Never stop fighting, Kindred Spirits Throughout the Journey- Review of 2014 MBA Class Team Building Exercise
Sep 11-2014
On the last weekend of August, 2014, in Beijing, the weather was chilly, overcast and light rain threatened to soak the earth. At this moment, at the entrance of Shunyi’s Chaobai River ancient path, a rambunctious group of 20- and 30-somethings gathered around their flags, cheering and striking poses. Big letters plastered on the entrance signboard told us the origin of the group: “BiMBA – Never Stop: Exploration, Happiness, Study”- they were the National School of Development at Peking University BiMBA’s newest addition, the class of 2014. They were here for their team building day and, in their teams, would face the upcoming physical and mental challenge – a 20km hike along the Chaobai River ancient path.
Never Stop Exploring: 20 Kilometres, A Long Road, Even Longer Lasting Relationships
Following the summons of EMBA alumni volunteers, each team member launched into the campaign. As MBA students, they were not blindly competing by physical endurance, but, according to each group’s targets, team spirit and team member physical situation, implemented different strategies. Some teams charged to the front, with physically stronger teammates carrying their teammates’ bags; some groups chose to stay in the middle and capture the beautiful scenery in their minds and with their cameras; some groups made sure they would not lose any team member, despite their pace.
Stretches before setting out
Raising the flag and moving forward
Sticking together through thick and thin
“Professors, please hurry to the turning point 3km away, two female students need your help!” At 1.30pm, the silent walkie-talkie suddenly made a sound, the volunteers’ faces were anxious, “What happened?” The teachers and students rushed over – they found, to join the activity and provide support for their teammates, the two students had only just returned home from an overseas business trip at 3am. Due to lack of sleep, their bodies were exhausted. A moment later, an ambulance arrived.
The first ten kilometres could be described as fuelled by passion and the beautiful scenery, but the second ten kilometres were motivated by determination, will and their teammates. Each team are warriors of a new age and teachers and classmates were at the finish line to cheer them on.
Never Stop the Happiness: Creativity Lights up Life
That evening, the students changed from their hiking gear to their evening wear. If the day was a test of the teams’ will and organization, then the night was a test on stage of their creativity and performance skills. The students from Asia, Europe and Oceania, along with their classmates from China sang and danced, mixing East and West. Whether it was the popular ‘Little Apple’, or the show devised by the students; whether the “Voice of BiMBA” talent show or a combination of magic and dancing, each student brought out their experience of BiMBA life, their observations of life and their ideas on Eastern and Western culture during the performances. This was the result of many team discussions and practice.
Two Handsome Presenters
Never Stop Studying: Climbing Your Own ‘Everest’
On the morning of the 31st August, in place of the bright lights of the previous night, the multi-function hotel room was filled with ready judges and eager students. Through deep analysis and tacit understanding, they described what they learned from yesterday’s hike and evening performances. The videos accompanying their sweat and laughter, explaining their team names and logos as well as preparation deeply impressed the judges. Although they had to place the teams, each participant’s efforts were impressive and unforgettable!
Students in Discussion
Judges Giving Their Scores
Today, we make ourselves proud!
As the new MBA students were reviewing their arduous and exciting outdoor journey, one lady in the audience, was listening in silence – she had brought her own book A Silent Mountain. This, however, was not a common ‘silent mountain’; she was the co-founder of Toread outdoor apparel company who had climbed Mount Everest, Wang Jing. She gave MBA students her speech, “If the mountain doesn’t come, I will go to it”. Mountain climbing gave Wang Jing an enormous amount of self-confidence, courage and optimism. On snow-topped mountains, facing nature’s magnificence, Wang Jing experienced the value and meaning of existence. The forty minute speech engaged serious thought on the students’life dreams, self-challenges and working together as humans. Perhaps not everyone can climb Mount Everest, but in the next two years of MBA is summit to be climbed by the students.
Wang Jing
Perhaps it is because outdoor activities incorporate team cooperation and challenging oneself that business schools favor them. From EMBA’s Business School Gobi Challenge to MBA’s Asia Business School Desert Challenge, BiMBA participants did not shrink away from the arduous outdoor environments but faced the challenges with courage. In the forum, Sun Xiaobo who participated in the 10th Gobi Challenge and Zhang Beiyu and Zhong Xiaoyu who both participated in the Asia Business School Desert Challenge, each described both competitions, their backgrounds, features and competition entrance. They called for more students to take part in outdoor activities, to face the challenges together.
Sun Xiaobo
Zhang Beiyu
Zhong Xiaoyu
After the award ceremony, BiMBA Deputy Dean Daisy Wang Xin gave a closing speech. She was sure that the students each made a contribution during the hike, evening party and speech, exhibiting their talent, and hoped they will continue this spirit of teamwork and undertaking challenges in the upcoming days at BiMBA.
Source: National School of Development at Peking University BiMBA
