Taking Advantage of Each Day

Mengping Li, originally from a small town in Sichuan Province, was prepping for her college entrance exam when the disastrous earthquake of 2008 occurred. Although surrounded by misery, the testing went forward.  Mengping ended up being accepted at Chengdu University of Traditional Medicine. (See post one.) She soon discovered that this second-tier university did not have all she needed, and went about finding ways to make the experience better. (See post two.) The realization that she held the reins regarding her future lit a fire in her soul, and she began exploring as she never had before. (See post three.) She had thoughts about getting a higher degree, but decided instead to try to find a job. (See post four.) While she had heard it would be impossible to find a job, coming from a 2nd-tier university, she thought she'd test the waters during a holiday break. Through persistence, she found a position promoting VIP cards at a manicure/pedicure salon. (See post five.) While her colleagues were quick to judge customers and decide whether/not to engage, Mengping helped everyone. One impoverished-looking woman turned out to be quite wealthy and connected, and offered Mengping a job in an electronics company. Mengping turned this down.(See post six.) However, a year later, when she was graduating, she managed to snag a job with GE Healthcare, something this woman was also connected with. (See post seven.) She spent several years with G.E. before deciding she needed an MBA to get ahead. This time she was accepted into a "tier one" school. She also stepped outside her "farmer's mindset" and applied for an IT position with Microsoft. (See post eight.)

Microsoft was impressed enough by Mengping to fly her to Beijing for another round of interviewing. She had to give a ten-minute presentation.

“I kind of differentiated from others. Most of the MBA’s did a strategic analysis. But it’s only 10 minutes. So you cannot communicate all the information. So you need to sell yourself. “

They gave her the job. 

But before graduation, and before starting her new position, she continued to travel. 

“You cannot have such kind of time in your life.  No relationship, no worry about things.” 

Mengping in Cuba

She ventured to California for a couple of months (where we met her), then went off to visit Peru (where she helped those devastated by recent floods) and Cuba (“I recommend you to have a visit.”)  

Graduation Day

She returned home in time to graduate, attend a friend’s wedding, and begin her new job in Beijing.

(To be continued. Next: Beijing Residents Receive Preference at Top Universities)