Chris Jia 贾晓鲲

Mentor

I grew up in the extreme climate of Shenyang, where I developed a strong mind that nothing can defeat (an essential for entrepreneurs, hooray!) After 18 years well protected life with my parents, I left my hometown and went to Beijing and Shanghai for my college (BLCU) and my graduate school (Fudan). After graduation, I joined the marketing and communication industry and have been working as a professional consultant since then. I was even very lucky to be able to cofound a start-up and make it survive and thrive before I came to the US for my MBA at Dartmouth.

I knew Yin on my interview with her for my application to Wharton. Though many of our friends joke that I should “hate” her for not getting me in, but we ended up as friends, and we still are. Yin’s idea of Qian Zheng Memorial Scholarship impressed me the first minute she brought it up. I love this idea because we share similar life experience: losing our wise, kind, talented and beloved mums to cancer. I thought it is the sweetest gifts for her mum, even though she is no longer around. I wish, someday, I could do such a meaningful thing for my mum as well. More importantly, I value the spirit of support and collaboration behind the scholarship. I received lots of help and support, both physically and mentally, from my friends when I took care of my mum in the hospital during her last days. I know the power of those small grateful gestures, and would like to pass it along by join in this group.

Currently, I am working in a healthcare startup in Boston, helping the local patients find the best care services after their treatment in the hospital. I am also planning on my next start-up in the same area in China.