“Cindy” Yuqing Lei 雷雨晴

Connector, World traveler, Writer/Editor

Born into a diplomatic family, Cindy grew up at the intersection of cultures, languages, and ideas. That early exposure to different ways of seeing the world inspired a lifelong belief that meaningful communication has the power to bridge differences, spark curiosity, and create lasting social impact. Her academic journey reflects the same interdisciplinary spirit. She began by studying Applied Psychology with a concentration in Kinesiology under the mentorship of Professor Zhang Liwei, President of the Asian-South Pacific Association of Sport Psychology. She later pursued graduate studies in the United States, earning three master's degrees in Education, Organizational Development, and Business Administration with a focus on AI and Big Data. She is currently pursuing a PhD in the Philosophy of Art under Professor Zheng Changling, Deputy Director of the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguard Center at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, where her research explores the relationship between ICH, creativity, and communication. Throughout her career, Cindy has been driven by one central question: How can ideas travel across cultures without losing their meaning? During her time in the United States, she contributed to cross-border initiatives that brought Chinese history and innovation to global audiences, including supporting a major exhibition on “China’s Lost Ancient Civilization: The Mysterious Sanxingdui” at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. She later served as VP at Beijing Cul-Tech Center, where she led large-scale international collaboration initiatives. Her work spanned the operation of Beijing’s Nanhaizi National Park, one of the city’s largest ecological public spaces, as well as contributions to the development of the Beijing Pilot Free Trade Zone, supporting innovation and international exchange ecosystems. She also worked closely with embassies, consulates, and official representatives from Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands. Through these partnerships, she helped establish more than twenty national pavilions in China, creating platforms for cultural dialogue, mutual understanding, and long-term international cooperation. Her passion for cultural exchange extends beyond institutions. As part of the founding team behind an independent specialty coffee brand, she helped introduce specialty coffee beans from countries including Timor-Leste to the Chinese market and participated in international green coffee trade. At the same time, she promoted Chinese tea culture internationally, believing that two of the world's most beloved beverages can become powerful vehicles for dialogue, mutual understanding, and human connection. Cindy is currently Executive Director at New Channel, where she leads the organization’s exclusive partnership with TED in China. Her work focuses on how ideas travel across languages and cultures, integrating storytelling, TEDx events, presentation literacy, and international education to empower a new generation of globally minded learners. She is particularly interested in how education, culture, and communication intersect to shape a more connected and empathetic world.

Cultural exchange is not about influence—it’s about understanding. And education is the bridge that helps us build a more open, connected, and human-centered world.

Education, HRD, ICH, Psychology