Academic and cultural experiences at SWUFE Summer School

Jessalyn Gerbholz, an MBA student and Stephen Young Global Leader, was given the opportunity to travel to Chengdu to take part in the SWUFE Summer School - here, she outlines what the school offered participants and what she learned as a result.

I recently had the opportunity to attend “Where Fintech Meets the Global Economy” at the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) International Summer School in Chengdu, sponsored by the Stephen Young Institute for International Business. My first impressions upon landing in Chengdu were three smiling faces waiting for me at the airport with a sign to pick me up. The programme was facilitated by a troop of several volunteer students, eager to show off their school and their culture and to learn and interact with those of us from other countries.

The programme was a mixture of academic sessions and cultural experiences. We attended talks on game theory, network science, and the fintech landscape in China. As a former tech founder transitioning into the early-stage investment space, I was greatly impressed by how quickly China has developed their fintech sector, with both the quality of innovation and the speed of adoption. After the talk regarding the principles of network science, I was able to clearly see the mathematical principles that have enabled China to expand and develop with high organisation and efficiency at such a rapid pace. My primary focus post-MBA is to help Scottish startups scale and internationalise. The first-hand knowledge I gained is invaluable information I took back with me to further this goal.

From a cultural perspective, we learned how to perform a traditional tea ceremony, the basics of Tai Chi, and the basics of the Chinese language. I was surprised by the ease of picking up a few basic phrases after the teacher was able to break down the sounds into individual components via Pinyin. It inspired me to continue learning the Chinese language, which I have continued to do via online learning since returning home. I was also impressed by the focus on personal wellness, harnessing one’s life force (qi) through calm and steady movement, and taking time to enjoy a simple pleasure through a step by step process.

We were able to get off campus to see a variety of what Chengdu has to offer. We were able to try the famous Sichuan hot pot - the spicier the better! We also visited the pandas, the Chengdu museum to learn about the long history of the region, the contemporary art museum, and we enjoyed seeing a number of the ancient streets. The visit that impacted me the most was the visit to Du Fu’s Thatched Cottage, a beautiful home of the poet Du Fu after he came back from war turned into a larger compound surrounded many ponds and streams. I purchased a book of Du Fu’s poetry to read while sitting by the water. It struck me how similar all people are, regardless of time and location.

My introduction to China and SWUFE was very positive, and has inspired me to continue furthering my connection to, and knowledge of, the Chinese people. I will take this knowledge and these relationships with me into the future, as I strive to support the startup community here in Scotland.

About Jessalyn Gerbholz

Jessalyn Gerbholz is a Stephen Young Global Leader and an exited co-founder with over a decade of experience in the telco, infrastructure, and IoT space. She holds a certification from Columbia University in Venture Capital and is transitioning into the early-stage investment and support space. She re-located to Glasgow from NYC to pursue an MBA at The University of Strathclyde, and is a Supporter at Inspire.