My CBU Story

Yiran Zhu did not take the task of choosing auniversity lightly. Obtaining a Master of Business Administration was very important to him, so hecompared MBA programs offered around the world before making his decision.

“What made Cape Breton University’s MBA program stand out was the focus on community Economic Development,” says Yiran. “Many other programs focus on the generation of profit but forget the importance of social and ecological effects behind theprofit. The MBA in CED at CBU offered very unique perspectives on the field ofbusiness.”

After arriving from Beijing, China, Yiran settled in quickly to his new home,thankful that the weather wasn’t too warm. He says Cape Breton has been a greatplace to improve his English as there are so many native-English speakers onthe island. “The reason I came to CBU is that I wanted to push myself out of mycomfort zone and become a better version of myself,” says Yiran. “I think Ihave accomplished that during my time here.”

This weekend, Yiran will be crossing the stage at convocation and celebratingeverything he accomplished during his time at CBU. He says he wouldn’t havebeen able to do it without the support of his incredible professors, including Dr. Sahand Ashtab, Martin Moy and Gary Leech. “With the help of my professors Ihave taken my understanding to the next level,” says Yiran. “My knowledge ofvarious financial activities in the business world has been enhanced thanks totheir expertise.”

Yiran’s favourite thing about being a CBU student has been having the opportunity to work with people from different backgrounds and countries. He says the diverse environment has elevated his learning experience and he has enjoyed theacademic atmosphere on campus.

Yiran also got involved on campus by becoming a member of the dragon dancing team andper forming numerous times at CBU. He worked as a research assistant, a residence advisor and a finance tutor, all of which he says enriched his time at university.

“It’s hard to choose between the research and the tutoring as the highlight of my time at CBU,” says Yiran. “Getting the opportunity to explore new things and conduct research was thoroughly enjoyable, and sharing my knowledge with other students through tutoring was very rewarding.” Yiran says watching students figure out a problem on their own and getting good grades after working with him in the lab was one of the best feelings in the world.
Although Yiran is sad tobe leaving the university he has come to love, he is eager to put his knowledgeto good use in the real world. “I will make the greatest contribution to society I can,” says Yiran. “If possible, I want to inspire others to work together to make our lives better.”

Following graduation, Yiran plans to return to China temporarily but hopes to find hisway back to Nova Scotia to begin his career. His advice to future CBU students is to always stay hungry and curious. “Absorb all the knowledge you can and invest in yourself,” he says. “Consider the new world you can build when you put your education to use.”

We know that Yiran is going to make a difference in the world and we hope to see him back in Cape Breton.
Congratulations Yiran. We are so proud of you!