Stella Zhang, COO of American Lending Center, Delivers Inspiring Commencement Speech to UCI Business School Graduates
June 18 2024 - 1:35PM
Business Wire
Stella Zhang, COO of American Lending Center, delivered the
commencement address Monday, June 17, for the Paul Merage School of
Business masters graduates at the University of California,
Irvine.
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Stella Zhang, COO of American Lending
Center, delivered the commencement address Monday, June 17, for the
Paul Merage School of Business masters graduates at the University
of California, Irvine. (Photo: Business Wire)
Zhang is an alumna of the FEMBA program, receiving her degree in
2005. She urged the 2024 graduates to continue a life of learning
as they go forward in the business world, while cultivating
responsibility and gratitude – the guiding stars of her life.
“As business school graduates, you are poised to assume
positions of leadership and influence,” Zhang said. “Remember that
true leadership is not about power or prestige, but about service
and stewardship. It’s about using your knowledge and skills to make
a positive impact on the world and leaving a legacy of integrity,
compassion, and excellence.”
Zhang was born in China and arrived in the United States in 1997
after finishing college and graduate school in China. She worked
for a law firm for 14 years before leaving to help grow American
Lending Center, and later co-founding Sunstone Management, Inc.,
where she remains a partner.
When ALC and Sunstone moved headquarters to Irvine, Zhang
reconnected with the UCI business school, deciding to contribute to
the annual Beall Center pitch competition.
“Her generous gift to the Beall Center for Innovation and
Entrepreneurship ensures that our New Venture Competition, now
aptly named the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition, will continue
to foster innovation and entrepreneurship for years to come,” the
university’s introduction says. “Stella’s journey from China to the
U.S. embodies the transformative power of education and the
unyielding spirit of a determined dreamer.”
American Lending Center works with immigrants from China and
elsewhere seeking residency in the United States, and Stella Zhang
has said she is passionate about helping those people succeed.
“Never stop learning,” Zhang said in conclusion. “May you go
forth with courage and responsibility in your minds, gratitude in
your hearts, and a commitment to making the world a better place
for generations to come.”
There are nearly 600 MBA graduates from the UCI Paul Merage
School of Business this year. For more information about the
school, go to merage.uci.edu.
About American Lending Center: A Financial Times (FT)
America’s Fastest Growing Company
American Lending Center (ALC) is a private nonbank lending
institution and nationally recognized leader in small business
lending.
In early 2024, ALC has fully financed senior loan products to 94
qualified EB-5 projects in 31 states, contributing to a combined
construction and business expansion budget of over 1.2 billion
dollars. ALC’s lending practice has successfully created more than
20,000 new jobs nationwide since 2009.
In 2022, ALC launched its new rural construction and development
fund with capital available for the construction of fixed assets of
all types in rural areas including manufacturing, energy,
infrastructure, hospitality, specialty use, multi-use and other
project types. Follow American Lending Center on LinkedIn,
Facebook, and Twitter.
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Scott Thompson American Lending Center (562) 449-0139
scott.thompson@americanlendingcenter.com