Exploring Asset Management and Global Leadership in Greater China

This fall, I traveled to China on behalf of Yale SOM’s Master’s in Asset Management program to meet with prospective students, alumni, and partners across Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. The trip was busy, energizing, and a great reminder of why being present matters when engaging with a region as important and complex as China. It was also, unexpectedly, a fantastic trip for a vegetarian who loves trying local cuisine!

To put this trip in context, it helps to start with a bit of history. Yale’s relationship with China dates back more than 170 years, when Yung Wing graduated from Yale College and became the first known Chinese student to earn a degree from an American university. That moment helped set in motion over a century of academic exchange between Yale and China. Over time, that legacy has grown to include alumni who have gone on to shape global finance, including Neil Shen ’92 MA, founder of Sequoia Capital China (now HongShan); and Lei Zhang ’02, founder of Hillhouse Capital. It is a throughline that connects Yale’s earliest engagement with China to the conversations we are still having today about markets, leadership, and long-term impact.

For SOM and the Master’s in Asset Management program, China continues to be a critical market. The country plays an increasingly influential role in global capital markets, and many of our strongest applicants come from or have deep ties to the region. Throughout the trip, I was struck by the thoughtfulness and global outlook the prospective students brought to our conversations.

The trip began in Hong Kong, where I hosted an admissions event and met with members of the Yale SOM Greater China Board of Advisors. This board is one of several key regional advisory groups that help the school stay closely connected to alumni perspectives around the world. Our discussion focused on how SOM can continue to engage meaningfully with alumni in the region and how the school’s programs are perceived in a rapidly changing global context. Outside of meetings, I took advantage of a brief walk along Victoria Harbor and sampled some incredible Cantonese-style dim sum.

From Hong Kong, I traveled to Shanghai, a city that manages to feel historic and futuristic all at once. I visited Fudan University and NYU Shanghai to host admissions events and meet with students curious about careers in asset management. The questions were sharp, global, and refreshingly candid. A walk along the Bund, a waterfront area, offered a chance to reflect on those conversations while taking in one of Shanghai’s most recognizable landmarks. My 10-year-old was thrilled when I brought home a small replica of the Pearl Tower, which quickly became a favorite addition to his collection!

The final stop was Beijing, where Yale’s presence feels especially tangible. Hosting an event at the Yale Center Beijing was a highlight of the trip. The center serves as an important convening space for Yale alumni, students, faculty, and partners in China, and it plays a key role in supporting the university’s long-term engagement in the region. I also visited Peking University, where I met with students eager to discuss global graduate education and how SOM fits into their academic and professional plans.

Outside of the formal admissions work, I was able to experience some of Beijing’s best-known sites, including a trip to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, a tour of the Forbidden City, and a visit to the Temple of Heaven on a crystal-clear morning. And then there was the food! Across all three cities, I encountered an impressive range of vegetable-based dishes. One standout was a dish of local vegetables that seemed to emerge from a cloud.

Although I have been engaging with prospective students from the region for years, this was my first visit to China. Seeing the country in person added valuable depth to those conversations. I can’t wait to return—and continue my hunt for some vegetarian xiao long bao!