Thursday, May 4, 2023, 6:00pm - 8:00 pm PT (program begins 6:30)    

Mainland China’s re-emergence from a closed-society of constant revolution to America’s only superpower peer is perhaps the most important trend of the past 50 years. In business, geopolitics, and culture, China has displaced some of the exclusive global prominence of the US while following a path different from many expectations - and becoming the largest trading partner of 125 counties, including the US. As this rapid ascent is debated in American discourse, rhetoric and attitudes are often made sharper by the long gulfs of isolation, inattention, and a relatively short history of relations between the two countries.      

Join us with Dr. Robin Yuan (Harvard College 1975, HMS 78’) and author of the historical fiction work Red Bishop, as we discuss the emergence of China through his unique and vital perspective and family history. This discussion will be a friendly and approachable moment to better understand what the last 150 years have meant to a country with 3,500 years of continuous written history - with insights into where Sino-American interaction may lead for the next century in business, geopolitics, and an American society with millions of Chinese-American citizens.  

This event will be offered for both in-person attendance (light refreshments provided at reception location TBD) and virtually. In-person registration will be closed by May 1st due to limited availability.

Featuring:

Robin T.W. Yuan (Author and Plastic Surgeon) - Speaker

Dr. Robin T.W. Yuan, M.D., is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills and a graduate of Harvard College (75’, Thayer & Adams) and Harvard Medical School (‘78). The grandson of the last presiding bishop of the Anglican Church in mainland China, Dr. Yuan has lectured frequently on the culture and geopolitics of modern China. Dr. Yuan brings the unique perspective of the multi-generational journey of his family experience, from the collapse of Imperial China to the present day, with a unique Western sensibility into his lectures and written works (as recently depicted in his published historical novel Red Bishop).

Robin is the author of books on cosmetic surgery, mid-life, and marriage. An assistant professor at UCLA and former vice-chief of plastic surgery at Cedars-Sinai, he is the founder of the Family of Independent Reconstructive Surgery Teams, providing reconstructive surgery in impoverished communities in Asia and Central America. As president of Phi Lambda Charitable Trust, he has a lifetime of commitment to supporting the healthcare, education, economic development, and positive image of the Chinese community in the US. He enjoys playing tennis, golf, and the violin and has two adult children.  

Paul E. Vidal, MBA 2012 (GrayMatter Robotics) - Moderator

Paul Vidal is the Head of Operations at GrayMatter Robotics in Los Angeles and has held leadership positions in the tech and energy industries. An executive board member of Veteran non-profits and the Harvard Business School Latino Alumni Association, Paul spent a decade serving in the US Navy and British Royal Air Force as a jet pilot, where he received a Master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College, specializing in Sino-Uighur studies.

Paul holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MA from the US Naval War College, and a BS from the US Naval Academy. 

Sheila Sun, MBA 2013 (Investor) - Organizer

Sheila is a business development and operations professional with 10+ years of experience across five continents. She is the founder of FSFamilia, with investments across real estate, fintech, food and beverage, lifestyle, and M&A. Sun is on the Harvard Business School Association of Southern California board. She dedicates her spare time to mentorship programs, photography, and outdoor activities with her family.

RSVP HERE.