The story of HKUST alumnus Yongjun Cai (EMBA, 2016) is nothing short of legendary. His journey began as a professional boxer, and after a successful athletic career, he founded Jiangsu Sunyu Information Technology Co., Ltd. and Nanjing Xempower Sports Technology Co., Ltd., which is a leader among the global top 100 language service companies. Despite his rich experience in business practice, he felt a lack of knowledge in system management theory. This motivated him to choose HKUST's EMBA program, which features a blend of cutting-edge management knowledge and Chinese practices, specifically designed for Asian entrepreneurs, perfectly aligning with Yongjun's needs.
As a legendary figure who transitioned from athlete to coach and then to entrepreneur, Yongjun recalls many unforgettable moments in his career. During his athletic career, the moments of struggle and breaking limits on the field left a lasting impression on him; this discipline and resilience became the foundation of his life. As a coach, he led the Chinese skateboarding team to success at the Tokyo Olympics, validating the model of "cross-industry talent selection + scientific training." He later led the national snowboard cross team to breakthroughs at the Beijing Winter Olympics, earning recognition from the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council. The sense of achievement in bringing glory to the country has been truly memorable.
His studies at HKUST greatly propelled the development of his business management and sports career. The rich and diverse business courses taught him to plan the direction of enterprise development from macro to micro perspectives, enabling him to formulate precise development strategies and allocate resources rationally. He shared, "HKUST provided me with the opportunity to exchange ideas with elites from various industries, broadening my business perspective and drawing innovative ideas from different fields. I applied these insights to sports event operations and sports product development, helping the company develop more attractive sports projects and products."
During his time at HKUST, he had many memorable experiences. In class, discussions of business case studies from different fields were particularly vibrant. In one discussion on strategic planning for emerging sports enterprises, classmates raised many innovative viewpoints, giving Yongjun a new perspective on the development of the sports industry. He realized the importance of cross-industry knowledge integration, which laid the foundation for his subsequent career development.
This September, Yongjun returned to HKUST to pursue a bilingual Doctor of Business Administration program. He looks forward to mastering social science research methods systematically through this program, gaining a deep understanding of business theories and cutting-edge technologies, especially the applications of artificial intelligence and big data in the sports field. He hopes to integrate academic insights into business practices, fostering a deep integration of technology and sports for sustainable development.
In his entrepreneurial journey, from language services to sports technology, Yongjun has navigated challenges and achieved breakthroughs with each initiative. At the same time, Yongjun has continuously supported the development of HKUST. He shared, "The academic atmosphere and innovative spirit of HKUST have inspired me, and I hope more students can grow in such a quality environment." He encourages future students to persist in their passions, embrace their endeavors with courage, and take responsibility for creating meaningful value.
This year, Yongjun’s son has become an undergraduate in a business program at HKUST. Yongjun strongly supports his son's choice of HKUST, a university at the forefront of business and innovation education. With a curriculum aligned with the real business environment, distinguished faculty and robust collaborations with several top international institutions, HKUST provides an exceptional academic and global exchange environment. Moreover, HKUST emphasizes the integration of knowledge and action, offering rich opportunities for enterprise cooperation and internships, which have long-term value for his son's future in business or further studies. Additionally, his son has had a strong interest in business and economics from a young age, and HKUST's academic atmosphere and diverse development paths will empower him to explore and realize his full potential.
His son's decision not only continues Yongjun's career legacy but also reflects the transmission of the family educational philosophy. As a father, Yongjun hopes his son can broaden his horizons and establish a global perspective in this opportunity-filled and challenging academic environment, preparing himself for success on a broader stage.
As an alumnus, Yongjun eagerly anticipates HKUST's future development. He hopes his alma mater will further advance its academic research especially in the integration of artificial intelligence and sports technology, while amplifying its innovation efforts. He also envisions HKUST forging strategic alliances with leading global artificial intelligence laboratories and sports research institutions to foster a transformation in sports research paradigms.
Looking ahead, Yongjun will continue to delve into the field of sports technology, concentrating on innovative breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and sports. He hopes to promote the application of cutting-edge technology in professional sports and public fitness by developing deep learning-based sports performance analysis systems and smart training algorithms. At the same time, he is committed to building a platform for industry-university-research collaboration to cultivate interdisciplinary talents who excel in both sports and artificial intelligence.