Some stories begin with a single conversation. Others begin with a single sentence spoken aloud in a room full of friends.

On 4 April, the University of Manchester China Centre hosted a very special celebration: the 2nd anniversary of the UoM Alumni Speaking Club.

What started as a spark of passion from a handful of dedicated alumni has grown into something remarkable. In just two years, the club has blossomed into a vibrant, thriving community:
    •    200+ members and growing
    •    18 inspiring events hosted
    •    Countless stories shared, voices strengthened, and connections forged

The Speaking Club is more than just a place to practice public speaking. It is a warm, supportive space where Manchester alumni come to:
    •    Inspire one another with authentic stories and diverse perspectives
    •    Connect across industries, generations, and life experiences
    •    Grow — not just as professionals, but as confident, reflective individuals

As one member shared during the celebration: "This club gave me the courage to find my voice. And once you find it, you never lose it."

The University of Manchester China Centre is incredibly proud of what this alumni-led community has achieved. We extend our deepest gratitude to the founding members, every speaker who has taken the stage, and every attendee who has listened, cheered, and asked thoughtful questions.

Here is to the next 18 events. The next 200 members. And the next two years of inspiration, connection, and growth.

Inspire. Connect. Grow. Together.

What does courage look like? Sometimes, it looks like standing at the base of the world's highest mountain, knowing the air will thin with every step. Other times, it looks like walking into a new industry, knowing you must rebuild everything from scratch.

On 3 April, the University of Manchester China Centre witnessed both. We were honoured to host two extraordinary women for a conversation that left no one in the room unchanged.

🌹 Ms Han Zijun – The first Chinese woman to summit Mount Everest from both the north and south routes. Her story is not merely one of physical endurance, but of a quiet, relentless truth: resilience and passion know no age limits. Whether facing avalanches or the inner voice that whispers "turn back," Han Zijun has proven that the summit is not a destination – it is a choice, made again and again.

🌹 Ms Serena Yu – Partner at CGL Consulting and a Global MBA alumna of The University of Manchester. Across industries and through career transitions, Serena has rebuilt herself with a constant upward drive. Her journey shows that professional transformation is not about avoiding failure – it is about recalibrating direction in change and reshaping oneself in challenge.

What Unites Them

At first glance, a mountaineer and a business leader walk different paths. But as the dialogue unfolded, a shared truth emerged.
What unites Han Zijun and Serena Yu is not simply excellence – though both possess it in abundance.

It is courage.

The courage to calibrate direction when the path shifts. The courage to reshape oneself when the old shape no longer fits. The courage to say, "I will keep going – not because it is easy, but because the view from the other side is worth everything."

To everyone who joined us that day: thank you for bringing your questions, your openness, and your own quiet courage. It was a privilege to witness such honest, powerful storytelling.

And to Han Zijun and Serena Yu: thank you for reminding us that whether we are climbing mountains or climbing career ladders, the climb is always, always worth it.

On 17 April, we hosted a Manchester Global MBA Alumni Sharing session featuring Ms Wu Jing, a distinguished alumna and Vice President of Public Affairs at UPS China.

Drawing on her deep experience in the global logistics industry, Wu Jing shared practical strategies for professional transformation in times of change. From navigating corporate cycles to achieving career progression during "workforce optimisation," her personal journey offered rare insight into how an MBA mindset can turn uncertainty into opportunity.

Our prospective students left with not just inspiration, but actionable frameworks for their own career pivots.