If you are an ambitious entrepreneur ready to face the changing business world, studying an MBA in China can help you gain the skills to thrive.
China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with growth of nearly 5% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022.
The capital, Beijing, is also on track to become a leading global center for science and technology innovation.
These are just some of the reasons why African entrepreneurs, Kristofine Ekandjo, a Global MBA student at Peking University (PKU) Guanghua School of Management, and PKU Global MBA alum, Aminu Ibrahim Hashim, were drawn to an MBA in China.
Learning about new business contexts while studying an MBA in China
Much of China’s economic growth can be attributed to the country’s advanced technology sector. Beijing is at the forefront of using cutting-edge technology tools – from artificial intelligence to e-commerce services – resulting in exciting technology opportunities for MBA graduates in China.
For Kristofina, the opportunity to learn about the fast-growing Chinese business world while studying was an attractive feature of her MBA in China.
“I was exposed to various creative and innovative companies during my MBA studies in China. I learned to admire the Chinese way of doing business and their strong work ethic,” she says.
During Peking Guanghua University’s MBA, students can experience the Chinese business environment through company visits and real-world consulting projects.
Aminu explains that being at the center of technological advancements while studying in Beijing inspired him to pursue a career at tech giant Huawei as an assistant product manager after graduation.
After this role, he continued his entrepreneurial ventures, launching Afroraft Business Services – a Chinese-African procurement and consulting startup that uses digitalization to scale SMEs.
“Who wouldn’t want to be in China when entering the business world?” he says.
Enhancing entrepreneurial skills during MBA studies in China
For entrepreneurially minded MBAs like Kristofine and Aminu, the hands-on learning experience is critical to developing the practical skills necessary to start a business venture from scratch.
During the MBA in China, students participate in an Integrated Practicum Project, where they work closely with a firm on a real-life consulting project and apply skills learned in courses such as financial accounting and data modeling.
Students have previously worked with both local Chinese companies, such as Lenovo and Taikang Insurance Group, and internationally renowned firms such as Panasonic, Audi and AMD.
“Not only did the project teach me how to apply the key knowledge I learned on the course, but I also learned practical skills such as how to present effectively and how to communicate with my team,” says Aminu.
In the investment strategy simulation component, MBAs can test their ability to plan and implement business strategy in a competitive environment using computer simulations.
Access to a global alumni network during MBA studies in China
No matter what industry you want to enter – networking is key to success in your MBA career.
There are students from over 30 different countries at Peking University Global MBA. Students bring an average of four years of work experience and come from backgrounds such as consulting, marketing and business strategy.
“Working with my MBA colleagues was a constant source of inspiration,” says Kristofine.
Kristofine is the founder of Tulanda Online, an e-commerce startup that enables companies based in Africa to buy and sell their products worldwide.
During the MBA program, after speaking with her MBA colleagues who worked in different industries and geographies, she was inspired to expand beyond the African continent.
Peking Guanghua University MBAs can also take advantage of career fairs, an Industry Week recruiting event, and alumni events.
Peking University’s network consists of 100,000 alumni from over 40 countries around the world – these alumni regularly share their experiences and expertise with students.
“Being friends with people from all over the world gave me the best networking opportunity I could have asked for to start my career,” says Kristofin.
Using MBA in China to find some of the best MBA jobs
A total of 135 Chinese companies made it to the Global Fortune 500 in 2021, surpassing the number of American companies on the list and offering many exciting opportunities for MBA graduates in various industries.
Students at PKU Guanghua work closely with the Career Development Center (CDC) which can connect students with professionals across the university’s 600 employment partners. 
“The careers team has been great in posting vacancies, connecting us with recruiters and generally providing the guidance and support we needed to navigate our careers,” says Kristofine.
PKU MBA alumni have started successful MBA careers in China at major companies such as ByteDance, McKinsey and Goldman Sachs.
“My MBA experience at PKU was instrumental in my career path,” says Aminu, who adds that his MBA in China helped make his entrepreneurial dreams come true.
