Lunch with alumni – Chen Zhang

This is an alumni event for Leeds University Business School students taking place on campus on Wednesday 4 November 2026.

Register via MyCareer for the event: Lunch with alumni – Chen Zhang

Join us for an insightful afternoon with Leeds University Business School alumna Chen Zhang (MSc Management, 2025), as she shares her unconventional career journey from senior leadership in China's banking industry to pursuing a new professional opportunity in the UK. 

After 15 years working in financial services, Chen made the decision to step away from her established career and return to education. What she hadn't anticipated was that a chance encounter shortly after graduation would lead to an entirely new career direction. 

During this informal session, Chen will reflect on her experiences of navigating career transitions, embracing unexpected opportunities and drawing on her professional networks to build a career internationally. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable insights into her experiences. 

Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Location: Newlyn Building SR GR.01

Lunch will be provided for all attendees.
Please email alumni@lubs.leeds.ac.uk with any dietary requirements / allergies. 

Limited spaces are available, so please ensure you reserve your spot in advance. This event is exclusively for current students at Leeds University Business School.

If you would like any more information about this event, please contact the Leeds University Business School Alumni Relations Team at alumni@lubs.leeds.ac.uk.

We look forward to seeing you at the event!

About Chen

Chen Zhang graduated from Leeds University Business School with an MSc in Management in 2025. Before joining Leeds, she spent 15 years building a successful career in China's financial services industry, holding senior leadership positions across commercial banking, retail banking and corporate finance. 

In 2024, Chen decided to take a career break and pursue a master's degree in the UK, originally intending to return to China following graduation. 

However, an unexpected meeting at a Starbucks in September 2025 changed her plans. A chance conversation with her future employer opened the door to a new professional opportunity in the UK, coinciding with a period of growing international expansion among Chinese businesses. 

Drawing on her extensive experience and professional networks in China, Chen was able to bring valuable expertise and connections to her new role. 

Now working as a Director of Operations, Chen's journey demonstrates how adaptability, professional relationships and a willingness to embrace the unexpected can open doors to opportunities beyond our original plans.