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This Q&A has been edited and added to.
What is your job title and where do you work?
I am the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ZhongAn, the first online property and casualty insurance company in China and a leading international insurance company. I work in Shanghai, serving as the CEO of ZhongAn Information and Technology Services, which is a subsidiary of ZhongAn Insurance.
What does a day in your role look like and how do you approach new projects?
I am in a lot of meetings both in and out of the office. My team at ZhongAn Online works closely with stakeholders to point out any issues and highlight any new requirements. I spend a lot of time talking to existing and potential customers about our technology products. Sometimes, I participate in detailed technology design and evaluation. I oversee research and development.
As the CEO of ZhongAn Tech, I lead my team in bringing the best technology to our customers.
Is there anything people are wondering about your professional journey?
Many years ago, when I was working as a software engineer for Fannie Mae, the business team there hired an experienced Wall Street consultant to design a new portfolio strategy algorithm. It ended without us having anything.
It happened a year after I received my MBA from Maryland Smith. I volunteered to design the algorithm and did it in six weeks.
What was your path from graduation to your current job?
After getting my MBA, I was assigned to management at Fannie Mae, and then to Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) as a senior business architect. Following that stint, I joined the Standard Chartered Group as Head of Global Development in Markets and Liquidity Risk Management.
I later joined a startup as a CTO and soon after started a new startup internet company. Specializes in customer acquisition and risk management. I found my MBA courses useful in running this business, but after some highs and lows, I closed the company and joined ZhongAn Online as CTO. A year and a half later, I started as the CEO of ZhongAn Tech.
Are you where you thought you would be in your career? What are your goals?
I followed my planned career path. My goal is to make full use of my knowledge and experience and promote business and social values.
What resources or connections have you used for your career at The Smith School?
After graduating from Smith, I met several Smith alumni in the US and China. Some helped me with work, some gave me jobs and others connected me with business opportunities.
There is a natural trust among Smith’s students. I am amazed at how much the Smith alumni network has grown in China.
How has your Smith education helped you in your career? Were there certain classes, hands-on projects, group projects, or internships that were particularly valuable to you?
The communication training I received in the MBA program helped me land a job in a large American company, which was not easy as English was not my first language.
The MBA coursework helped me transition smoothly from a technology to a business management role. I always tell my friends how much the Smith MBA program means to me.
Why did you decide to get a business degree and why did you choose Maryland Smith?
It was two years after I moved to the US to work for Fannie Mae that I applied to the MBA program. I had to increase my financial knowledge and improve my communication skills in English to be able to work effectively there. Smith was the best part-time MBA program in the Washington, DC area, and had a good reputation among my colleagues. A few had graduated from Smith, making it a no-brainer that they decided to apply to the school.
What led you to your personal journey to success?
Instead of success, “progress” might be a better word. Gradually I began to follow some basic personal principles – be curious and diligent, seek challenges, find the root of problems and have fun along the way.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I love scuba diving and snowboarding and am learning surfing.
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