STUDENT SPOTLIGHT FEATURES

Alumna Blends Passion and Experience in Building Successful Career

LiLi Leung, who graduated from U-M in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, works with sponsors for the largest sporting event in the world. Leung works for Helios Partners China in Beijing, a firm that is preparing for the 2008 Olympics.

“Our firm helps the official sponsors negotiate their contracts with the local organizing committee, in this case the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games,” Leung explains. “After negotiating, we then help our client maximize the rights and value out of the contract by developing overall strategic marketing plans and tactics that are aligned with their objectives for sponsorships.”

Leung has always loved athletics and competed in gymnastics for 14 years. She also was a gymnast at U-M. “After retiring from the sport, I still felt a need to be closely involved with the sport industry since it has helped me define who I am today,” she reflects. “I did work in other industries before settling into this one but never felt the same passion that I do today.”

Leung moved to Shanghai in 2004 to work with another strategic sports branding firm before moving to Beijing in 2005 to begin work for Helios Partners. She is now managing director of the company, handling business development, client servicing and staff management. “We now have 12 staff in Beijing,” she says. “Since beginning with Helios Partners, we have been able to grow our business quite rapidly.”

Leung spends much of her day communicating with clients throughout China and around the world (Helios Partners has offices in China, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and London). When she’s in Beijing, she deals with the stresses of a hectic job by exercising, getting massages and riding her scooter. When she can carve out time, she enjoys the bar street at Sanlitun and exploring the new restaurants.

“The food here is terrific,” she says. “I’m a big fan of hot pot, so I eat quite often at Nan Men Shuan Rou Cheng,” at the south gate of Tian Tan. “I also often end up going to a small Italian bistro called Le Cafe Igosso. This restaurant is located 400 metres south of Guo Mao Qiao.” Fortunately, her work revolves around her passion, sports, and she is able to enjoy events that come to town.

Could she have achieved so much without her U-M education? “Michigan has shaped me into the person that I am today, both professionally and personally,” Leung says. “It has helped me build my foundation.”

She was happy to serve her school by working at the Alumni Association in Ann Arbor from 1997 through 2002, developing a program for young alumni and working with alumni clubs.

“I miss the friends that I made while there, and I miss the vibe that is associated with being on the campus,” she says. “I enjoyed every minute that I spent at Michigan and would go back again in a heartbeat.”

In the next issue of e-TrueBlue: China—Alumni pursue the fine arts in Shanghai.

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