As one of the flagship leadership programs of Yenching Academy, the Professional and Leadership Mentor Program (PLM) invites leading practitioners to provide personalized guidance for Yenching Scholars. We are happy to announce that the 2025 PLM has concluded successfully. Over the past year, 45 Yenching Scholars have joined the program, engaging in hands-on practice alongside mentors from international organizations, public affairs, publishing, cultural heritage and museums, poverty alleviation, media, and innovation and entrepreneurship.
The PLM mentors include Li Lingxi, managing director of Princeton University Press China; An Fengshan, former spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and associate dean of the Academy of Media and Public Affairs, Communication University of China; Chu Xin, director of the Exhibition Department of Shanghai Museum; Zhang Shilei, managing director at CGTN Digital; Shamas-ur-Rehman Toor, senior expert at Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); Gu Yongtao, founder and CEO of HRC Group; Dennis De-Qing Xu, managing partner of Shanghai Yaoyun Capital; Chen Taiyong, chair and director of Sichuan Haihui Poverty Alleviation Center; and Qiu Lili, co-founder of Beijing Peaceland Foundation. Three mentors have newly joined the PLM this year—Meng Zhaoge, founding partner at Gambit Ventures; Jason Zhang, GTM Director for Smart Small Appliances & Development Department for AIoT and Director of Fresh Graduate Training Program, Xiaomi Corporation; and Li Lu, head of GM & Associates. All the mentors have spared no effort to build a bridge between campus and the real world of work, helping our Scholars translate classroom knowledge into hands-on experience.
Navigating the International Scholarly Publishing for Enhanced Exchange
On June 18, the participating Yenching Scholars were invited by Li Lingxi to the 2025 Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) and attended the “Impression of Dunhuang” symposium where they had fruitful conversations with Chinese and international publishers. The Scholars gained a better view of publishing houses and the industry as a whole. Andrew Rule from the United States said afterwards, “At the BIBF, I had one-on-one talks with Chinese publishers for the first time, which was a great way to demonstrate my passion for literature. At the fair, I attended a lecture hosted by the People’s Literature Publishing House. After the lecture, I had the opportunity to meet publishers, editors, and translators, and we exchanged contact information; they even gave me some books as a gift. A few months later, I was lucky to be able to form a translation partnership with them.”
On December 12, our Scholars were invited to the Princeton University Press’s Beijing Office and had a meeting with Li Lingxi, a key promoter and managing director of PUP China. Li elaborated on the cutting-edge developments of the elite North American university presses and shared her observation and understanding of China’s academic research going global. Through the visit, our Scholars gained a firsthand perspective of daily operations in a publishing house as well as a deeper understanding of PUP’s role in cross-cultural scholarly exchange.
Field Trips to HRC Group Shanghai Office and AIIB Headquarters
On April 23, Dennis De-Qing Xu led his group on a field study trip to the HRC Group Shanghai Office, combining classroom learning with on-site study and practice. On April 26, another YCA group paid a visit to HRC’s factory in Changshu, Jiangsu province. Group mentor Gu Yongtao shared some of his hard-earned lessons from building a business and introduced day-to-day operations.
On April 7, Shamas-ur-Rehman Toor led a group visit to AIIB Headquarters in Beijing. Through the visit, the participating Yenching Scholars were informed of the latest developments in the field. Mr. Toor met Scholars in different venues both on and off campus, providing valuable guidance for career and personal development. He hoped that students could develop clear plans and goals, remain passionate about the pursuit of knowledge, and stay true to themselves as well as grateful to all who helped along the way.
Leadership and Communication Enhanced: Workshops and International Forum
On June 8, Zhao Guantong from the 2024 cohort and secretary of the Youth League Branch of YCA invited his mentor An Fengshan to the Youth League event to share insights with the theme of “Change and Constancy in Public Communication”. Zhao has previously engaged with public affairs in his spare time, with the hopes of working in local government on public affairs after graduation.
On December 5, Meng Zhaoge, a new addition to the PLM this year, gave a lecture on entrepreneurship, incubation and investment hotspot in the AI sector; she answered questions after her lecture.
On November 29, Nicole Accalia Angriawan (Indonesia) and Kirra Evans (South Africa) attended the Asia Philanthropy Forum 2025 at the invitation of their mentor Chen Taiyong and spoke at the Parallel Forum on the “International Network for Non-Governmental Poverty Alleviation Cooperation: Asia Action,” sharing poverty alleviation practices and experiences in Indonesia and South Africa.
Engagement with Museum and Cultural Heritage
From October 10 to 12, Xu Yuwei (China) and Natalie Taylor (UK) followed their mentor Chu Xin for a three-day placement at Shanghai Museum, involving scholarly support and translation; exhibition development and on-site coordination; and document management, review, and proofreading. Xu and Taylor were involved in the whole process of putting together the exhibits “Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru” and “Legends of Dragon: The Ancient Civilization of Hongshan Culture,” from development and coordination to delivery. Through the placement, both students enhanced their skills in museum and heritage translation, cross-sectoral communication, and project management. They ultimately gained a deeper understanding of academic rigor, precision, and timeliness in the sector of cultural heritage and museums.
Xu Yuwei noted, “I have greatly benefitted from the PLM. The three-day placement was particularly well-targeted; my mentor’s guidance directly addressed my career development needs. I would definitely say it was a great help on my career path. Through the placement, I saw that career development does not just imply enhancing skills; it is about your perspective, gaining professional expertise, and receiving expert support and help.”
Epilogue
The PLM enabled Yenching Scholars to translate their classroom knowledge into professional skills and better chart the course of their career development. Since its introduction, the mentors and our Scholars have had regular online meetings and coffee chats. From career planning to personal development, the mentors have given genuine guidance to the students.
An excellent mentor is more than an instructor, but a guide. The PLM has enabled our young Scholars to better navigate the vast potential of their future careers.
