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.

Meet the New Cohort of Global EMBA 2025

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.

2025 GEMBA Annual Alumni Reunion & 30th Anniversary Celebration

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.

Drawn from five diverse industries, each of the alums has a unique perspective on Middle Eastern business culture, market conditions, regulatory landscapes and other crucial considerations that any company eyeing the region must address before making their move.

In the first session of our new GEMBA Impact series, three CEIBS Global EMBA alumni — Theresa Cai, Simon Zhang, and Kay Geithner — share how the programme helped them transform their careers, rediscover purpose, and lead with impact across borders and industries.

Daisuke Suga (GEMBA 2021) is helping global shipping giant NYK Group chart new territory—space. With 16 years of experience across operations, finance, and logistics, he is now leading a joint R&D project with Japan’s space agency JAXA to develop next-generation reusable rockets. These rockets can be caught and recovered at sea, reducing costs and enabling scalable, sustainable space exploration. Drawing on his CEIBS GEMBA education and NYK’s maritime expertise, Daisuke envisions sea-based rocket recovery as a game-changer. His story highlights how cross-industry innovation and bold thinking can unlock future growth—even beyond Earth’s orbit.

This #InternationalWomensDay, we celebrate five incredible CEIBS GEMBA alumnae redefining leadership! From breaking barriers to balancing career & life, their journeys inspire resilience, innovation & impact.