With more than 1,500 members, the CEIBS Alumni International Chapter (CAIC) has been working to build a strong global community since its beginning in 2015. As a platform open to all CEIBS alumni, the CAIC helps connect members from different programmes and regional chapters around the world through a variety of regular events, activities and more. 2021 will be a big year for the CAIC as it prepares to elect a new core council this August. As such, it is time to reflect on some of the chapter’s highlights and achievements. In part three of our four-part CAIC council interview series, we talk with CAIC Vice President Huiling Ding (CEIBS Global EMBA 2013) about keeping motivated, bridging Chinese and international alumni chapters and what is it like to be part of the big CEIBS family.

CEIBS: Hi Huiling! In your own words, what is the CAIC about and what does it do?

Huiling: Our mission is to build a strong international community. So, we use different events to help our community, to bond the network and also allow lifelong learning. We also provide a channel for alumni communications and foster different initiatives, like helping alumni with job searching and career development, and even personal transformation support. As the only English-speaking alumni chapter in China, we are a bridge helping our Chinese brothers and sisters connect with our international chapters.

CEIBS: The CAIC plays an important role in helping bridge the Global EMBA and MBA communities. How do you bring those two groups together?

Huiling: The CAIC’s members mostly come from our Global EMBA and MBA programmes, because they are the two English-speaking programmes at CEIBS. So maybe eighty or ninety percent of our members come from there. So we regularly organise events to bring them together, and twice every year we organise a mixer to help integrate the newcomers and allow our Global EMBA and MBA students to mingle together with our alumni.

The CAIC team during CEIBS’ annual sport carnival (November 2020)

CEIBS: As Vice President of the CAIC, what are your responsibilities?

Huiling: My role as Vice President – I specialise because I’m a bilingual – is to help the CAIC to connect with our Chinese brothers and sisters and other alumni chapters. So I’m also the connection between the CAIC and the broader CEIBS alumni association. I also have different initiatives I support, like the personal transformation support of our alumni.

CEIBS: So why did you want to volunteer to take on a leadership position in the CAIC?

Huiling: After I graduated in 2015, my company asked me to move to their German headquarters to work. I stayed there for two years and then I came back to China. The first event I joined was a CAIC event. I felt I really got a lot of help from the CAIC in connecting with school and alumni again. So, I felt it was my time to contribute.

The first CAIC personal transformation workshop (January 2021)

CEIBS: What has been the biggest highlight for you from your time with the CAIC?

Huiling: Biggest highlight? I don't think I can pick just one highlight, but it really feels like we’re in a big family and we love to work together and keep learning together and really enjoying the time together.

CEIBS: OK, how has your experience with the CAIC affected or inspired you?

Huiling: Since I joined CEIBS, I’ve always felt it was my best investment in life and from that point my life already started changing. I really enjoy the people I meet from the CEIBS student and alumni. And I also feel appreciative of how, when I serve them, I really get good feedback from them and so I can keep motivated.

The Alumni Representatives Conference of CEIBS Alumni Association 2020 (July 2020)

CEIBS: The CAIC will hold an election to appoint a new core council this year. What should anyone wishing to be a part of the new leadership group expect from the role?

Huiling: You will have some down times, and some up times, but the better you know what our mission is and where we want to go, the better you can stay motivated and really go in the right direction and serve the alumni in the best possible way.

CEIBS: Lastly, what message would you like to share with the rest of the CEIBS community?

Huiling: 2021 might be a difficult year for a lot of us, but it will also be a good challenge and opportunity for a lot of us. So I wish everybody will have a wonderful continuation of their career and family life. Also, if you love to be around fun people, and if you are motivated to serve our alumni, you are welcome to join our family.

For more information about CEIBS alumni and our global network of alumni chapters, please visit our alumni page here.