Wenying Grace Tan, a 2021 graduate in International Business with Languages from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), exemplifies the global impact of the university’s alumni. Drawing on the cross-cultural insight and commercial acumen developed during her time at UNNC, she founded COOLER in the UK — a platform that quickly grew into one of the country’s largest and most active Chinese community hubs, hosting over 300 innovative events to date.
Recognising broader commercial potential, Grace strategically pivoted COOLER into a professional events and brand marketing agency, helping Asian brands enter the UK market. Among her key achievements was the successful planning and execution of TikTok’s inaugural European Agency Summit — a testament to her strong execution capabilities and growing industry influence.
In 2024, seizing new opportunities in cross-border e-commerce, Grace joined AliExpress UK as a founding member of its local British team. She promptly led the company’s first major offline event in the UK. Reflecting on her career journey, she remarked:
Career advancement requires riding the tide of opportunity while remaining grounded — yet never ceasing to pursue bold visions.
Grace credits UNNC’s educational system for laying the foundation of her success. Rigorous academic training and exposure to real-world case studies helped her develop a nuanced understanding of cultural differences between China and the UK — knowledge that later proved crucial when advising Chinese brands on British market entry strategies.
Moreover, UNNC’s emphasis on experiential learning helped to ignite her entrepreneurial spirit. Founding the X-Cape A Cappella ensemble in her first year served as a formative ‘mini-venture’, cultivating essential leadership, resilience, and resource integration skills that would later fuel her entrepreneurial journey.
Grace also highlights the immense value of UNNC’s global alumni network. From her earliest days on campus, she benefited from mutual alumni support — gaining not only financial assistance through student jobs, but also access to elite internship and employment opportunities, including roles at Publicis Groupe and Alibaba.
This shared background continued to support her in the UK. On one occasion, a fellow professional recognised her as a “UNNC alumna” based on her approach to event planning. During a collaboration with Liu Kelu, founder of the popular food delivery platform Hungry Panda, she discovered they were both UNNC graduates — a revelation that significantly accelerated their communication and collaboration.
Today, equipped with the skills and networks cultivated at UNNC, Grace continues to expand her influence across the global business landscape.
Published on 24 June 2025