Dreaming big in the business of sport

For Krizanne Ty, China is where her roots and dreams converge.

Raised in a Chinese immigrant family in Manila, Ty always wanted to see where her family came from. In 2013, she visited China for the first time.

The trip opened her eyes. Ty, like many young foreigners, was fascinated with the ubiquity of the internet.

"Technology is embedded in the lives of the Chinese people, from payments and transportation to food deliveries. Even street vendors are making transactions on their phones," she said. "Life here is just so convenient!"

What fascinated her the most, however, was the myriad of opportunities for entrepreneurs. She was inspired to dream big.

Ty has enrolled in one of China's leading business schools - China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) - to pursue an MBA.

In 2015, she co-founded a non-profit organization - Girls Got Game - in her native Philippines to empower young women through sports by organizing free roving sports camps for underprivileged girls.

In China, Ty sees an opportunity for her work to take off on the global stage.

"China is one of the global centers of innovation. I think it can provide me with valuable experiences and resources," she said.

"I hope to build a business model that can make my organization more financially sustainable."

With the help of CEIBS and its extensive alumni network, Ty connected to Chinese sports companies like Shanghai Juss IntelliSports, Alisports, and Nike.

"I want to empower more young women in the sports world, which in reality is still male dominated," she said.

China seems to be an ideal place for Ty to pursue her dream.

Gender equality has long been China's basic state policy. Today, in business, the trend is more evident. Women made up 55 percent of all internet entrepreneurs in 2013, according to government figures.

"In China young women are given the freedom and opportunities to pursue their careers," Ty said.

Driven by her passion for women's empowerment, Ty has led multiple events in her role as president of CEIBS MBA Women's Leadership Network.

Now, she is about to start an internship at Shanghai Juss IntelliSports.

"Sometimes I feel I can achieve anything in China," she said.