July 31, 2022. Shanghai – CEIBS Global EMBA 2019s Brandy Yu and Tobias Machus have been named amongst Poets & Quants’ 2022 Best & Brightest Executive MBAs.

The award is given each year to EMBAs from business schools around the world for their “contributions to the class, academic performance, extracurricular involvement, personal intangibles, and unique personal stories.”

“I’m extremely honoured to be granted the Poets & Quants award. Against the backdrop of geopolitical and climate emergencies, inflation, scarcity and volatility have become the new norm. As business leaders, we have to have courage and follow our inner voice to rise above these difficult times. Only by connecting to our true purposes in work and life, can we develop greater resilience and become a source of inspiration to others,” Brandy says.

Fascinated by the idea of global citizenship and leadership in a global organisation, Brandy joined the CEIBS GEMBA programme as a way to cultivate effective leadership in the Chinese market.

Not surprisingly, her efforts quickly paid off. As the China Managing Director for the sustainable lifestyle brand Allbirds, she has successfully built the company’s presence in China from the scratch while shepherding its’ CSR efforts.

“The more important aspect of growth means unlocking our potential to bring our sustainability commitments to life within a broader consumer market and value chain ecosystem, ultimately making positive impact on society and the planet,” she says.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Brandy also enriched the GEMBA experience of her peers.

“From the moment you meet her, it’s impossible to miss Brandy’s confidence, energy and charisma, all of which she utilises to the fullest in both her academic and professional endeavours,” explains CEIBS Associate Dean and Global EMBA Director Bala Ramasamy. “In this sense, she displays the hallmarks of a typically effective marketing executive, but there is much more to her than this. She utilises every tool at her disposal to think, act and lead responsibly, with suitably impressive results.”

For Tobias, the Poets & Quants nomination was a “natural choice” due to his academic excellence and contribution to his class and the programme overall.

“As a student with the top GPA in the class, his academic prowess and dedication are evident. Furthermore, Tobias enriches his classes by offering insightful questions and topics for debate, whatever the subject matter,” says Prof. Ramasamy.

Currently serving as the Head of Strategy, Reporting & Steering of Group Audit at Volkswagen AG, Tobias is a strong champion of “purpose” in business who aspires to contribute to a greener and more responsible world.

“My ultimate goal is to maximise my sphere of influence to make a difference and inspire as many other people as possible,” he explains.

During his time with CEIBS, Tobias has found that his biggest lesson has been the power and value of relatively small, diverse teams.

“I was amazed by the results that we produced in such working groups with extremely challenging timeframes throughout the programme. At work, I’m trying my best every day to create the respective conditions and atmosphere in every group that I’m able to influence,” he says.

Aside from GEMBA courses, Tobias is also active in many extracurricular activities at CEIBS, serving as a valued member of the CCT (Class Committee Team) as a sports coordinator who excels on the soccer pitch.

Founded in 2010, P&Q is widely regarded as one of the world’s top sources for in-depth reports and information on global business schools and MBA education. Now in its ninth year, the Best & Brightest list features EMBAs from many of the world’s top programmes, including Wharton, INSEAD, MIT Sloan, Northwestern Kellogg, Berkeley Haas, and Columbia Business School.

Writer: Effy He    Editor: Michael Thede