LIU Yumeng
LIU Yumeng
Bai Xian Alumna from China, 2021 Cohort
Waseda University
Looking back on her year with the AFLSP, BX Alumna, Liu Yumeng, said, “For me, being a part of the BX community has been incredibly valuable. I deeply appreciate the many opportunities I have had to meet and learn from fellow scholars from different backgrounds and cultures, whether it was through working alongside my teammates at the Summer Program, hearing from inspiring alumni at the Virtual Community Events, or interacting with my mentor through the BX Peer Mentoring Program. It has truly been a fun, memorable, and enriching experience.”
TANEJA Milind
TANEJA Milind
Bai Xian Alumnus from India,
Yenching Academy of Peking University
“At any given leadership workshop (and there are a lot of them!), speakers always say ‘follow your passions,’ but no one gives you a roadmap to identify what your interests and passions are, or how to navigate your career choices,” reflected BX Alumnus Milind Taneja as he explained why the leadership workshop led by Fyiona Yong was one of his favorite sessions at this year’s BXAI Summer Program. “Fyiona asked us to first determine what our core values are, and I found that exercise very helpful. To become an effective leader and build a successful career, it makes complete sense that our career choice should align with our core values. I find myself still actively thinking about how, as an aspiring leader in Asia, my core values can shape my path forward.”
[Blog] Summer Program 2022 Recap: Travel with Me
Although the 2022 Summer Program was held virtually due to ongoing travel restrictions, this did not stop us from exploring, connecting with one another, and having fun! “Travel with Me” was a newly introduced, offline component of the Summer Program, where one person traveled on behalf of another, with the main focus of the activity being exploration of culture. Two scholars in different locations were paired up to form one travel group, with one scholar “traveling” within his/her own city on behalf of the other based on an itinerary created by the other scholar (and vice versa).
Enjoy some of the highlights of our scholars’ travels below.
Travel with Me – Culture Explorers
Our scholars in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mainland China, South Korea, and Japan offered us a glimpse of Asia’s beautiful architecture, nature, art, and history.
Travel with Me – Tasting Asia
An important part of our scholars’ quest to explore culture was, of course, to sample the unique flavors of the local cuisine – check out some of the mouthwatering dishes they enjoyed!
Travel with Bai Xian
The Bai Xian team also got in on the action, putting together a short video featuring Hong Kong’s rich culture, delectable cuisine, charming neighborhoods, and iconic skyline.
[Blog] Summer Program 2022 Session Recaps: Graphic Recordings
The 2022 Summer Program featured a series of academic sessions, webinars, and soft skill training workshops, each designed to broaden perspectives, foster community, and extend learning beyond the classroom. Scholars enjoyed learning about self-leadership at the leadership workshop, exploring the practical applications of AI at the panel session with academic experts, and hearing about topical tech trends such as web3 and NFT at an illuminating webinar. View some of the highlights of these sessions through the artistic lens of graphic recorder and BX friend, Chan Wai.
Leadership workshop
Fyiona Yong, director of Wholistic Coachsulting Ltd., led a fantastic leadership workshop at this year’s Summer Program. Find out more about her insights on self-leadership and how to foster a growth mindset!
Webinar: web3: Evolving into a New Order?
Led by Mr. Joichi Ito, co-founder, board member, and chief architect of Digital Garage, this webinar was a crash course in all things web3, covering everything from NFTs and blockchain to decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).
Webinar: Trends of Asia – Insights for the Young Generation
Moderated by Ms. Pauline Yeung from the Asia Business Council and featuring panelists Prof. Koo Min Gyo from Seoul National University, Prof. Fujikawa Yoshinori from Hitotsubashi ICS, and Dr. Hong Nong from the Institute for China-America Studies, this webinar explored the impact of issues such as gender equality, cultural influences, and the "bamboo ceiling" on East Asian economies, as well as what recent trends in international relations, economic development, and educational exchange may mean for the younger generation.
Academic Session: Practical Applications of AI
Led by Prof. Lei Chen (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Prof. Alice Oh (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), and Prof. Peter Pietzuch (Imperial College London), and moderated by BX Alumna, Dane Ellice Ancheta, the panel discussion challenged scholars to consider not only the capabilities and potential of AI, but also its limitations and disadvantages.
BX Alumni Roundtable: Careers in the Digital Age
BX Alumni, Mr. Ken Chen, Lead Developer at Blackrock China; Ms. Daum Kim, Deputy Chief Architect at Digital Garage; Ms. Linh Nguyen, Public Policy Associate at Meta; and Mr. Steven Yang, trainee at UNESCO; shared about their work experiences in digital transformation, technology policy, web3, and AI ethics, and offered insights and advice on pursuing a career in technology and innovation.
Fireside chat
Moderated by BX Alumna, Yerin Chu, the fireside chat featured Mr. Ronald Chao, Honorary Chairman of BXAI; Mr. Yutaka Aso, former Chairman of Aso Corporation; and Ms. Laura Cozijnsen, founder of Lighthouse Consultant Limited, who shared about their perspectives on leadership, education, and diversity. Scholars had a valuable opportunity to hear from members of BXAI’s leadership on their visions, life journeys, and entrepreneurship experiences.
PANG Youyuan
PANG Youyuan
Bai Xian Alumni from Taiwan, 2020 Cohort
Kyoto University
When asked about his takeaways from last year’s virtual Summer Program, Pang You Yuan, a BX Alumni from the 2020 cohort, says, “I really enjoyed the abstract painting session as it encouraged me to tap into my creativity and express myself, but what was most valuable to me was the opportunity to build community with scholars from different parts of Asia.”
ROH Hyunjeong
ROH Hyunjeong
Bai Xian Alumna from Korea, 2019 Cohort
Fudan Univeristy
BX Alumna from our 2019 cohort, Hyun Jeong, reflects back on how last year’s Summer Program helped her adopt a positive mindset during these uncertain times. “Jason Lai’s session about embracing change and being in tune with ourselves inspired me to look inwards and attend to my own feelings. I was able to let go of my worries and self-doubt, adjust my attitude, and better adapt to my circumstances. I now see things from a different perspective and appreciate learning once more for what it truly is – a joyous process.”
Rita LIU
Rita LIU
Bai Xian Alumna, 2020 cohort
Hitotsubashi ICS University
“How much you gain depends on how much you put in, so try to stay engaged as much as you can,” advises Bai Xian Alumna, Siwei (Rita) Liu, as she reflects back on her experiences from the virtual Summer Program last year. Watch the video to find out more about Rita’s highlights, as well as some of her tips on how to get the most out of the virtual sessions.
[Resources] Invited In: Film Screening and Dialogue with Director Yuyu Kitamura
“Loneliness and depression come in so many different forms. Mental health is a spectrum so it’s important not to always portray it in the worst scenarios, but in a way that everyone can easily understand and relate to,” said Yuyu Kitamura at the film screening while sharing about her first film, Invited In.
Reflecting back on her filmmaking debut, she said, “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that just because you are not technically ‘something’ doesn’t mean you can’t do it. I was not technically a director, but now I can say I am one,” she said as she encouraged scholars and alumni to push themselves beyond their comfort zone. “It’s terrifying to do anything new. But I believe that if anything makes you excited and scared, it’s probably worth trying.”
Meet Our Speaker: Yuyu Kitamura
Hear more from former BX intern and first-time director, Yuyu, who shares about how she pursued her dream and the value of being part of a community like Bai Xian.
Find out more about what Yuyu shared through Chan Wai’s visual recap!
Daum KIM
Daum Kim
Bai Xian Alumna, 2017 cohort
Digital Media Manager, Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Hear from BX Alumna, Daum Kim, who has been working for the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the past three years, as she reflects back on her experiences this past summer on the front lines (and behind the scenes) of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
Part 1: Life at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics
Part 2: Bridging Cultures Through the Olympics
In Part 2 of our feature, BX Alumna, Daum Kim, recalls her experiences at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and shares about why she believes that being a part of the Olympics at this moment in time is significant for her, and for building bridges across East Asia.
Dane Ellice ANCHETA
Dane Ellice Ancheta
Bai Xian Alumna, 2020 cohort
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
What was it like to be a part of Bai Xian’s first-ever virtual Summer Program? Meet BX Alumna, Dane Ellice Ancheta, who shares with us her biggest takeaways from her Summer Program experience this year.