CEIBS Alumni

For Omar El Maadarani, CEIBS MBA 2025 alumnus and CEO of Liban Fresh, being named on the Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 list is not a culmination, but a milestone on a years-long journey marked by consistently taking risks, building through uncertainty, and staying committed to creating real economic and social impact.

This International Women’s Day, five alumnae from the CEIBS Global EMBA community share their perspectives on how they navigate leadership in complex environments. From retail to manufacturing, luxury entrepreneurship and international public service, their reflections reveal a common philosophy: true leaders do not focus on outpacing others, instead they seek their own success while staying true to their values.

From Asia to South America and Europe to Africa, CEIBS MBA 2020 alumnus Mathieu Tse shares how a global journey across four continents led him to build REasy, simplifying cross-border payments for African SMEs through resilience and entrepreneurship.

For CEIBS MBA 2024 alum Siyamthanda (Siya) Dlova, the decision to relocate from South Africa to China was more than just a career move—it was a leap towards shaping the “South African Dream.”

Today, while researching the prospects of the global energy transition at McKinsey’s Houston office, CEIBS MBA 2021 alum Tony Li sometimes recalls the autumn of 2019, when he had just returned to Shanghai from New Zealand. Back then, he was standing at the crossroads of transitioning from a consultant in the forestry industry into a business decision maker. The CEIBS MBA was the lighthouse that helped him find his way forward.

Why did ACROBiosystems pursue a global-first strategy from the outset? What has driven its international success? And what lessons can it offer to other Chinese companies eyeing overseas expansion? In this article, CEIBS alumnus Mike Chen Yiding (Global EMBA 2021) – founder, chairman, and CEO of ACROBiosystems – reflects on his journey from ground zero to global reach, sharing insights for fellow pioneers looking to take Chinese innovation to the world.

When Jeanne de Gayffier (CEIBS MBA 2025) first set foot in Shanghai six years ago, she would never have imagined that her path would one day lead her to a position in a family-owned construction equipment company in Quanzhou, a historic city in China's eastern Fujian province.

Vanessa Alcala Gros, CEIBS Global EMBA 2017 alumna and Regional Country Manager, Production – Europe, Americas & Africa at H&M, believes that the best way to understand a country’s business landscape is through cultural immersion. After living in China for the past 18 years, Vanessa recently began a new chapter as she and her family relocated to Istanbul, Turkey.

The journey is structured to include a wide range of challenges that enhance the participants’ crisis management skills, as well as their ability to plan, bond, and operate as a team.