Martin McLaughlin

China Europe International Business School

“Communicative, kind, extreme sports athlete and education entrepreneur”

Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a competitive downhill longboarder. In other words, I race down mountain roads on a skateboard.

Undergraduate School and Major: UW Milwaukee – Economics, Chinese, Int’l Studies; JHU – Hopkins-Nanjing Center Master’s in International Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Journey Far Consulting LTD. CEO

What has been the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

Launching my own business.

When you think of CEIBS, what is the first word that comes to mind? 

Competitive, in terms of admissions and quality of student body, everyone is a high performer.

What are one or two key aspects of this program that led you to choose CEIBS, and why were they so important to you?  

Academic rigor and reputation within China. Rigor for strong personal growth and learning, and reputation for network effects as a first-time founder.

What course, club, activity, or experience at CEIBS excites you the most and why?

I’m really excited for the Malaysia module where we’ll participate in a leadership camp for underprivileged children. It’s great to see successful programs promoting positive social impact.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to other prospective CEIBS MBAs?

Highly recommend reading “Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman, and “Principles” by Ray Dalios, and “The Making of a Manager” by Julia Zhou. These three books will give you loads of things to reflect on and synthesize into future work.

What are two things you have learned being at CEIBS that have surprised you so far – one academic and one non-academic?

Surprised at just how broad, friendly, and accessible the alumni network is. Academically, I was surprised to learn how effective case studies like R&R are at helping me remember key takeaways. I love the storytelling part of it, and have actually gotten in touch with many subjects from the case studies to learn more.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into CEIBS MBA program?

My advice is to practice with mentors for the interview process, as many of your ideas will be challenged, so be ready to back them up. Also, be authentic, it’s much more impactful than pretending to be someone you’re not.