Introduce yourself in three words or phrases.
Advocate of overseas education: For 10 years, I have represented British universities, dedicated to promoting overseas higher education in China and helping thousands of students broaden their horizons through overseas education and achieve their dreams.
Beneficiary of overseas education: I was once a student at a British university myself. During my time in the UK, I experienced firsthand how overseas higher education enhanced my overall skills and broadened my horizons. It even led me to new career opportunities.
Practitioner of overseas education: After returning from studying overseas, I have continuously worked in the field of overseas higher education. I passionately serve more students in need through various educational services. My startup now includes student accommodation, comprehensive new media solutions, innovative language assessments, and prestigious school foundation programmes.
What do you like most about your job?
What I enjoy most about my work is the vitality. The work environment and content allow me to continually interact with young and dynamic individuals. Whether it’s my team, our clients – recent graduates who have studied abroad – or prospective students preparing to study overseas, vitality represents limitless possibilities and endless creativity. This is precisely why our business can continuously expand and improve.
Best work trip/worst work trip?
It was both the best and most frustrating work trip I’ve ever experienced. This trip occurred in the UK in 2016, at the inception of my business journey with Funliving.com, a student accommodation booking platform. During this trip, I was exploring cooperation opportunities between our platform and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) providers. As a startup, we faced challenges because accommodation providers were cautious and unsure about our future development.
Despite these challenges, the trip was also incredibly encouraging. We managed to gain recognition and trust from some partners right from the outset, a sentiment that continues to resonate with us today.
If you could learn a language instantly, which would you pick and why?
It would definitely be AI language. We cannot afford to give up on learning and progress. Learning AI language is essential to benefit from AI services rather than be replaced by them. Additionally, it will help us better leverage AI to innovate and improve our products and services.
What makes you get up in the morning?
My team and my clients. Tomato Education International is as important to me as my own child. I hope it will become a brand that consistently delivers value and embodies a sense of purpose and passion.
I appreciate my team’s hard work, and it is also my responsibility to set the direction and explain the value of achieving our goals, both financially and personally. I also want my clients to receive the best possible assistance and have an exceptional experience with our products and services. To achieve this, I lead by example every day, filled with enthusiasm and determination.
Champion/cheerleader which we should all follow and why?
I believe each has its own merits, both dazzling and indispensable. Winning through strength and inspiring team morale are qualities that every achiever needs to possess. They are worth learning and continuously practicing. What we need to learn is to assess the situation, maintain conviction while staying responsive to market changes, and make adjustments accordingly.
Best international education conference and why
I like PIE Live very much. Through events, we can clearly perceive that The PIE takes a fair and objective approach from the perspective of educational media, producing timely news. When organising conferences and exhibitions, it also consider the interests of institutions and professionals, offering independent exhibition spaces for everyone while fostering opportunities for industry exchange, discussion, and reflection. We greatly appreciate and actively support such professional and dedicated collaborative activities.
Worst conference food/beverage experience
I vaguely remember attending an academic exchange event in Australia. The event started at 13:30 in the afternoon, and I didn’t have time for lunch beforehand. The schedule was very tight, lasting until around 17:30. Unfortunately, the tea break only had simple cold food and drinks, and it seemed the organizers overlooked the possibility that attendees might have a “Chinese stomach.” I can’t recall the specific content of the event, but I still remember how uncomfortable my stomach felt afterwards.
Book or podcast recommendation for others in the sector?
If I were to recommend just one book, it would be “Records of the Grand Historian” by Sima Qian, who lived during the Han Dynasty in Ancient China.
Understanding past events is crucial for effective governance. Reading history makes us wiser. Despite advancements in productivity and ongoing global changes, human nature remains unchanged. Studying history means exploring human hearts and nature, from which we gain wisdom for survival, paths for career development, communication skills, and strategies to overcome adversaries. It also enables us to adopt a broader historical perspective when evaluating personal gains and losses, cultivating a more composed and detached attitude.
