Xiaoqi Ye, Global Executive MBA 2025
I still vividly remember the day we returned home from Cambridge Orientation Week. Back home in Seattle, snow was falling, the ground covered in white. My husband and I went out for a walk in the snow. The excitement from Cambridge was still so warm that I barely felt the cold. Yet, beneath that excitement, I also felt a quiet weight settle on my shoulders – I had just started a two-year Global Executive MBA commitment. I remember hoping that I would be able to walk this journey steadily and finish it well.
At that moment, my plan was simple: zoom out, keep my head down and get through the programme with minimal additional commitments. Then my husband asked, almost casually, “Do you want to run for Class Representative?”
“What?!” I was genuinely shocked.
“Isn’t this the best chance to give back – to the School and to the cohort?” he said.
That question stayed with me. I have always believed in giving back, but with the workload already ahead of me, I hadn’t considered taking on a leadership role. Could I do it? And more importantly, could I do it well?
“Yes, you can,” he said with complete confidence. “I will support you 100%.”
I thought about the reality: being Class Representative would likely add another 20-40% of work on top of everything else. That felt heavy – but perhaps not that heavy. I also reminded myself that leadership is not about certainty; it is about commitment. Serving as Class Representative among a cohort of executives would itself be a unique leadership challenge – leading among leaders, in many ways like being a CEO for CEOs. Where else in life do you get the chance to practice leadership at this level, in such a safe and supportive environment? With that realisation, hesitation turned into genuine excitement about the opportunity.
“What if I don’t win?” I asked.
“Then you give it all you have. If you win, you serve with your best. If not, you will find another way to serve.”
That made the decision clear. I decided to try.
Fast forward one year, I am deeply grateful – not only that I tried, but that I was entrusted with the opportunity to serve. For a full year, our online classes began at 5:00 am my time. I woke up even earlier to be prepared and engaged: reminding classmates of deadlines, sharing feedback with professors, paying close attention to each member of the cohort, checking in when someone seemed unlike themselves, and bringing the right messages at the right moments to keep our cohort focused and productive – even amid great excitement. Whenever we met in person, we also carried a stack of birthday cards so everyone could sign and celebrate each member of our cohort.
Every one of us is carrying significant professional and personal responsibilities while committing to this journey. When I shared my own struggles, the load felt lighter. Through service, I walked deeper into the life of our cohort. Taking on this leadership role gave me the opportunity to help shape our culture – a culture of mutual support, encouragement and collective growth.
In November last year, my father-in-law was passing away. We were at his parents’ home, saying our goodbyes. During that time, the School asked the Class Representatives to speak to a new cohort. I told my husband I could cancel if needed. He encouraged me to continue.
“It’s only one hour,” he said. “The students will benefit from your contribution. We’ll see you after.”
I kept my promise to the School and delivered the session. The next day, my father-in-law passed away. In that moment, I knew our whole family felt proud – not just of me, but of the choice to serve our community wholeheartedly, even during difficult times.
As this journey enters its second half, I cherish every minute. Serving as Class Representative requires more time and more effort, but the return is immeasurable. The relationships, trust and shared resilience cannot be quantified.
If given the chance again, I would make the same choice without hesitation.
The second half of this journey will be even more intense – and even more exciting. I cannot wait to complete my Individual Project, to read and learn from the IPs of others and to bring our Team Consulting Project across the finish line together. I am especially looking forward to visiting Argentina for the first time and, almost magically, gathering there with this remarkable group of global leaders from different continents. I can already picture our final graduation – wearing the gown one last time – and bringing Dongdong, my finished AI plush dog, to celebrate each member of the cohort and honour every individual success. The road ahead is heavy, but the vision is vivid and clear in my mind. That clarity brings a smile to my face and reminds me why this journey is so deeply worth it.
Throughout this journey, service extends beyond my own role. In many ways, my husband James serves as an Executive Chief of Staff for our cohort, quietly supporting logistics, coordinating photographers, acting as our navigation director, facilitating conversation and taking care of the many moments that truly mattered.
He also found his own ways to give back by connecting with a local Scout troop. He is now looking forward to meeting them and creating opportunities to connect stories and experiences between Scout groups in the United States and the United Kingdom – helping young people see the world as larger, more connected and full of possibility.
We also look forward to what comes after graduation. Our cohort is already talking about lifelong friendships and dream destinations we will visit together in the future. This role has reinforced my belief that leadership is ultimately about service – and that service, when delivered with sincerity, gives back far more than it takes. Thank you, Cambridge Judge. Thank you for your trust, the community and the opportunity to serve.
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