RENEW·REIGNITE·REINVENT

Anticipation and enthusiasm melted away the winter chill as the Fudan-Washington University EMBA Program welcomed a new friend — Professor Michael Mazzeo, the new Dean of Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. Dean Mazzeo undertook a three-day visit to Shanghai, marking the first stop on his international outreach tour since assuming office.

Upon his arrival at the Fudan campus, Dean Mazzeo took a stroll with Professor Lu Xiongwen, Dean of Fudan University School of Management, across the School’s Zhengli Road Campus. Boasting a cutting-edge and distinctive architectural design, the campus adopts a block-style layout to create an innovative, inclusive and open learning environment. It embodies the profound academic heritage of Fudan, a century-old institution, while showcasing the school’s modern character.

Adjacent to the serene and profound Fudan University campus and close to the bustling Wujiaochang commercial district, the new campus integrates education, commerce and community. It further demonstrates the vision and stature of a vibrant business school.

During the visit, Dean Mazzeo spoke highly of Fudan University's long-standing history and academic atmosphere. He noted that as one of China's most prestigious institutions of higher learning, Fudan University has nurtured countless outstanding talents through a century of heritage and innovative spirit. Within this academic sanctuary of Fudan, the School of Management serves as a playground brimming with cutting-edge business knowledge, offering an exceptional platform for talents aspiring to make their mark in the business world.

At the Dean's Breakfast, Dean Mazzeo held interactive exchanges with representatives from successive cohorts of the Fudan-Washington University EMBA Program. He shared fresh business perspectives and discussed paths forward, while offering unique insights on macro topics including the current international political and economic landscape and trends in global development.

Through in-depth conversations with numerous distinguished alumni, Dean Mazzeo deepened mutual understanding and gained insights into the challenges they face across diverse industries — including public relations crises, artificial intelligence, and market shifts, all of which represent both tests and opportunities of the present era. Drawing on his experience and perspectives, Dean Mazzeo analyzed the business landscape from fresh angles, broadened the alumni’s horizons, guided them back to the essence of business, and helped identify core momentum amid the transformative tides of the times.

Equipping alumni with new knowledge to unlock new possibilities, Dean Mazzeo encouraged them to forge ahead and keep innovating. He expressed his anticipation that they would shine even brighter in their respective fields.

Following the breakfast session, Dean Mazzeo and his entourage embarked on a site visit to NIO, China’s leading smart electric vehicle enterprise, together with 27 alumni. At NIO's Nanxiang Delivery Center, alumni test-drove a range of NIO models and toured the battery swap station in depth.

During the exchange session, experts presented NIO's green mobility initiatives and strategy. Dean Mazzeo joined the discussion to explore business topics and exchange views on ESG with attendees. He shared his perspectives and experience regarding environmental, social and governance issues in the business arena. He pointed out that businesses should not only meet market demands but also prioritize their own sustainable development, create social value, and contribute to addressing global challenges.

On January 13th, at The Westin Shanghai, golden evening glow draped over the banks of the Huangpu River. As the Dean’s Forum kicked off, more than 100 alumni gathered to discuss the future, stride forward hand in hand, and witness this important moment together.

To begin, Dean Mazzeo extended sincere greetings to all attendees with his signature humility. He expressed his delight in meeting so many outstanding and enthusiastic alumni here, which made him feel the warmth of the EMBA program family.

Shortly afterwards, Dean Mazzeo shared his personal journey, academic research, as well as his views and expectations on business education. In a witty and engaging tone, he recounted his road trip from Stanford to New York and his reflections on motel competition and pricing during the journey. This experience sparked his in-depth research on market competition and the impact of product differentiation, which later served as the inspiration for his co-authored book Roadside MBA.

Over 12 years, traveling across 31 U.S. states and 13 countries, Dean Mazzeo and his colleagues conducted field visits, interviews and research with more than 250 small and medium-sized enterprises. They eventually finished Roadside MBA, documenting the challenges and success stories faced by SMEs and offering readers practical business strategies and insights.

During the sharing session, Dean Mazzeo emphasized his focus on small and micro enterprises, regarding them as the bedrock of the economy and a rich source of insights for business education. He noted that as Dean of Olin Business School, his perspective would not be limited to Fortune 500 companies. Moving forward, he intends to further uncover case studies from small and micro enterprises, support the growth of small business owners, and provide business school students with richer learning resources and hands-on opportunities.

During the Q&A segment, Dean Mazzeo and alumni engaged in a lively discussion covering business failure rates, the current landscape of Chinese enterprises, and technology-driven firms. He also responded to their questions regarding entrepreneurship and management within small and medium-sized enterprises.

Lastly, Dean Mazzeo once again thanked the alumni for their enthusiastic participation and extended his best wishes. He encouraged alumni to uphold a mindset of lifelong learning, continuously elevate their professional expertise and leadership capabilities, and contribute to social progress.

Following the conclusion of this trip to China, Dean Mazzeo departed for a visit to India. Moving forward, Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis will focus its program efforts on market collaboration across the three major economies: China, India and the United States. Building upon these three economies, the program also plans to expand opportunities for in-depth cross-cultural exchanges in India and the U.S. It aims to help participants explore both emerging and mature markets, and identify opportunities and growth potential for inclusive and balanced career and business development.

The coldest season has passed. As winter gradually turns mild, opportunities and regenerative forces are quietly building. Aboard the ark of the Fudan-Washington University EMBA Program, sailing toward the future of business, we remain steadfast in our original mission: “to cultivate top-tier managers in China”. We take the business world as our vast ocean of stars and sail toward distant shores with a global mindset. May every participant realize their dreams here — to innovate, reignite, reinvent, and become trailblazers propelling the great wheel of the era forward.