The International Experience at HBS: Zoe Sun (MBA 2024) – MBA
Zoe Sun (MBA 2024) is a recent graduate from China. Prior to HBS, she worked at an Asia-focused private equity fund in Hong Kong. At HBS, she was Co-Chief Admissions Ambassador and Social Chair for Greater China Club. She is a recipient of the Global Opportunity Fellowship | GO: AFRICA to work on her start-up, VitaRi Energy, that extends green energy access in West Africa.
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA, and why HBS?
After my undergraduate studies at Georgetown University, I worked in private equity for four years. I loved the professional aspect of my life – my company, the leadership, and the investing world. However, having grown up in mainland China, studied in the US and Europe, and gained an undergraduate degree in Foreign Service, I firmly believe that there is a bigger world out there, and that I should venture to see and do more things, for more people, in more places.
I applied for an MBA hoping that a two-year break from the professional world would help me find answers to some tough life questions: who am I, what do I want to achieve, and what impact do I want to make in this world.
I was drawn to the HBS MBA for its international alumni network and strong emphasis on educating global leaders. I attended a few events organized by the HBS Hong Kong and Shanghai Research Centers before applying. Knowing that I would have a dynamic and large alumni base no matter where I ended up post-MBA was critical to my decision to attend HBS.
How has HBS helped you grow professionally? How has it empowered you to embark on an international entrepreneurial journey?
My classroom experiences deeply influenced my career aspirations. Courses like Global Climate Change, Cities Structures & Climates, Africa Rising, Sustainable Investing, and Entrepreneurship and Global Capitalism inspired me to solve the pressing issue of climate change while empowering communities in frontier markets.
I had no entrepreneurship background, had never considered founding or working in a start-up, and had never lived in Africa before HBS. However, the deep insights I gained from my education and the broad alumni base equipped me with the confidence and knowledge base to start my own venture, VitaRi Energy, to extend green energy access in West Africa.
The HBS GoAfrica Fellowship and the Rock Center for Entrepreneurship are also instrumental in this journey, providing me with the much-needed seed capital to tackle complex international challenges. These two fellowships reinforce the global perspective that has been a cornerstone of my HBS experience.
I worked on this blog post throughout my summer in New York, Lomé, and Shanghai. Now I am flying to a solar energy conference in Nairobi, with stops planned in Addis Ababa and a wedding in Cape Town. At each location, I connect with HBS alumni and friends, a testament to the enduring and supportive network I’ve become a part of.
Reflecting on the past two years, I realize that while I haven’t answered all the tough questions I posed before the MBA, HBS has brought me closer to being the mission-driven, responsible leader I aspire to be.
How has the classroom experience enriched your understanding of global business challenges? What are some of the most impactful courses that you’ve taken at HBS that shaped your professional and personal outlook?
HBS’s case method thrives on diverse opinions. When I first sat down in Aldrich 008, the classroom for my section, I heard so many different accents and opinions. My sectionmates hailed from over 30 countries. Our classroom discussions challenged my existing assumptions about the world and expanded my global thinking. Whether discussing a Turkish conglomerate’s expansion into Europe or a Chinese tech giant’s global strategy, I learned to appreciate the complexities of international business.
One of the most impactful courses for me was Entrepreneurship and Global Capitalism. This second-year course provides cases on entrepreneurs from many countries who were active in pursuits ranging from luxury watches to fashion, beauty, shipping, finance and information and communications technologies. In every class we had intense debates on a range of topics: what motivated the case protagonist; how ethical, responsible, and productive were their business practices; what were the broader political, economic, and cultural contexts that contributed to their failures or successes; and what were the essential dilemmas they faced in their professional and personal lives. The course inspired me to consider an entrepreneurial path in frontier markets, and to abide by a set of core values that would allow me to be a responsible global citizen, in addition to being a business leader.
What are some of the most memorable social experiences for you? How was your social life at HBS as an international student?
One of the most memorable moments during my time at HBS was Flag Day, during which my sectionmates gave presentations about their home cultures and customs. At the end of the presentation, we all raised our countries’ flags on the walls of our classroom, and finished the celebration with a potluck of global cuisines. It was a powerful reminder of how global our community truly is.
I also loved giving campus tours to prospective students in my role as Co-Chief Admissions Ambassador. One prospective student traveled for more than 36 hours from Australia, after multiple layovers, to visit the campus and attend the Q&A session in person. In the Q&A session, I often made sure to mention that HBS has one of the most generous financial aid programs for international students, and that the school works with Harvard Federal Credit Union to provide loans to international students at same rate as domestic students.
Social life at HBS is, as expected, quite intense, and sometimes it was nice to just take a step back and reconnect with familiar home cultures. From day one I sought to build a strong network of friends from the Greater China Club and became Social Chair for the club during my second year. We organized events like Mid-Autumn Festival dinners and Chinese New Year celebrations. At the end of the day, it wasn’t just about the food and traditions—it was also about having a familiar community to lean on. Affinity groups at HBS gave us that balance, helping us celebrate our roots while embracing the diversity around us.
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