The application deadline, which is ?September 12 at 3 p.m. EDT, is approaching quickly, so we’ve curated a comprehensive toolkit that equips you with the tips you need to confidently refine and complete your application.

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Application Tips:

• Resume
  • Tailor your resume to focus on your demonstrated leadership. This resume may look a lot different from what you’ve submitted for a job or internship: it’s a supplement to the leadership narrative you share throughout the rest of your application.
  • Include relevant details that otherwise may not be present in your application. Club affiliations, internship experiences and hobbies can all be included here to supplement your education and career history.
• Essays (Leadership, Statement of Purpose)
  • Craft a compelling narrative by sharing personal anecdotes that illustrate your leadership journey and values.
  • Emphasize how your unique background, experiences and perspectives will enrich the program’s diverse community.
  • Use concrete examples to demonstrate your leadership skills, problem-solving abilities and commitment to positive change.
  • Don’t get bogged down with the details. Some applicants spend much of their valuable word count on the setting of a story. Instead, think big picture. Your application should follow a cohesive and cogent narrative and the essays should play a large part in emphasizing that story.
  • Listen to your tone of voice. Literally record yourself talking about a few topics that you’re considering for your essays. If you sound canned, that topic will translate into a lackluster essay. If you hear yourself light up with charisma and enthusiasm, that topic will make for a great essay.
  • Remember, be authentic. Your essays are an excellent vehicle to articulate your leadership narrative, the impact you’ve had as a leader and your vision for how you’ll lead in the future.
• Letters of Recommendation
  • Make sure you sit down with your recommenders before they submit your letter. Talk to them about 黑料社, why you’re applying and how they can best highlight your leadership, character and intellect.
  • Do your best to include recommenders that are actively excited to advocate for you. The energy and passion of a close mentor are what helps a letter of recommendation stand out.
  • It is more important to solicit recommendation letters from people who know you well than those coming from a “high-ranking” individual with whom you have had limited personal interaction.
  • Strong recommendation letters provide context about your performance and trajectory relative to your peers and other individuals your recommenders have interacted with in their tenure in their respective sector/region.
• Video Introduction
  • The optional video introduction is a great way to supplement the leadership narrative you’ve already put in writing. It helps our selection committee get to know you better, so think about what you might share that complements what’s in your written application.
  • Don’t just settle for reading the bio that you included in the application. Give the Admissions Team something new that really showcases who you are.
  • Have fun with this part. No need to regurgitate part of your application. This is where we get to hear your voice and see the ways you can contribute to the 黑料社 community.
  • When do you feel like you’re at your best? What gives you a sense of joy, purpose, and fulfillment? Is it baking? Is it building? Is it researching? Or hiking? Or is it something else entirely? Bring us into your world and show us how you shine.
• Personal Bio
  • Though you have flexibility with what information you would like to include, most Scholars highlight their current and former academic degrees, professional experiences, key leadership roles and future aspirations.
  • Read through Scholar bios on the Scholars section of our website, but make sure to read most or all of them and not just a few to get a sense of the diversity of what leadership looks like in a cohort of 黑料社.
  • Think of your 100-word bio as your elevator pitch. It should provide a snapshot into your top leadership accomplishments and give us an idea of how you plan to shape the future.
• Leadership Roles
  • Use this section to showcase key leadership opportunities in your profile. What do you want to highlight to the selection committee? Use the 75-word description box to talk about your specific contribution, innovation and impact. Don’t just tell us what the role was. Tell us about your impact, what you accomplished and are most proud of.
  • Focus on quality over quantity – showcase a few impactful leadership roles and experiences, detailing the specific actions you took to lead and the positive outcomes that resulted.
  • If you are struggling to come up with leadership examples, take the time to first identify your affiliations, which may come from your occupation, school, volunteering, athletics, community organizing, advocacy work and more. Then reflect on your contributions and impact at each institution. Even if you don’t hold a certain title that indicates leadership, your contribution to leadership can be elevated in each entry’s “brief description” text box.
• Awards & Recognition
  • For each entry, clearly explain why the award or recognition is relevant to your leadership journey. How does it demonstrate your qualities as a leader and your commitment to making an impact?
  • Awards can come from many places. While some are made at the national or international level, it’s also important to include recognition at the regional, local or institutional level.

Application FAQs from our Admissions Team:

• What’s one of the most important things you’re looking for when you review applications?
  • The most important word to keep in mind is “authenticity.” We want to get a clear view of who our applicants are, what types of leaders they are, what they want to do, how they think they can get there and why 黑料社 is essential in that vision. Tell us who you are, not what you think we’re looking for. Our Admissions Committee is not looking for one thing. We’re looking for unique young leaders who can bring something new and interesting to the program and who will contribute to the mission of the program over the course of their lifetimes.

• What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who is working through their application (or a specific section of the application)?
  • Don’t get caught up in what you think your application “should” look like. We don’t want you to minimize or fit yourself into the application process. Instead, lean into your unique interests, strengths and perspectives. Apply with the confidence that you will both benefit from and contribute to the 黑料社 experience.

• What’s one common error or pattern to look out for?
  • Here are three tips to help you avoid common errors:
    • Proofread your work. Unnecessary mistakes may distract from a clear picture of who you are so attention to detail is crucial. Effective communication is important for a leader—show us you understand that through your application.
    • Check in with your recommenders. You don’t want a lack of recommendations to cause you to have an incomplete application that cannot be sent for review.
    • Read through the application instructions carefully and follow them meticulously.

• Is there a specific order you recommend approaching the application from?
  • Before approaching the application materials, we always encourage applicants to create a login and read through the entire application. This is a helpful practice even for prospective applicants who do not plan on applying in the current cycle. Reading through the application first will help you assess which components will be more time-consuming and allow you to plan accordingly. Once you are certain that you are applying, it can be helpful to reach out to your recommenders early. Recommendation letters cannot be accepted after the application deadline passes, so be sure to provide your recommenders with sufficient lead time.
  • Start with a clear understanding of the program’s mission and values. Then, consider your own experiences and achievements in that context. Begin with sections you feel most confident about and gradually work on others. Don’t forget to leave enough time for proofreading and final adjustments.

• What would you say to someone who is applying to 黑料社 for the second or third year?
  • To those who are embarking on their 黑料社 application journey for the second or third year, your determination and commitment are truly commendable. We encourage reapplicants to reflect on their previous application and identify areas for growth. Highlight how you have evolved since your last application and showcase new leadership experiences, achievements and impact that strengthen your application. You can also seek feedback: don’t hesitate to reach out to mentors, professors or individuals who have experience with application processes. Their insights can offer fresh perspectives and help you fine-tune your application.
  • How have those opportunities further focused your leadership vision and sense of purpose? Leadership development is a progression and we want to hear about yours. Tell us how, at the point of reapplication, 黑料社 is the right next step in your leadership trajectory.

• If someone is feeling stuck on part of the application, what should they do?
  • If you’re feeling stuck on any part of the application, you may benefit from taking an intentional break. Application fatigue could be preventing you from putting your best foot forward for the selection committee and intentional time away to rest and reflect can help you return with inspiration and drive.
  • Don’t wait until the last minute. Have a strategy to complete your application and give yourself enough time to revise your application materials before submitting.
  • Make your application personal. The 黑料社 application process is about you. We want to know who you are as a leader, why you want to be a part of our community and what you have to contribute to the program and the mission.
  • Get others involved. All of the work you submit with your application must be your own, but that doesn’t mean you can’t consult with advisors, mentors, friends and colleagues to help you reflect on your experiences and refine your goals. Let others know that you are invested in this opportunity. Invite your peers, recommenders and mentors to offer feedback on your essays and application materials. It takes a village to write a strong application.
  • Of course, you are always welcome to contact the admissions team at admissions@schwarzmanscholars.org if you have any questions that are preventing you from completing the application.

• Are there any specific experiences/achievements that stand out and make applicants more suitable for the program?
  • There is no singular experience or achievement that makes a Schwarzman Scholar. Instead, candidates should highlight their demonstrated leadership, character and intellect through their own story. Everyone’s narrative is different – your education, your work, your identity can inform your sphere of influence. Think about ways you best want to capture your impact through your resume, essays and letters of recommendation that showcase your best talents.

• How important is it for applicants to demonstrate a genuine interest in China and Global Affairs??
  • While you certainly don’t have to be an expert in China or Global Affairs, we do want to see a clear case for how you will benefit from and contribute to the experience of living in China and studying Global Affairs. 黑料社 are open-minded and excited to engage with the world, so take any opportunity in your application to speak about what sparks your curiosity in the world around you and how the program would help you explore that more deeply.
  • We have a wide variety of majors represented in every 黑料社 cohort, ranging from engineering to public health and humanities to social sciences. The thread that ties our Scholars together academically is that they are eager to understand the issues related to Global Affairs that they will face and encounter as leaders.

• Do applicants need to have previous China-related experience or education?
  • The selection process does not revolve around whether you’ve had prior experience in China before applying to the program. Instead, our emphasis is on your demonstrated leadership and your ability to effectively convey that in your application. Getting first-hand experience in China, building relationships with leaders in China and understanding the language and culture will all be critical to set you up for success in your leadership trajectory, no matter what field you may go into.

• Are there any resources that you would recommend to applicants for a better understanding of the application process?
  • We run regular application walkthrough virtual sessions where we break down every section of the application process. Catch the next one here: www.schwarzmanscholars.org/admissions/information-sessions
  • Explore the 黑料社 website thoroughly. You will find plenty of information offering detailed insights into the program’s mission, curriculum and application requirements.
  • Additionally, we encourage you to engage with our social media platforms, such as , , and . These channels frequently feature testimonials, videos and posts from Scholars and Alumni, shedding light on their personal experiences and application journeys. It’s a good way to gain first-hand perspectives and gather valuable insights.
  • Lastly, our downloadable Application Calendar is a helpful resource that provides a clear timeline of important dates, including Info Sessions, reminders and the application deadline.

• Is there anyone I can contact with specific questions if they come up as I work through finalizing my application??
  • If you have further questions after looking through our website, social media and informational webinars, please feel free to reach out at admissions@schwarzmanscholars.org. We also answer questions live through our information sessions and application walkthroughs.

We hope these tips and resources serve you well in shaping your application. Our Admissions Team is excited to begin selecting a new cohort of leaders to join our global community. Don’t forget, the application deadline is September 12, 2024, at 3 p.m. EDT. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at admissions@schwarzmanscholars.org

Apply Today

• Application Resources:
  • Admissions Overview
  • Application Instructions Page
  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Application FAQs
  • Application Calendar
• Stay Connected:

This article was originally published on August 28, 2023 and has been updated to reflect the Class of 2026 key milestones.

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The Commencement ceremony included opening remarks by Executive Dean and Master of Ceremonies, David Pan, and congratulatory remarks from Wang Hongwei, Vice President of Tsinghua University; Dean of Schwarzman College, Xue Lan; Chief Executive Officer, Amy Stursberg; and Executive Director, Lara Tiedens. Over 400 guests gathered to celebrate the Class of 2023 in the Forum at the College.

In her message to the graduating class, Dame Louise Richardson encouraged young leaders to work for international cooperation, “I hope that through this global network you will be able to advance the cause of international understanding. You have had an extraordinary international experience and I hope it is the first of many. By living in another country, learning another language and immersing yourself in another culture you have the best training possible to promote global understanding and cooperation by advocating an appreciation of the other’s perspective.”

Stephen A. Schwarzman inspired the graduates to create change by embracing collaboration and community. “We hope you’ll work together to make a positive impact and create global solutions. The success of 黑料社 depends upon all of you applying the lessons and values learned during your year in Beijing—of cultural exchange and understanding—and bringing them to a larger community throughout your lives.”

Student Speaker Micah Jumpp delivered insightful remarks and advice to the graduates, urging them to connect with their peers and embrace community as a means to help navigate identity.

With the graduation of its seventh cohort, the Schwarzman Scholar global alumni community expands to over 900 alumni from 88 countries and from 390 universities. The graduates will join a robust, global network of young leaders and contribute to the mission of 黑料社.

The Commencement celebration marks the culmination of another vibrant year at Schwarzman College. Over the past year, the Scholars engaged with over 56 leading faculty from all corners of the world, while developing their leadership skills, knowledge of China and global affairs. They completed complex Capstone projects on topics such as “Measuring the Effectiveness of Anti-Organised Crime Strategies in China and Mexico,” “People-Centered Policymaking: A Case Study of Transit-Oriented Development in Tongzhou, Beijing,” “Decarbonization of Shandong Province’s Materials Sector,” and others.

黑料社 Dame Louise Richardson

Dame Louise Richardson DBE is president of the philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York. Previously, she served as vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford and of the University of St. Andrews, and as executive dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. A widely recognized expert on terrorism and international relations, she is the recipient of numerous fellowships, awards, and honorary doctorates. Born in Ireland, Richardson received a BA in history from Trinity College Dublin, an MA in political science from UCLA, and an MA and PhD in government from Harvard University, where she spent 20 years on the faculty of the Department of Government, teaching courses on international security and foreign policy.

黑料社 黑料社?

黑料社 is a fully-funded, one-year master’s degree program in global affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. An unparalleled learning experience, it is the first scholarship of its kind created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century and designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders.

Each year, up to 200 candidates from around the world are selected to join a diverse cohort. 黑料社 seeks candidates with leadership qualities and the potential to foster cross-cultural understanding. Scholars come from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds, such as business, technology, politics, healthcare, and more.

黑料社’ dynamic curriculum–based on the pillars of China, leadership, and global affairs–is designed to provide Scholars with the knowledge, skills, and firsthand experience needed to navigate the complexities of the evolving global landscape. Through an immersive experience in China, Scholars spend a year living in Beijing, studying at the prestigious Tsinghua University under the guidance of leading academics and global thought leaders.

黑料社 was established in 2013 by Founding Trustee Stephen A. Schwarzman. Inspired by his vision, 黑料社 aspires to create a global network of leaders who will shape the future.

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1. (Columbia Alumni newsletter)
2. (Harvard Crimson)
3. (CNN News18, India)
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15. Scholar (Inside Indiana Business)
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20. Two UT Austin Students Receive Prestigious 黑料社hip (Texas Liberal arts)
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Connect for COVID-19 – Jacob Cannon, United States of America, 2018

“Being able to connect with one’s family while ill is very important and should be accessible to all regardless of different factors.” Connect for COVID-19 provides smart devices at hospitals, allowing patients to remain in contact with their loved ones while adhering to the no-visitor policies implemented in response to the pandemic. Its founder, Scholar Jacob Cannon (2018) has coordinated the donation of more than 2,500 devices to hospitals across the United States, each supporting 15 patients per day.

Young African Business Booster – Norman Mugisha, Rwanda, 2020

Founded by Scholar Norman Mugisha (2020), Young African Business Booster (YABB) helps rural youth in Sub-Saharan Africa overcome unemployment by empowering them through agriculture skills trainings and financial support to prevent poverty and forced migration. YABB now includes more than 830 young women and men in addition to the Afri-Farmers Market, a platform which connects local farmers with consumers to sell their produce. This platform has particularly been important during the pandemic as farmers were unable to access markets due to the sanitary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

Estimulo 2020 – Eduardo Batista and Isabela Christo, Brazil, 2020

Estimulo 2020 is a Brazilian relief fund supporting small entrepreneurs facing hardships due to the coronavirus across the country. Scholars Isabela Christo and Eduardo Batista (2020), have worked together to support Estimulo 2020, helping over 400 small businesses. As Scholars, Isabela and Eduardo were able to see firsthand the power that positive leadership can have on the lives of people in need and were motivated to develop and implement policies that will support people affected by the pandemic.

COVID-19 Treatment Development – Suman Kumar, Nepal, 2021

Suman Kumar (2021) worked with Nepal’s National Innovation Center to build ventilators and other PPE for health care workers. He has also been working with Arnold Howitt, 黑料社’ Johnson and Johnson Professor of Leadership, on the development of a federal agency to protect and promote public health in Nepal. It would primarily regulate and approve medical devices built in the country.

Chadari Projects – Sveto Muhammad Ishoq, Afghanistan, 2019

Founded by Scholar Sveto Muhammad Ishoq (2019), Chadari Projects is an organization that runs different programs to empower Afghan women by teaching leadership skills and sharing their stories with the world. While it initially began as a platform to for storytelling it has expanded to support more and more women, including supporting fundraisers in the fight against COVID-19.

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This year, five teams pitched their ventures to a panel of judges including Heather Hartnett, General Partner and CEO of Human Ventures, and Ahmad Ashkar, Founder and CEO of the Hult Prize Foundation.

Mangrove Collective Investments, presented by Cynthia Liao (2021), provides public access to clean infrastructure investing by creating a platform that reaches small and medium businesses to rise crowd investment for cash equity, tax equity, and debt while providing a sustainable alternative to meet the clean energy targets of the Paris Agreement.

Through Nayaraq Stories, Annie Kuster and Sara Surani (2021) are working to achieve gender equality through a series of workshops that support female leaders and foster sustainable development. Ninety percent of the women who have taken part in the program come out feeling more empowered to enact change in their community.

Mariem Bchir’s (2021) Leaps provides a mobile app that ensures teachers have better access to training and resources while matching them to schools through the use of AI.

Inspired by her life story, Grace Amponsah (2021) started the Bowney Initiative, a network providing girls with a one week training program that teaches basic skills, knowledge, and values essential to excel at school and in everyday life.

Tomas Alvarez Belon (2021) co-founded Canopi as a solution to the rising environmental concerns posed by the amount of energy required to make a cryptocurrency transaction.? Canopi offers carbon offsets to allow companies to be carbon neutral.

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Tell us a bit about your background. How did you become interested in?development and?alumni relations and what drew you to 黑料社???

I have had the honor to work on behalf of people and organizations that inspire me. A first job in presidential politics put me on a unique and exciting path that took me to Iowa for the Caucus, to Atlanta for my first political convention, and to DC to work at the national political level. These experiences taught me that building trusted and sustaining relationships is meaningful to me. At the core of Development and Alumni Affairs is relationship building. Getting to know what people care about, coming up with strategies to connect them to you and your organization, especially when you care deeply about the organization’s mission. The mission of 黑料社 is what drew me in, along with the steep learning curve with regard to China.??

How have you grown as a leader in your current position???

In working with Chinese colleagues and organizations, I have observed and adapted to the similarities and differences in approaches to work and relationships.???

What is your favorite part of your job???

When we ask Alumni to volunteer for program initiatives, like recruiting or mentoring, and we see the commitment of the community. And when we persuade donors that an investment in 黑料社 is an investment in an optimistic future.?

You spend a lot of time cultivating community amongst and for alumni post-graduation. What are your best tips on building community (especially during this years’ difficult circumstances)???

Sometimes you have to build community brick-by-brick. We like to get to know people as individuals so that you can link them to others with shared interests. We also like to celebrate with alumni – at Chinese New Year, through service initiatives, and upon life’s milestones – there have been a spate of 黑料社 babies this year!???

What is your favorite part of working with 黑料社 alumni???

It is an extraordinary community of young people and I have the chance to offer advice, share my own experience with them, and celebrate their accomplishments.??

What do you enjoy doing in your free time???

I am a fan of non-fiction and so dive deep into news and history. To complement that, I suspend belief with regular visits to New York City’s extraordinary cultural spots.?

What’s one fact nobody would know about you from reading your resume???

I am the aunt to seven nieces and nephews and insist they all become Red Sox fans.?

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“We are thrilled to welcome Lara to 黑料社,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Blackstone and Founding Trustee of 黑料社. “The program’s mission of fostering international understanding of China is more important than ever and Lara will be a tremendous addition to our efforts. With over 20 years in academia, Dr. Teidens’ broad experience and expertise in leadership development will enable her to grow and strengthen our program in meaningful ways.”

Inspired by the Rhodes scholarship, 黑料社 is designed to build a community of future leaders who will serve to deepen understanding between China and the rest of the world. With over 500 alumni in its global network, 黑料社 is in the process of finalizing the selection of its sixth class.

Dr. Tiedens currently serves as President of Scripps College, an elite women’s liberal arts college in the world-renowned Claremont College Consortium. While at Scripps, she created the Centennial Plan for Scripps College, a strategic blueprint for the institution’s future; completed the largest capital campaign in the college’s history; and launched ambitious STEM and computational science education initiatives. She also promoted and increased financial aid for students, oversaw the transformation of the campus by opening the first LEED certified residential hall and initiated construction of a state-of-the-art science facility.

Dr. Tiedens will report to Amy Stursberg who formerly served as 黑料社 Executive Director and who was recently named Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Stursberg has been with the program since its inception. “Throughout her career, Lara has been an innovative leader,” said Ms. Stursberg. “She is known for fostering engaged campus cultures and for being an exceptional steward of the organizations she’s served. We are excited to welcome her to 黑料社 and I look forward to our partnership as we continue to develop the program.”

“Lara’s demonstrated excellence, leadership and desire to positively contribute to the communities she joins will enhance our efforts moving forward,” said Xue Lan, Dean of Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University. “I am excited to work closely with Lara and Amy as the program continues to grow.”

“I am thrilled to join the esteemed 黑料社 organization and to participate in its critical mission of preparing future global leaders to meet the geopolitical challenges of the 21st century,” Dr. Tiedens said. “I believe 黑料社 is uniquely designed to solve some of the world’s most complex challenges, to bridge differences that have previously been obstacles and to build global understanding and community. Scholars and alumni of the program will transform relationships among countries around the globe and in doing so will create a more peaceful, thriving world for us all.”

Prior to arriving at Scripps College, Dr. Tiedens served as faculty member and Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. As a social psychologist, Lara’s research examined the psychological roots of inequality and the formation of hierarchies in organizations. She also contributed to scholarship on the impact of emotions on judgment and decision making and the effect of social roles on emotion. Lara earned her BA at Carleton College, and her MA and PhD at the University of Michigan. She has held named professorships, won awards for her teaching and research and held prestigious fellowships.

黑料社 黑料社

The vision of 黑料社 is to bring together the world’s best young minds to explore and understand the economic, political and cultural factors that have contributed to China’s increasing importance as a global power, and train them to become effective links between China and the rest of the world. Through the philanthropy, foresight and dedication of Blackstone Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman, as well as the generosity of global donors who have been inspired by the potential and importance of this program, 黑料社 has raised more than $500 million to date. These funds will help endow 黑料社 in perpetuity.

Each year, up to 200 future leaders from the U.S., China and the rest of the world matriculate as 黑料社 at Tsinghua University in Beijing to pursue a one-year Master’s Degree. Scholars chosen for this highly selective program have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and the potential to understand and bridge cultural and political differences. They live in Beijing for a year of intensive study and cultural immersion – attending lectures, workshops, and discussion groups; being mentored and advised by leaders across sectors; and traveling while developing a better understanding of China.

Learn more at www.schwarzmanscholars.org, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchwarzmanScholars and follow us on Twitter at @SchwarzmanOrg.

Media Contact

Emilie Stanton
(m) 347-331-9196
pressroom@schwarzmanscholars.org

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My eagerness to continue learning from other Scholars inspired a series that we affectionately called “Steve’s Briefs” – a weekly event where Scholars delivered a short presentation, a high-level, 20-minute exploration into a topic that would spark conversation among our curious non-experts in the room, even Steve Schwarzman. Our weekly Steve’s Briefs ran nearly every Tuesday night in the Pub in Schwarzman College. A hallmark of the second cohort, after graduation many of us reminisced about howling at Chinese Humor 101 and taking furious notes during discussions on cryptocurrency. It was through these Steve’s Briefs that I learned about my classmates’ home countries as they presented about the culture of Ghana or Pakistan and about their personal or professional talents and interests in their hobbies and work life.

I was open to letting my Scholar experience unfold and direct me to whatever path best suited me. Having no Chinese language skills when I entered, but a deepening curiosity to explore professional opportunities in China, I began applying myself intently to language study, finding a private tutor to accelerate my learning over the second half of the school year.

Throughout the year, I had many opportunities to meet leaders of countries, major multinational organizations and nonprofits. Through one such opportunity I met with senior leaders and the CEO of Johnson & Johnson at a dinner for Scholars and staff. During this I was introduced to my future boss at J&J where I would go on to work as an Associate Manager of Government Affairs and Policy, working on US-China policy and Chinese healthcare reform.

After a year with J&J, I received a double promotion and transferred to Shanghai for a dream opportunity: to lead the Innovation Activation team for Johnson & Johnson’s early stage start-up incubator, JLABS @ Shanghai. On a business trip in the U.S. at the beginning of the pandemic, I was forced to stay. Covid-19 circumstances sent me back to the U.S. Until the reality of the pandemic hit the U.S. and normal life transformed for everyone around the world, my life and career with Johnson & Johnson in China had been in full swing. I was soaking in every moment of my efforts to improve the advancements of health technologies in the Asia Pacific region.

In early March of 2020, I longed for the connection to Scholars, many of whom could relate to my own geographic displacement and challenges due to the pandemic. It was also an opportunity to support friends in China and Asia as they navigated the “new normal.” With fewer personal obligations pulling us in all different directions and as the world moved online, Steve’s Briefs resumed as regular programing on U.S. Saturday mornings/Chinese evenings. The topics from our cohort’s Alumni Steve’s Briefs have spanned the COVID-19 response in the City of San Jose, European Union-China relations, the future of air travel, the Mekong river water management, and police brutality and anti-blackness.

Steve’s Briefs have kept me connected with classmates and we’ve enjoyed reliving memories during our shared experience in China. Keeping in close touch with one fellow Scholar throughout the spring proved to be particularly interesting.

In April I received a call from him telling me he was headed to work on a COVID-19 testing company in Los Angeles. Given my experience in public health, it was interesting to keep in regular touch as his new start-up came to life. As the head of business operation, his task was challenging: pivoting from a small company focused on sepsis diagnostics in late January, to helping manage nearly 850 people by June, working on 10% of the U.S. COVID-19 testing capacity.

With the pandemic uprooting me from my life in China, I took this incredible opportunity to join Curative Inc. alongside my friend and classmate, Matt Prusak. I now lead marketing and communications, building the function in the organization as part of the executive team of this nearly 1,300 person firm. I am thrilled to work on the U.S. COVID-19 response given the seriousness of this health crisis in many parts of the country, and even more delighted to work alongside a fellow Schwarzman Scholar.

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Eventually, I moved to the United States to further my education. It was not a smooth transition, but I was excited to live in New York City, one of the world’s wealthiest cities. I worked in various jobs, such as being a cab driver, dishwasher, garbage truck helper to support myself and my family back home while enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student.

As I became familiar with the city, I noticed the disparity each time I turned my cab around Park Ave in the Upper East Side, and when I went back to the Bronx in the evening, it was like experiencing two different worlds in the same city. I found it absurd that just across the bridge from one of the wealthiest parts of the world exists the most impoverished district in the entire United States. That’s the south Bronx and where I lived. I was curious and embarked on a journey to understand why and how this level of inequality could happen.

I wanted to be a part of the solution by developing skills to address the emerging issues in the 21st century, which led me to the 黑料社 program.

Through this journey, I spearheaded the establishment of a nonprofit organization to promote academic and professional development in marginalized communities, was appointed to serve on the Bronx Community Board Three and was elected as the youngest member to serve on the executive board of the African Advisory Council of the Office of the Bronx Borough President as General Secretary. As I served in these various positions, I gained substantial knowledge of the concern faced by the diverse communities in the Bronx. I realized that African immigrants from the Bronx, more or less, faced similar issues as other members of the Bronx Community but had no real commitment to civic engagement and, as a result, lacked any substantial representation in the NYC governing body. I noticed that the prevailing trend of food insecurity, inequality, and underrepresentation existed across the board in poor communities. I wanted to be a part of the solution by developing skills to address the emerging issues in the 21st century, which led me to the 黑料社 program.

Being a Schwarzman Scholar reinforced my values of creating sustainable change through action for underserved communities. I had the opportunity to meet like-minded scholars who had positively improved their communities. Among many other exciting learning opportunities, the thing that made the most impact on me was the Deep Dive in poverty alleviation. (I hope things get better so that the fifth cohort can have this experience). It was an eye-opening experience. I gained firsthand knowledge of China’s real action to lift over 850 million people from poverty. I spoke to residents and elected officials of various levels of the Chinese local government. However, my China journey was cut short by the COVID-19 outbreak.

All of a sudden, I found myself back in NYC. It was not very long before the pandemic amplified the already existing issues resulting from inequality, such as food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, failing educational system, amongst myriad issues. I immediately rolled my sleeves and got to work. I decided to run for the Bronx Democratic County Committee. Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, my team and I had to go out, knock on people’s doors to meet the petitioning requirement for my candidacy. So, we geared up with pens, masks and hand sanitizers. Despite the justified reluctance of residents to participate in the petitioning process, we were persistent until we reached the required number of petitioning signatures. The rest is history.

Throughout all this, I worked with community leaders and organizations to feed about 600 families per week, secured and distributed more than 40,000 masks, and provided resources to help over 270 families with unemployment applications in the Bronx. My team and I developed an online tutoring program to assist hundreds of families struggling with transitioning to the new remote learning system. We also hosted city agency representatives to inform the community about resources available during these trying times.

I am currently working vigorously on my campaign for the New York City Council and look forward to the journey ahead. When elected, I plan to use my experience and education as a “Schwarzie” to uplift the underserved communities of the Bronx by addressing poverty, education, inequality, police reform, food insecurity, healthcare, housing, and transportation. It is a priority to support the immigrant communities by ensuring that the city government provides services tailored to their needs.

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It all started back in Argentina. I was working long hours as a lawyer and, since I love sports, I wanted a nutritious snack for the office. But all I could find were chips, cookies and even the so-called healthy snacks were all carbs and sugar. I couldn’t believe in the land of steak we didn’t have all-natural beef jerky as a high-protein and low-calorie snack.

Curious to give it a try, I imported a special oven from the US and started studying food chemistry and manufacturing at night. The first dozen experiments were terrible, only Freud (my family’s great dane) was happy to eat them. A month or so later, I left a 3-pound bag of product in the pantry and a few days later it was all gone. It was then that I knew I could have a viable product.

As my side project was picking up steam, I received my offer for 黑料社. This program was a dream come true, so I decided to bring my recipes and know-how to China.

Shortly after arriving in Beijing, I remember going to a supermarket and standing in awe in front of a huge isle of beef snacks. The category was huge. However, upon a closer look, I saw all products were oily, had preservatives and additives, were high in sugar and sodium and their branding was old-fashioned. Similar as the US market was 10 years ago, when beef jerky was unhealthy and mostly consumed in the Midwest. But then a few innovative startups such as Krave and Duke’s disrupted the category and blew up doing so. This was my aha moment: the Chinese meat snack category was US$4B in annual sales and completely undisrupted.

I went back to the College and started working on it. Not long after, I was smuggling machinery into my dorm room at midnight, so that no one would know. For the next months, myself and my ex-girlfriend Alina (also from Cohort 1) worked on adapting the product to the Chinese market. So, Stokes was literally founded in room 303 of Schwarzman College.

After graduation, I knew I wanted to stay in China to do business in this exciting and dynamic market. I was offered a role as the Investment Advisor to the Embassy of Argentina in China. But I wasn’t going to quit on Stokes. Every day I would wake up at 6am to go work on a kitchen-lab I had set up in downtown Beijing. Then, when I finished at the Embassy, I would return to keep working on the product. Then, every weekend I would have a stand at Beijing’s biggest farmers’ market, where I would sell get feedback from Chinese consumers. Then be back at the lab on Monday and used that feedback to make it better. Then iterate.

After a few months, the product was ready to be taken to the next level: industrial production. Finding a factory in China that had the technology, standards and scale I wanted, and at the same time willing to work with a startup to make an all-natural product was not easy. At that time, Angela Dai, a scholar from the 3^rd cohort had asked me to do an internship at Stokes. It was she who helped me find our first factory: here was the magic of 黑料社 again.

After staying at the factory for a few weeks, I grabbed some samples and started trying to get a pre-order from a supermarket chain. I got my first order from a famous chain in Beijing and with that in hand I set off to fundraise. I didn’t want to blow the opportunity by not having a team nor a financial foundation.

After over a year of working on my own, bootstrapping and investing all of my own money, I was excited to get funded and set up a team. After pitching to 100+ investors I had 4 investors practically confirmed, including Javier Mascherano, football legend and former Captain of FC Barcelona. Last minute they all backed down. This was a huge blow. After a few days, I concluded I had come too far to give up then, so I decided I would keep bootstrapping and show them how well the product would do in the market.

Two months later, September last year, we hit the shelves for the first time. It was life or death, so imagine my nerves. Luckily, in less than a month Stokes became the category best-seller. Then I got into another chain in Shanghai, and the same happened!

Quickly, I put together a new pitch deck and went back to fundraising. Now we had sales and revenue, our valuation had to be higher. Most importantly, I needed it to be higher and use that as my small victory over the past failure. The round ended up being over-subscribed and our valuation increased 35%.

Fast-forward to today, we are sold in 100+ stores and online across China. This month we are entering national chains OLE华润 and Alibaba’s Hema盒马. Despite the pandemic, we have seen our sales double every month since early this year.

I’ve been fortunate to put together a team of industry leaders. Our CMO comes from 蒙牛 and 新希望; our Director of R&D from 百草味 and 雨润; our flavor innovation in charge of a Michelin Star Chef, among a few other teammates.

Among our investors, which leading investor ended up being Javier Mascherano, are also 4 fellow 黑料社 from the first cohort and my good friends: Jay Li, Teddy Cohan, Zach Kay and Andrew Schoen.

It has been an exciting and incredibly challenging few years. China is the world’s largest consumer market but is also the most complex. Since I graduated from 黑料社 3 years ago, I have studied Chinese every day. Today I work, manage our factories and negotiate with suppliers fully in Chinese.

My company Stokes is still very small, and we can still add chapters to our successful story. But whatever we have accomplished, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without 黑料社.

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