TYCon at 2026 NAFTHAA Leadership Summit

By Shelby Xu

From July 31 to August 2, TYCon joined the 2026 North America Federation of Tsinghua Alumni Associations (NAFTHAA) Annual Conference and Leadership Summit in the Washington, D.C. area. For many of our Executive and Core Team members, it was the first time meeting in person after working together online. Over the course of three days, we attended leadership sessions, connected with Tsinghua alumni from across North America, introduced TYCon to alumni associations, and wrapped up the weekend with a visit to the China Folk House in West Virginia. More than anything, the weekend reminded us how much stronger a team becomes when everyone is finally in the same room. We spend so much of the year communicating through Slack, Google Meets, and late-night planning sessions that it's easy to forget how valuable it is to simply spend time together. Being able to brainstorm in person, share meals, and get to know one another outside of work made the weekend especially meaningful and brought our team even closer together.

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Throughout the summit, we had the opportunity to hear from an inspiring group of speakers who shared their experiences in leadership, entrepreneurship, networking, and personal growth. Mandy Song opened the weekend by sharing her personal leadership journey, reflecting on the challenges she faced and the lessons she learned along the way. Through her experiences, she emphasized the importance of good judgment, staying committed to your vision, bringing others along on the journey, believing in the potential of those around you, and leading with optimism and a strong heart. We also heard from Dr. Chun Xia, who explored how artificial intelligence is transforming industries and innovation; Ning Wang, who discussed how AI is reshaping career pathways and what those changes mean for the next generation of professionals; Sheena Yap Chan, who encouraged us to build confidence in ourselves and embrace our own leadership journeys; and Dr. Cynthia Cai, who shared practical advice on networking and building meaningful professional relationships.

Many of these conversations naturally carried into our own Executive Team discussions. We talked about what it means to build a community that lasts and how TYCon can continue creating meaningful opportunities for Gen II across North America. Rather than simply organizing events, we want to foster lasting friendships, strengthen regional communities, expand mentorship and professional development opportunities, and continue building bridges between Gen I and Gen II.

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One of the highlights of the weekend was visiting the China Folk House in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Originally built in Yunnan Province and carefully reconstructed in the United States, the house stands as a symbol of people-to-people exchange and the preservation of cultural heritage. Learning about its journey reminded us that culture is something to be shared, experienced, and passed on.

The visit itself reflected that spirit of hospitality. On a rainy afternoon, we were welcomed with warm tea before touring the house and learning about its architecture, history, and reconstruction. We then gathered for a homemade lunch featuring noodles, chicken, tofu, and pork before exploring the gardens together. We ended our visit by trying traditional activities like mahjong and woodblock printing, making the experience both educational and memorable.

As an organization dedicated to connecting Gen I and Gen II, the visit reinforced the importance of building bridges across generations and creating spaces where those connections can continue to grow.

The summit also concluded with each Gen II attendee receiving a copy of The Tao of Self-Confidence by Sheena Yap Chan and Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. They were a fitting way to end a weekend centered on leadership, confidence, networking, and building meaningful connections, and we're looking forward to reading them.

We left Washington feeling inspired by the people we met, the conversations we had, and the ideas we brought home. We're grateful to NAFTHAA and the many alumni who welcomed us, shared their experiences, and encouraged our team throughout the weekend. As TYCon continues to grow, we're excited to carry these lessons forward and continue building a community where Gen I and Gen II can learn from one another, strengthen lasting friendships, and preserve the connections that make the Tsinghua community so special.