Spring 2026 brought a vibrant season of learning, connection, and discovery for students across the MS programs. From touring cutting-edge factories to celebrating the Chinese New Year together, the semester integrated academic rigor, real world exposure, and a strong sense of community that extended beyond the classroom.
In the Classroom: Learning from Industry Leaders
This spring, students continued their advanced coursework and learned extensively from industry experts through a series of guest lectures.
In Professor Liu's class, students heard from executives at leading companies such as H&T Co., Ltd., Tencent, and Yami, who shared unique insights on entrepreneurship, technology, and building businesses across global markets.
A standout event was a guest lecture on Driving Tesla: How AI Fuels the Future, which explored the business strategy, innovation, and organizational culture behind one of the world's most influential companies.
Students learning from Mr. Alex Zhou, founder of Yami.
Beyond the Classroom: Company Visits This Spring
Throughout the semester, students went beyond classrooms to visit organizations at the forefront of their industries. In March, Professor Rayn Wang led a visit to Xiaomi's Electric Vehicles (EV) Hyper Factory in Beijing, where students toured the state-of-the-art production facility and even experienced a test ride driven by Xiaomi staff. Later in March, students visited Fujifilm, exploring the company's operations and innovation pipeline. In April, Professor Christina Wang led a visit to the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE), which included a center tour and a guest talk offering an inside look at one of the world's largest financial markets.
Students visiting FujiFilm.
Students visiting Xiaomi.
Students visiting Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Enhancing Alumni Engagement
Spring 2026 featured meaningful alumni engagement events, including an event titled “Stern in Shanghai: Geopolitics, Finance, and AI.”
Students joined an insightful panel discussion between NYU Stern Professor Emeritus Menachem Brenner and NYU Shanghai Professor Han-Shen Lin (MS '10) on geopolitical risk and radical uncertainty, with opening remarks by our MS Programs Director, Professor Adam Brandenburger, and followed by a networking mixer with alumni across various industries.
Celebrating Community Through Cultural Activities
Beyond academics, the semester was rich with social and cultural experiences that brought the MS community closer together.
The semester kicked off with a Chinese Spring Festival celebration where students enjoyed a dumpling-making workshop, live performances, and a wide range of traditional activities including lantern riddle guessing, Bo Bing, sugar painting, frottage printmaking, and DIY lanterns. Apart from the Karaoke night organized by Cohort Leaders, the semester culminated with "Golden Hours", a graduate celebration that marked the close of a memorable spring with the entire MS community.
Students at the “Golden Hours” graduate celebration.
Students at the “Golden Hours” graduate celebration.
What Comes Next
After a rewarding semester, students will take a well-deserved break before returning for new opportunities ahead. The experiences of Spring 2026 reflect the MS programs' commitment to preparing students as business professionals and as globally minded, culturally engaged leaders ready for what comes after graduation.