March 8, 2023
Today marks the 113th International Women 's Day around the world.
In this era of greater opportunities for women, we have witnessed the rise of female empowerment, as evidenced by the increasing number of outstanding female students joining Peking University's Guanghua-Kellogg Executive MBA Program (GK).
GK female students are role models working in various industries who have come from all walks of life and different cultural backgrounds. With their confidence, tenacity, and courage, they form a strong and influential force in their own fields. This year, on this special occasion of International Women’s day, we had the opportunity to interview an outstanding female student, Wei Tian, to share her story about ambition, love, and beauty.
Wei TIAN, a fashion designer, home art designer, and the founder of the women's clothing brand Wei Collection, is a student at the Guanghua-Kellogg EMBA. She graduated from the University of Nevada in the United States with a bachelor's degree in hospitality and worked in a listed company before starting her own business in 2011. For more than a decade, she has been dedicated to the business of "dressing appropriately for the occasion" and serving independent working women. In 2017, she was selected as Fashion China Young Leader by the Fashion Group. She loves writing and used to be a columnist for a personal media, called “Top Her.” Her brand is committed to spreading love and beauty, and advocates for women to pursue both inner and outer beauty.
From Passion to Committing to the Field of Aesthetics
GK Story
People who are familiar with Wei know that she is a genuine person, consistent with her brand philosophy of "having purpose, love, and beauty." There are many labels that can be applied to Wei, such as female entrepreneur, beauty advocate, and writing enthusiast, among others, but these labels and identities do not limit her. "I hope to find a balance between self and altruism, and to create value for the world while being true to myself," says Wei.
As an entrepreneur in the field of aesthetics, Wei loves beauty in its various forms: visual beauty, linguistic beauty, and more. "Only love is the only sustainable force that can drive you to be persistent,” she says. Therefore, Wei's career and life revolve around beauty. She firmly believes in the value of beauty, which can bring joy and confidence to people, create positive energy and self-awareness, and even contribute to physical and mental health.
Before starting her entrepreneurial journey in China, Wei lived and studied in the United States. During her study, she visited numerous high-end fashion boutiques and gained extensive knowledge about the world's top luxury brands. The experience gave her inspiration and helped her to accumulate a sense of aesthetics, values, service concepts, and the courage to be herself, all of which directly and profoundly helped and influenced her subsequent career.
After returning to China, Wei founded her own fashion brand, Wei Collection, and she was delighted to find that her understanding of beauty was accepted by the market. "Doing what you love to do makes you more vibrant, energized, and tireless." Wei's pursuit of beauty and her genuine love for fashion have enabled her and her brand to grow together.
Persistence to Success: Sculpting the Female Image
Since founding Wei Collection, Wei has used her own aesthetic sense and passion to help many successful independent women in shaping their personal image in different scenarios. "Independent women are not only about the identity role or economic independence. For me, it is more about the spirit and mind." In managing the brand, Wei has met many outstanding female friends who share similar values. They support and encourage each other, establishing a female community culture with a sense of warmth and belonging.
Wei knows that women in the workplace are often seen as emotional and lacking in rational thinking. "Breaking gender stereotypes requires not only competence but also appearance," she said, arguing: "You are what you wear. Appropriate attire silently speaks for you." In the workplace, women’s professional image can often help to win appreciation and trust from colleagues, partners, and clients.
Of course, presenting a professional image is just the first step in breaking gender stereotypes. To earn a place in the workplace, everyone needs to continuously challenge herself and learn and grow. "Women need to cultivate both their inner and outer selves, and not lose their advantages, such as empathy, the ability to connect with others, and resilience in the face of difficulties. " Says Wei. Women deserve appreciation and recognition for outstanding achievements as men do.
For workplace dressing for women, Wei also provides practical advice: keep it simple and avoid being too flashy and pursue high-quality fabrics and well-tailored silhouettes. It is important to coordinate colors within the same range. Classic wardrobe essentials are needed, such as a white shirt, a pencil skirt, or a silk scarf to brighten the outfit.
Staying true to a dream and focusing on Personal Growth
In 2020, as her career was developing steadily, Wei chose to return to school and joined the Guanghua-Kellogg EMBA Program at Peking University. For her, the GK community is the right place for her to develop herself further. "The participants in the program are all exceptional, both male and female!" Wei exclaimed. "I was a bit lacking in confidence at the beginning." Many of Wei's classmates are executives of multinational companies, leading large teams, and compared to them, her entrepreneurial background makes it difficult to make bold decisions in many aspects.
"Fortunately, this is a truly High Impact Low Ego community. As an entrepreneur, I can provide my experience and contribute different perspectives and insights in the GK program," Wei said. Throughout the learning process, Wei experienced setbacks, but more importantly, she gained a more objective self-reflection, played to her strengths, and became a person with her own style and unique contributions to the GK community.
In addition, Wei also gained a rich alumni network from both Guanghua and Kellogg. "The interaction with GK fellows greatly improved my understanding of the world and myself," Wei says. The global alumni network is a kaleidoscope and treasure, allowing Wei and classmates from all walks of life to exchange ideas and learn from each other. The classes from both Guanghua and Kellogg have enriched her knowledge in all aspects of business management.
"In the past two years of learning, I have gained a lot internally, and become more focused on personal growth. I have also had new ideas about my career and am more willing to embrace new challenges and possibilities." Wei noted that perhaps this is the value of joining the GK program, helping her to see a bigger world, redefining her value, and gaining lifelong knowledge and close friends that benefit her.
At the end of the interview, we asked, "What would you say to yourself 10 years from now?" Wei firmly replied, "In the most golden twenty years of my life, I did the best I could, unleashed my full potential, seized every possible opportunity, and created irreplaceable value and beauty for the world with my love. This life is worthwhile."
Wei is a powerful and vibrant female figure, who embodies qualities found in the women of the GK program: confidence, determination, and assertiveness. Just as the GK program combines Eastern and Western characteristics, GK women are confident, elegant, and courageous in their different life paths. Here, we wish all women of the program a happy International Women's Day
E-mail:gkemba@gsm.pku.edu.cnOffice Phone:(8610) 62747158 / 62747151
Address:Room 201 GK EMBA Office, Guanghua Building 2, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China