How I ventured beyond my hometown to Finland, then to Brazil and Sweden

Sprinted for success since I was young

My parents weren’t able to afford their schools. Despite their lack of formal education, they instilled in me a strong work ethic and an unrelenting drive to succeed. Growing up in a third-tier Chinese city with a population of six million, I attended a boarding school with over a thousand students in my grade alone. The lunch break was always a mad dash to the canteen. I felt like a marathon runner sprinting for the finish line, but just to avoid the long queues and make the most of my study time.

While some may view the intense competitiveness of the Chinese education system as daunting, I embraced it as a formative part of my upbringing. I sprinted to the canteen because I knew that education could take me down a path that my parents were not able to get access to. It taught me to be self-driven, strong-willed, and resilient. I approach life challenges with the same determination that propelled me to excel academically.

From teaching in Finland to international trading in Brazil

When I was 19, I received a unique opportunity through AIESEC Global to teach global affairs in high schools in Finland. It was a daunting task as I had never ventured beyond my hometown before. But I found the courage to step onto the stage and teach about globalization. It was a remarkable experience, working alongside educators and researchers from Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, and learning to appreciate diverse perspectives.

Upon completing my bachelor's degree, I was eager to explore new horizons. In 2012, I was offered an internship in Belo Horizonte, the 6th largest city in Brazil. Despite not speaking Portuguese and having no contacts there, I decided to take the leap and embark on this adventure. Over the next twelve months, I immersed myself in the culture, learned Portuguese, and made lifelong friends. Professionally, I was tasked with identifying and communicating with potential partners, buyers, and suppliers in China for a Brazilian health and beauty product company. It was a challenging role, but one that taught me a great deal about international trade and business development.

But it wasn't all work and no play. The most unforgettable part of my time in Brazil was backpacking from the south in Curitiba to the north in Parnaíba by bus. Some of the places I visited were considered unsafe, but I was fortunate to meet many friendly locals who welcomed me with open arms. One memorable encounter was with a local couple in a rural area of Ceará state. They invited me to their humble mud house with little belongings and we shared stories about our cultures. I taught them a few Chinese phrases, and they showed me their way of life. Despite the culture barrier, we connected over our shared humanity.

My journey in Brazil has molded me into a more curious, culturally sensitive, and globally-minded individual. These experiences have enriched my life and equipped me with the skills and perspectives necessary to succeed in a globalized world.

Empowered by Swedish Institute to study in Linköping

To learn about innovation and technology, I started my Master’s studies at Linköping University in 2013 with the support of a highly competitive Swedish Institute scholarship.

Two years of intensive business studies has introduced me to cutting-edge concepts and methodologies and improved my analytical and problem-solving skills. In addition, the multicultural classroom environment has enabled me to develop my communication and interpersonal skills.

Additionally, I was selected to participate in a mentorship program, where I was paired with a successful Swedish entrepreneur named Ewa. Ewa shared with me her success stories, but she never shied away from discussing her failures and lessons learned. Inspired by her life, I started experimenting with different business ideas, from drop-shipping wigs, exporting reindeer antlers to launching an online gift card shop that allowed people to pay with bitcoin in 2014. Through trial and error, I learned valuable lessons, and failure taught me how to identify solid business ideas and verify optimal business models.