Gathering Wisdom to Create the Future |2026 IBSS Alumni Conference

Recently, the 2026 IBSS Alumni Conference of Xi’an‑Jiaotong‑Liverpool University at International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) was successfully held. Under the theme Gathering Wisdom to Create the Future, the event revolved around Times of Transformation: Cross‑industry Exchange among Capital, Talent and Innovation. Bringing together alumni at home and abroad alongside distinguished guests from academia, industry and investment sectors, the conference focused on major shifts driven by artificial intelligence, fostering discussions on economic trends, industrial innovation and talent development.

Marking the 20th anniversary of Xi’an‑Jiaotong‑Liverpool University, this flagship annual alumni gathering offered a precious chance for alumni to return to campus and renew old bonds. It also built a platform for cross‑generational and cross‑sector alumni to exchange ideas, spark intellectual dialogue and connect resources.

Gathering Wisdom to Discuss Times of Transformation

The conference opened with a vibrant welcome session. Professor Eddie Fang, Dean of IBSS, delivered the welcoming speech. Professor Fang stated that as Xi’an‑Jiaotong‑Liverpool University celebrates its 20th anniversary, alumni represent an indispensable driving force for institutional development and serve as a vital thread linking the university’s past, present and future.

Professor Fang pointed out that the global landscape is increasingly volatile and uncertain. Interwoven challenges including trade frictions, shifting international relations, AI‑driven technological disruption and climate‑related issues are creating new demands for businesses and talent development. Centring on cutting‑edge topics such as digital transformation and artificial intelligence, the conference encourages returning alumni to engage in cross‑cohort exchanges, renew faculty‑alumni connections, expand perspectives through intellectual collisions, and sustain long‑term engagement with the School.

Dr Qingyou Guan then delivered the keynote speech titled “Economic Trends and Portfolio Allocation in the AI Era”. Against the backdrop of artificial intelligence and the shift between old and new economic growth drivers, his presentation analysed macro‑economic cycles and long‑term outlooks, and assessed asset‑allocation strategies under the new paradigm. He addressed real‑world challenges including China’s “strong supply‑weak demand” economic structure, macro‑micro perception gaps, K‑ / A‑shaped divergence and industrial involution. For retail investors, he advised moderate market participation and viewing investment as “knowledge‑paying” to understand market dynamics and human behaviour. For entrepreneurs, he recommended diversified global allocation, focusing on technology tracks with reasonable valuations and solid competitive moats, and seizing global‑expansion opportunities for Chinese enterprises.

Dr Qingyou Guan holds a PhD from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and completed post‑doctoral research at Tsinghua University. He serves as Dean and Chief Economist of the Rushi Institute of Advanced Finance. He also holds roles including Council Member of the China Reform Foundation, and Chief Economist for the Zhongguancun Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (ZVCA) and Guangdong Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (GDPEA).

Cross‑industry Exchange: Linking Innovation, Capital and Talent

Three parallel panel sessions were organised, focusing respectively on innovation, investment and talent. Guests from entrepreneurship, industry, scientific research, finance and human‑resources fields shared insights grounded in real‑world practice, generating lively, in‑depth discussions.

Panel One｜Homecoming for Innovators: Dialogues Among Creators Moderated by Dr Jianwen Zheng, Associate Professor and Director of Research Impact, Department of Strategic Management and Organisations, IBSS. Panelists: Daniel Wang, Founder & CEO of Hebert Technology; Bill Gu, Founder & CEO of Puyin Farm; Lisa Chen, Founder & CEO of DuoDuoLand, Forbes Global Young Leader (FGYL); Dr Bingqing Zhao, Department of Strategic Management and Organisations, IBSS.

Innovation has no definitive answers. Abstract frameworks cannot replace real‑world insights from practitioners. Alumni‑entrepreneurs and industry innovators set aside glossy success narratives and shared candid accounts of opportunities, setbacks and mental shifts throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. Whether participants intended to launch businesses or not, the session broadened world‑views and delivered practical, grounded perspectives.

Panel Two｜Smart Investment in a New Landscape: Opportunities in Tech Investment & Capital Market Moderated by Dr Bo Jiang, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, IBSS. Panelists: Yiming Qian, Senior Research Scientist, A*STAR (Singapore), AI Advisor at Standard Chartered Bank; Biao Xiong, Vice‑President, Haixin Group Co., Ltd.; Zelin Du, Vice‑President of Innovation Finance, Shanghai Science and Technology Bank.

This panel integrated perspectives from technology innovation, corporate investment and financial services to explore emerging opportunities in tech‑focused investment and capital allocation. Drawing on hands‑on experience in AI, corporate strategy and banking, panellists discussed how to identify technology value, finance innovation and capture new market opportunities.

Panel Three｜Talent Strategy Amid Shifts: Constants & Changes in Corporate Talent Demands Moderated by Dr Bin Ding, Associate Professor, Department of Strategic Management and Organisations, IBSS. Panelists: Yuchen Qiao, Principal Product Manager, Microsoft (China) Co., Ltd.; Yu Cheng, Human Resources Manager, Deloitte China; Yuhai Liang, Entrepreneur & Entrepreneurship Consultant; Sen Tian, Founder & CEO, Simon‑Data / Mendun Headhunting.

The AI wave is reshaping workplaces and driving profound organisational‑talent transformation. This panel explored effective corporate strategies for attracting, developing and retaining talent. Panellists unpacked core logic for talent‑enterprise fit, drawing on real‑world insights from venture capital, hospitality and finance sectors. They discussed critical‑thinking, independent judgement, communication, continuous learning and complex‑problem‑solving, and analysed constants and evolving dimensions of talent management amid AI‑era disruption.

An annual alumni awards ceremony was held alongside the panels, honouring outstanding alumni with remarkable achievements in corporate innovation, academic research and knowledge transfer, and those actively supporting IBSS and the alumni community. Award recipients Jingchang Gu, Wencan Wang and Xidong Guo shared their growth journeys alongside IBSS. They pledged to keep contributing to school development, strengthen alumni connections and support junior students for the School’s sustainable advancement.

Uniting Global Alumni to Forge Ahead into the Future

Professor Ewout van der Schaft, Associate Vice‑President for Internationalisation and Global Partnerships, delivered the closing speech. He noted that the greatest value of alumni events lies in reconnecting familiar faces whilst fostering new relationships. Alumni return to campus with diverse personal and professional stories, reconnect with peers via dialogue and keep contributing to IBSS’s development.

He updated the audience on the School’s internationalisation progress. This year, Xi’an‑Jiaotong‑Liverpool University welcomed approximately 1,400 new students from 70‑80 countries and regions worldwide. IBSS accounts for roughly 26 % of the university’s total student body yet hosts about 54 % of XJTLU’s international students, as IBSS steadily evolves into a truly globally influential international business school. Building on its expanding international student base and global partnership network, IBSS will roll out more overseas alumni events, including initiatives in Indonesia, to further extend global alumni ties.

The alumni dinner was held in the lobby after the formal programme, creating a warm occasion for new and long‑standing alumni to reconnect and explore potential collaborations.

As IBSS’s flagship annual event, the Alumni Conference serves as an emotional anchor for global alumni to “return home”, as well as a vital platform bridging academia‑industry, talent‑capital and innovation‑practice. Holding triple international accreditations ‑ AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA ‑ IBSS is rooted in Suzhou’s industrial hub. Navigating global uncertainties, IBSS is committed to nurturing business professionals with international vision and forward‑looking insights. Together with its worldwide alumni community, IBSS will advance Gathering Wisdom to Create the Future.