Zaiyang Zhu is a MIA student from China. He started his own company after college and the company was eventually purchased. He then decided to return to school to get professional policy training. What attracted you to SIPA?
“The location of the school was the most important factor I considered when I applied because I have offices in New York for my family business. Also I knew that Columbia University has a prestigious reputation worldwide, especially in China. I was always interested in politics and history, and many similar SIPA courses my fiancé took as a Columbia grad attracted me.”
What most surprised you about SIPA after you arrived?
“The diversity of the student body shocked me. Two thirds of the student population enrolled last spring had an international background, and each student represents a unique region. Also, everyone in every class seemed eager to learn, asking brilliant questions.”
What were you doing prior to attending SIPA?
“I started a company with my friends in China after I graduated from College in D.C. We first tried to promote electric-power saving and metering products and greatly cut the electricity usage in several cities. We strived to improve product lines and marketing methods and in 2007 we successfully enclosed a face-recognition program into our main products and won several government contracts.
My father’s company which we initially turned to for funds acquired our IT firm in 2007 and I decided to come to the U.S. to seek expansion opportunities for the family businesses while getting myself acquainted with my father’s business partners in the U.S. And in my spare time, I wanted to pursue my academic desires and this might be the last chance for me before I take over the family business.”
Can you describe the learning environment at SIPA? Have you been required to do a lot of group work?
“It was pretty intense for me at first since I hadn’t done homework in three years. But overall, the experience was pleasant. Group work seems to be one of SIPA’s core learning principles. I had one work group pretty much for every class. Out of all them, the statistics group work was very time-consuming but fun. We over-achieved in the end and I was glad that we learned a lot. Each group is different and each is a good learning experience.”
Yujia (Cynthia) WuCareer Track: International Economics/International Environmental Policy
Regional Focus: China
Language: Mandarin
Yujia Wu is a Chinese native and second year MPIA student. At IR/PS, her focus is on economic analysis of environmental sustainability, highlighting climate change mitigation, air pollution regulation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency improvement. During her first year at IR/PS, Wu concentrated on quantitative research of the China industrial sulfur dioxide emission problem. During the summer, she worked as a research analyst in the Environment and Development Division of UN-ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific), focusing on the co-benefit approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Prior to coming to IR/PS, Yujia studied international economics and trade at the Economics School of Renmin University, China. During college, her work experience included Shell China, Merrill Lynch, and Union Bank of Switzerland. Yujia is also an amateur singer, winning third place in the National Campus Singing Idol Competition-Northern China, which was held by MTV and Samsung Mobile.