Learning beyond the classroom: How the MSM Mentorship programme shaped Lili Zhang’s MBA journey

In this mentorship blog series, we spotlight these meaningful partnerships by giving voice to both sides of the relationship. Through reflections from mentees and mentors alike, the blogs explore motivations, expectations, lessons learned, and the impact mentorship can have on personal development, leadership skills, and career readiness.

Whether you are considering joining the MSM Mentorship Programme as part of your Full-time MBA journey or simply curious about the experiences it fosters, we invite you to explore these conversations and discover how mentorship can shape futures, on both sides of the table.

In this blog, we highlight the Mentorship experience of recent Full-time MBA graduate Lili Zhang who was mentored by Jean Bonnet, owner of Bonnet Consultancy & Advisory.

A shared industry, a strong foundation

Lili joined the Full-time MBA at MSM at a pivotal moment in her career. With prior experience in banking, she felt ready to step beyond a purely functional role and gain a broader, more strategic business perspective, particularly within a Western, and internationally and academically rigorous oriented environment.

The Mentorship Programme quickly stood out as a way to accelerate that transition. Being matched with Jean Bonnet, a trade finance expert with over three decades of experience in international wholesale banking, created an immediate sense of alignment. Coming from the same industry meant conversations could go deeper and faster, covering not only technical expertise, but also career strategy, professional mindset, and long-term positioning.

“With over 30 years of experience, I knew I could learn both hard skills and soft skills from Jean and that proved to be true,” Lili reflects.

Turning Mentorship into strategic impact

One of the most tangible outcomes of the mentorship was its direct influence on Lili’s MBA thesis. Through in-depth discussions, Jean introduced new ways of thinking about trade finance and working capital solutions, helping Lili refine her topic and approach.

Beyond academic value, these conversations opened her eyes to how financial instruments are applied in practice, how companies manage liquidity, optimize cash flow, and make strategic financing decisions in real business contexts.

Equally important were the local insights. As someone relatively new to the Dutch market, Lili benefited from Jean’s perspective on professional norms, communication styles, and workplace culture, insights that are difficult to gain from textbooks alone.

Growth beyond technical skills

While Lili initially expected the mentorship to be technically driven, what surprised her most was the personal growth that followed. Observing how Jean frames problems, communicates with clients, and navigates negotiations helped her reflect on her own leadership style.

“I realised that despite cultural differences, experienced bankers around the world often share a similar mindset when it comes to decision-making and problem-solving,” she says.

That realisation strengthened not only her self-awareness, but also her confidence as she prepared to enter the post-MBA job market.

“I gained clearer direction regarding career positioning, a more realistic understanding of market expectations, and greater confidence in articulating my value based on both my experience and newly acquired strategic insights.”

A mentor’s perspective: mutual learning

From Jean’s side, the mentorship was equally enriching. While he entered the programme with open but measured expectations, he found the experience intellectually refreshing and personally rewarding.

Working closely with Lili, through intensive bi-weekly virtual meetings, and occasional in-person sessions, allowed him to witness her shift toward a more strategic mindset. At the same time, it reaffirmed for him how cultural background influences perspectives, even in a highly technical field like finance.

“Respect, authenticity, empathy, and curiosity, that’s what makes a mentor–mentee relationship successful,” Jean notes.

He also highlights the broader importance of mentorship for international MBA students, who are navigating not only a demanding academic programme but also life and career planning in a new country.

Why this matters for future MBA candidates

For prospective Full-time MBA students considering MSM, Lili and Jean’s story illustrates what mentorship can truly offer:

• A direct link between MBA learning and real-world business practice
• Career clarity and confidence for the European job market
• A trusted professional sounding board during an intense, transformative year
• Mutual learning that benefits both mentee and mentor

Lili’s advice to future students is simple but powerful: be proactive, open-minded, and prepared. Clear goals combined with curiosity can turn mentorship into one of the most valuable parts of the MBA experience.

A lasting takeaway

For Lili, the biggest lesson she will carry forward is the importance of combining technical expertise with strong communication and perspective, a skill set that today’s global business leaders cannot do without.

And for Jean, the experience reinforced the value of guidance, cultural exchange, and human connection in shaping future leaders.

Together, their journey captures the essence of the MSM Mentorship Programme: learning that goes beyond the classroom, relationships that go beyond networking, and growth that lasts well beyond graduation.