Why Southeast Asian professionals are turning to China for their MBA

For ambitious professionals across Southeast Asia, studying in China is becoming an increasingly appealing option. With close economic ties, a growing regional presence, and one of the world’s largest consumer markets, learning to do business in China offers opportunities for long-term career impact.

We spoke with four MBA students from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia to learn what studying in China has meant for their careers so far.

“I knew understanding the Chinese market would open more opportunities for me”

Name: Napaphat Chintana (Mickey)

Origin: Thailand

After six years working in Thailand’s fast-growing tech and finance sectors, Mickey found herself hitting a ceiling.

As a product owner managing digital projects at Kasikorn Bank, one of the country’s largest financial institutions, she realized she needed stronger business foundations to progress further in her career.

“Working as a product owner, I saw how much business acumen—especially in finance and accounting—I still needed to develop. That’s when I realized it was time to pursue an MBA,” she says.

China was a natural choice. Mickey’s hometown of Phuket is a popular destination for Chinese tourists, and her employer already had an established branch in China.

“I knew understanding the Chinese market would open more opportunities for me, both in China and back home,” Mickey explains.

She selected the Global MBA at Tsinghua University for its strong reputation—the program is ranked the best in China by QS—and clear ROI. Coming from a tech background, she also valued the school’s collaboration with MIT Sloan School of Management.

“The professors from Tsinghua and MIT have different teaching styles, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, which has been really fantastic to learn from,” she says.

Mickey expected to focus predominantly on technical skills during her studies, but was surprised by how much her MBA revealed about China’s broader development and business culture.

“Tsinghua really opened my eyes to how China develops the country—how the government supports different regions and how that affects business,” she says.

Outside the classroom, the MBA provided Mickey with unique practical experiences, including a behind-the-scenes visit to the Universal Beijing theme park, where she learned about how its management team approaches strategy and operations.

“We had a chance to see how the Universal team thinks and operates. That was really special, it’s not something just anyone gets access to,” says Mickey.

Next semester, Mickey will study abroad at ESADE Business School in Barcelona as an exchange student, before returning to Beijing to complete her MBA.

She ultimately plans to bring her newfound knowledge back to Kasikorn Bank, returning with stronger financial skills and a deeper understanding of the Chinese market.

“Working with China internally is quite different”

Name: Jennifer Octivana

Origin: Indonesia

Jennifer Octivana (pictured right) joined the Tsinghua Global MBA after five years working on national investment policy at Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs. Her role brought her into frequent contact with Chinese companies, but always from a distance.

“Working with Chinese organizations as an external party is quite different from being on the inside,” Jennifer says. “The communication style is very top-down, and things often start informally and become formal later. It really influences how fast decisions get made.”

Understanding that difference, she says, was one of the reasons she chose to study at Tsinghua. She saw the MBA as a chance to gain a deeper understanding of how business and policy decisions are made inside China, and to connect with the country’s next generation of leaders.

“I wanted to know how the government and private sector are moving forward with globalization, and to network with people in my [generation] who will take on leadership and become innovators in the next 10 years,” Jennifer explains.

Alongside her studies, Jennifer has stepped into a leadership role as one of three student committee presidents, representing international students and learning how to manage across cultures.

“The most important thing I’ve learned is how to manage people’s expectations and adapt to different working and communication styles,” she says. “It’s definitely expanded my comfort zone, and those kinds of learnings will be useful if I work with Chinese teams or international teams in the future.”

Now in the final stretch of her MBA, Jennifer is preparing to apply those lessons back home in Indonesia. She’s currently exploring opportunities in entrepreneurship, with interests spanning agriculture, education, and media.

“I’m now better equipped to take my company to the next level”

Name: Son Anh Nguyen

Origin: Vietnam

After five years running a construction materials company in Vietnam, Son began to see the limits of what he could achieve alone. He’d earned a business bachelor’s in the US, but scaling his company required more advanced industry knowledge and connections.

During a business trip to Shenzhen, China, Son met several construction industry CEOs—many of them Tsinghua alumni. Their advice and success stories encouraged him to rethink his strategy.

“A number of these CEOs were Tsinghua University alumni, and they encouraged me to pursue an MBA there—emphasizing that relying solely on others’ advice has its limitations and that a world-class education would empower me to grow further on my own,” says Son (pictured left).

That led him to the MBA at Tsinghua. As one of the world’s fastest-growing construction markets, China offered the ideal environment to enhance his industry knowledge. Through the program, Son has built relationships with local firms and experts and gained valuable insight into the technologies driving the sector forward.

“One of the most valuable things I’ve learned at Tsinghua is how to develop a detailed, long-term strategic plan for my business. I’m now better equipped to take my company to the next level,” he says.

Today, alongside running his company, Son has co-founded a consulting firm that supports Chinese businesses expanding into Vietnam, offering mergers and acquisitions, market entry, and trade support.

“I intend to continue growing my ventures in the years ahead, leveraging the knowledge and connections I’ve gained from my MBA journey.”

“Being in China has pushed me to adapt quickly and experiment boldly”

Name: Yee Yong Yew (Leon)

Origin: Malaysia

After starting out as an auditor at KPMG in Malaysia, Leon (pictured right) joined his family’s rice trading business, where he managed operations and finance. The experience sparked his interest in entrepreneurship and led him to launch YARÓMA, a personal care brand focused on body and skincare products.

Wanting to grow both his business and his capabilities, Leon chose the Global MBA at Tsinghua University for its academic rigor, entrepreneurial focus, and location in one of the world’s leading business ecosystems.

“China is one of the most dynamic markets in the world,” he says. “The pace of innovation here is unmatched, and I wanted to immerse myself in that environment.”

Leon describes his MBA as an experience that has sharpened his thinking and helped him work more effectively with peers from different backgrounds—whether in-class, at startup events, or during hands-on consulting projects.

As graduation approaches, Leon is focused on expanding YARÓMA in the Greater China region and exploring partnerships through investors and mentors he’s connected with through his MBA.

Living in China, he adds, has changed his approach to business in multiple ways.

“Being in China has pushed me to adapt quickly, experiment boldly, and understand consumer behaviour in a completely new context. These lessons are shaping the way I build my brand and navigate the future,” he concludes.