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.
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." This September, Yongjun returned to HKUST to pursue a bilingual Doctor of Business Administration program. 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. His son's decision not only continues Yongjun's career legacy but also reflects the transmission of the family educational philosophy.
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.
Learn more about his story from Alumni eNewsletter Aug/Sep 2025