by Shanghai while also getting a bit of exposure to a top Western school.

Funnily enough I ended up working at one of the largest PE-houses back in Europe, mostly related to my private situation.
But we keep the start-up in Shanghai growing, and the friendships developing.

If China depth with a good portion of global breath is what you are looking for, CEIBS is the right place for you.
If you're looking for a job in a Western MNC, CEIBS will be an exciting, mind-opening experience for you, but maybe not the perfect place.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (4.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Alumni Network
Location

Best fit at this program:

Finance
Marketing
Entrepreneurship

Can be improved:

Culture & Student Support
Admissions Team