Beijing, September 11, 2023 – The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Executive MBA (EMBA) Program of Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance welcomed its fifth cohort with a grand launch ceremony on September 7th, 2023. The event gathered over 30 senior executives and global entrepreneurs from 12 countries and regions worldwide, marking the beginning of an exciting educational journey.
During the Launching Ceremony, Ms. Kyansambo Vundla, Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of South Africa's Rand Mutual Assurance Group, represented the new students and shared her insights into the global insurance industry. Notably, Ms. Vundla is the first student from Africa to join the BRI EMBA program since its inception in 2017. She flew for 18 hours and over 3 continents to arrive in Beijing for the event.
Rand Mutual Assurance Group, with over 120 years of history, is a significant insurance institution in South Africa. Ms. Vundla emphasized the pivotal role of insurance in the global economy, discussing insurance's impact, global penetration rates, and the industry's vast scale. She also explored the future expansion and balanced development of mutual insurance industry globally.
Kyansambo Vundla speaking during the launch ceremony
Another distinguished student representative, Mr. Fernando Scodro, Principal of Mukua Investments, shared his perspectives on impact investing. As a third-generation heir of a prominent Brazilian family office, Fernando's experiences in pioneering and advancing family office impact investments have been documented and featured in Harvard Business School's case studies. He outlined a ten-step framework for impact investment, which included defining motivations, instilling investor behavior incentives, achieving family alignment, forming investment teams, creating investment strategy statements, understanding assets, integrating impact into due diligence, constructing impact investment portfolios, measuring and managing impact, and contributing to the impact ecosystem.
Fernando Scodro speaking during the launch ceremony
Among the new students of Cohort 5, 24% are accomplished female leaders, adding to the program's diversity and gender balance. This eclectic group carries an average age of 41, spanning from 32 to 60, showcasing a broad range of experiences and perspectives.
Originating from 12 different countries and regions, with China, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia as primary sources, these students reflect the international spirit of the program. Diverse industry backgrounds are also a hallmark, with 51% hailing from non-financial sectors, including prominent concentrations in real estate, next-generation information technology, and culture/media.
Notably, these students are not just participants but leaders within their respective organizations, with 79% holding top positions. Their commitment to education is clear, as 97% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 38% boast degrees from globally renowned universities.
In terms of professional experience, 49% of the cohort comes from traditional finance, investment, and financial services, while 51% represent non-financial enterprises, with manufacturing, energy, information technology, and pharmaceuticals/biochemistry leading the way.
Previous cohorts of the BRI EMBA program have made their mark on the business world, with 82 listed companies being represented. Cohort 5, comprising students from prominent organizations like Rong360, CITIC Guoan Wine, JP Morgan, SNAM, Waterdrop, and Xpeng promises to continue this legacy, bringing fresh insights and innovative thinking to the table.
The students of the BRI EMBA Entering Class of 2023 embarked on their Opening Module adventure with two days of team-building activities, followed by two days of enriching lectures and insights into global finance and investment.
During their two days of immersive learning, students had the privilege of attending lectures delivered by distinguished experts. These lectures provided valuable insights into various aspects of global affairs and finance, under the theme of Belt and Road Initiative.
His Excellency LIU Xiaoming, Former Vice Minister of the Central Foreign Affairs Office and Former Ambassador to the United Kingdom, gave a lecture to share his experiences and expertise. His topic, "Building the Belt and Road into a 'Belt of Development' as well as a 'Road to Happiness,'" delved into the transformative potential of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its capacity to bring prosperity and well-being to nations along its path and beyond. His insights and interactions started off the students’ learning journey at Tsinghua PBCSF and shed light on the broader strategic vision of the BRI.
Mr. LIU Xiaoming delivering lecture
Following this, Professor HE Maochun, Director of the Research Center for Economic Diplomacy Studies at Tsinghua University's Institute of International Studies, shared his extensive knowledge and first-hand experiences related to BRI and international relations. His lecture, titled "New International and Domestic Situations and a Report on Investigation Tours along the Whole Course of the 'Belt and Road,'" offered a comprehensive view of the evolving global and domestic landscapes within the context of the BRI. Professor HE's report was particularly valuable in understanding the current state and future prospects of this ambitious initiative.
The educational experience continued with Dr. YANG Qinghong, who taught the first part of his serial lectures on Fundamental Investment. Dr. Yang has over 10 years of fundamental investment experience as a hedge fund manager in New York and was a former Senior Advisor at the United Nations Office of South-South Cooperation. Derived from all real cases, “Valuation in the Real World” brought a practical dimension to the program. The group discussion on a real valuation case gave all participants the opportunity to develop independent thinking in the decision making process.
These lectures not only expanded the students' knowledge but also reinforced the global perspective that is central to the BRI EMBA Program. The diverse range of topics covered by these esteemed lecturers set the stage for an intellectually stimulating and transformative educational experience for the Entering Class of 2023.
As the students set sail on their academic journey, they carry with them a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world of finance, investment, and global business.
