Dr. Mariana Kou is Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Cinese International Group Holdings Limited (HKEX: 01620), with business interests spanning Canada, the United States, and Mainland China. She also serves as Independent Non-Executive Director of GMFIU:US and as board advisor to multiple education companies.

 

Previously, Dr. Kou was CEO of Research Study Education Group and Head of China Education and Hong Kong Consumer Research at CLSA (Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia), where she led IPO coverage for 12 consumer and education enterprises. In 2020, she authored Investing in Dragons: Education Industry and Capital Markets, and is frequently invited to speak at government and industry conferences, as well as contribute to global media.

 

She serves as Senator for China at the World Business Angels Investment Forum (a G20-affiliated organization for global financial inclusion) and is the Founder of the Asia Education Association. She is also a member of the Pacific Basin Economic Council, Co-founder of the Columbia University Entrepreneurship Community (Hong Kong Chapter), and a board member of Zonta Club of NTII.

 

Dr. Kou holds a Doctor of Education in Global Executive Education from the University of Southern California, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and a Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Stanford University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Administration, receiving the prestigious Raymond P. Kent Award. She is also a CFA charterholder and a member of several international academic honor societies.