From Thompson to the World: The Global Journey of Chapin Cheney '16

From being a member of the TechCrew at Marianapolis to following his dream across the globe, Chapin Cheney ’16 has taken the lessons he learned as a Golden Knight and built a truly international path. What began as a curiosity for language and a passion for collaboration has evolved into a career spanning Beijing, Singapore, Chicago, Seattle, and now Seoul. In this intriguing Q&A, Chapin reflects on the mentors who shaped him, the experiences that challenged him, and the global perspective he developed along the way, offering insight and advice for current Marianapolis students preparing to chart their own journeys!

1. What is one of your favorite memories from your time at Marianapolis?

It's difficult to pick just one, but a collection of my favorite moments has to be from my time as a freshman, when I was involved in TechCrew with my older brother, Brook. I didn't appreciate it as much at the time. Still, I will remember for the rest of my life that, for the first and only time in our education, we not only worked together but also spent quality time with one another while learning a very useful set of skills from a group of very talented peers. I carry the problem-solving skills I learned here with me today.

2. Was there a teacher, coach, or mentor who had a lasting impact on you?

I am lucky to say that one individual during my time at Marianapolis fit all three of these descriptions. Dylan Schäfer was my ultimate frisbee coach all four years; he also coached two state teams I was on. He was my digital photography teacher as well, and during that time, I won a Scholastic Art and Writing Award for one of my projects in his class. Dylan was my boss for one summer when he recruited me to work at Camp Stonewall. Dylan was undoubtedly the most influential mentor I had at Marianapolis. Dylan took the time to hear people out, led with kindness, and offered help whenever possible. Dylan taught me many valuable lessons, including giving everyone a chance instead of focusing on just winning, diving deep into my curiosities, and being unapologetically myself - to name a few.

3. How did Marianapolis help shape who you are today?

If it weren't for Bei Zhang and the Chinese language department, I would certainly be on a completely different track in life. My interest in Chinese language, literature, and culture has allowed me to learn alongside institutions like Princeton University and Tsinghua University (清华大学), and it has propelled my career to where I am today.

4. Can you share your journey since graduation?

After graduating, I went to the University of Vermont. I knew I wanted to keep studying Chinese after leaving Marianapolis. After visiting UVM's East Asian Languages department, I met a former student-turned-professor who went through the program and came out the other side completely fluent. That sold me on the school entirely. Plus, being close to so much great skiing was a huge bonus. I also ended up studying business with a focus on finance to help with future job prospects.

During my time in Vermont, I studied abroad for a year and a half. I spent about a year in Beijing, China, studying in programs with Princeton and Tsinghua University. To participate, I actually had to sign a pledge stating that if I were caught speaking any language other than Mandarin - in or out of the classroom - I would be sent home immediately without a refund. It wasn't your traditional study abroad experience, but it’s a period in my life I will remember forever fondly. By the time I left, I had gone from struggling to ask for directions to arguing with my landlord over rent in Mandarin.

Right after Beijing, I moved to Singapore for a six-month internship at a human capital consulting firm. The experience opened my eyes to the consulting world and really set me on the path I’m still on to this day.

After graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic, I moved to Chicago to look for work with my girlfriend, who already had a job there. I eventually landed a job at Spencer Stuart, a global leadership advisory firm, where I worked with a couple of senior partners and the executive team on M&A and corporate strategy. The job eventually took us out to Seattle, Washington. We absolutely loved our time there - amazing nature, great food, an accessible city, and a really diverse community.

Still, I knew I wanted to experience a top MBA program and return to Asia for some portion of my career. Back during my time in Singapore, I had met some students doing an MBA at INSEAD. They were undoubtedly some of the most interesting people I had ever met, and I told myself that if I ever decided to do an MBA, that was where I wanted to go. So naturally, when it came time to find an MBA program, INSEAD was the only place I applied.

It represented exactly what I wanted in a business education. It is truly the most diverse and global program you can participate in; it’s one year rather than two (which makes it half as expensive), all while being one of the best business degrees in the world. Thankfully, I got in. I spent the last year splitting my time between Singapore and France, having not only the best academic experience of my life, but also one of the most profound personal experiences I will ever have. I made lifelong friends and memories, learned a ton about myself, and achieved my goals of pivoting into a new geography, industry, and function.

Which brings us to today. After graduating and taking some much-needed time for myself and my loved ones, I moved to Seoul, Korea, where I’m currently working as a Global Strategist at Samsung. It is wild to look back and think that only 10 years ago, I was walking across the stage in Thompson, Connecticut. I hope each student at Marianapolis takes full advantage of their time at the school, as well as wherever they set out to next, because time really only seems to pass faster and faster.

5. What advice would you give current Marianapolis students as they look toward the future?

Learn another language. Don't just take the class and tell yourself you know the language. Dive deep, immerse yourself as much as you can. If you can afford it, spend time in the country speaking with others in their language, wander until you get lost, listen and soak up all that you can, and don't forget to try all of the new food you can. Learning Chinese opened up my world more than I could have imagined. It wasn't easy, nor was it something I accomplished overnight, but I am so thankful I stuck with it. It widened my worldview and opened many doors in my life that would have otherwise stayed closed. Learning from other perspectives is so important - especially now - and languages are by far the best way to do that.

6. As Marianapolis approaches its Centennial, what do you hope for the next 100 years of the school?

At the end of the day, the most important things in our lives are not the things we have, but the relationships we have with others and our health. I hope that in the next 100 years, Marianapolis continues to create a diverse community that values everyone's differences and embraces each culture.

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