水木清华众秀钟

水木清华众秀钟

YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS ON THEIR WAY TO REACH FOR THE SKY

As modern women, Zoon and Theodora believe that Tsinghua University is playing a crucial role in a path where they can dedicate themselves to furthering their own dreams.

Text by Irene Photos by Wang Zhirui & Zhang Zhigeng

“I am 26 years old and from Pakistan.I study at Tsinghua's Department of International Relations.Ten years from now I will be one of the leading voices in Pakistan's security sector.” Zoon said with con fi dence.She admits that she was not born with a set path to follow.When she joined Lahore University of Management Sciences, becoming a physicist was her dream.But by 2007, the determination to understand what was happening around her made Zoon realize that studying statecraft, political movements, and ideologies resonated with her.

Zoon was offered a job in 2015, as a host of what became one of the most watched international relations talk shows on Pakistan's national television - KYA.

“A question I have frequently been asked is 'Why China?'” said Zoon.“While people from Pakistan love China, the fact is that we know very little about her.It was during the path of my career as a journalist and a researcher that I realized the importance of understanding Central and South Asia through the rising power of the 21st century - and the heart of Asia.”

Zoon added that from energy and security to development and economic progress, it will be Chinese institutions that will matter morefor Pakistan in the years to come than Anglo-American ones.And Tsinghua University, as China's best university, with leading international academics, provided just the opportunity that she was looking for.

Theodora is a second generation overseas Chinese, born in the multiracial society of Singapore.Prior to her MBA at Tsinghua School of Economics and Managements (SEM), she was an associate director of a Singapore-based private equity fund.

Theodora was passionate about giving back to society.She was a founding member and chairperson between 2011 and 2014 of the Young Women's Leadership Connection, a distinctive society aimed at connecting and empowering young women leaders in Singapore.She also became a Council Member of the Singapore National Youth Council.

Keen to pursue graduate studies, Theodora applied to join the Tsinghua-MIT Global MBA program.“With Tsinghua and its X-Lab, I was able to develop business ideas, learn and test strategies with the faculty, industry experts and peers,” she says.Theodora was happy to fi nd partners and mentors to work with for her start-up business, PrepForChina, which aims to create a learning community for Chinese language learning among globally-minded young professionals outside China.

Tsinghua University is serving as the turning point in a new chapter, not just for these two young ladies, but also for more globally minded individuals.

在为个人与时代梦想不懈奋斗的路上，国际学生Zoon和Theodora坚信，清华大学对她们有着重要的影响。

“我是来自巴基斯坦的Zoon，正在清华大学国际关系学系读研一。十年后，我将成为一名在巴基斯坦安全问题上发出重要声音的人。”起初，她的梦想是成为一名物理学家。然而，当她关注到巴基斯坦国内的政治环境后，渐渐对国家的政治与治理产生了兴趣。

2015年，Zoon曾主持巴基斯坦国家电视台热门的政治类脱口秀节目《KYA》。对于“为什么选择中国”这个问题，Zoon认为，相较于研究英美体系来说，研究中国的国家制度对巴基斯坦更有意义，因为中国是亚洲的中心。“作为中国最好的高等学府，清华大学为中巴关系的发展提供了更加广阔的合作空间。在这里的学习经历是我归国后最大的财富。”她说道。

Theodora 是第二代海外华人，出生于新加坡的多民族社会。在清华大学经济与管理学院读MBA之前，她曾是新加坡一家私募股权基金公司的副总监。学校追求卓越与创新的校园文化，让Theodora为自己的创业项目——PrepForChina找到了共事的伙伴与导师。该项目旨在为具有全球视野的中国地区以外的年轻专家，提供专业、系统的中文学习社区服务，“借助学校的X-Lab创意创新创业教育平台，我相信我会实现我的创业梦想。”