My “Dual Doctorates”: Navigating Academia and the High Seas

In April 2010, I embarked on a journey to pursue my doctoral degree under the guidance of Prof. Simon Chadwick at Coventry University. This decision stemmed from my frustration with the stagnant sports industry in China and its lack of professional development caused by its all-state-supported sports system. Anticipating that it would take at least another five years for the sports business in China to truly flourish, I decided to spend that time expanding my knowledge in the UK where the 2012 Olympics would be held. Fortune favoured me, and I was awarded a scholarship.

I initially planned to put my consulting business, China Sports Business, into dormancy and dedicate three peaceful years to my doctoral degree. However, life had other plans for me.

As I entered the second year of my PhD studies in the early summer of 2011, a call from a close friend unexpectedly set my journey on a new course. Her company had been contracted by Volvo Group to deliver TV coverage for the 2011–2012 Volvo Ocean Race to the Chinese market, but she was unsure about how to proceed.

I rose to the challenge, donning my ‘fixer’ hat once again. Leveraging my expertise in media rights sales and my connections with CCTV5, I seized this opportunity and delivered the TV coverage for the Volvo Ocean Race.

This endeavour opened the door for me to the world of offshore sailing, a sport I quickly grew passionate about. At a Volvo Ocean Race gala dinner in Sanya, China, I met Guo Chuan, the first Chinese crew member in the 2007–2008 Volvo Ocean Race. He was then preparing for his new project: a solo non-stop circumnavigation on a Class 40 boat, a concept I was unfamiliar with at the time.

In March 2012, I found myself in the picturesque town of La Trinite sur Mer in Brittany, France, witnessing the rigorous training of a professional sailor. This marked the beginning of my five-year partnership with Guo Chuan.

Working on sailing projects required me to learn quickly about the sailing business and how to manage sailing projects. It not only required devotion but also resilience to failure. Juggling my PhD and sailing projects was even more challenging but invigorating. I thrive on challenges and embrace whatever life throws at me. In April 2013, Guo Chuan finished his solo nonstop around the world after sailing for 138 days and set up the world record. Over those five years, I spent most of my time on sailing projects, and for a certain period, I wasn’t even sure if I could still finish my PhD.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from offshore skippers, it’s that you never give up until you reach your destination.

In 2015, I finally earned my PhD degree on September 13, after five and a half years, much longer than I originally expected.

On September 15, just two days later, Guo Chuan achieved their second world record feat by navigating the Northeast Passage of the Arctic Sea with his team. Coincidentally, it was also my birthday, perhaps a divine intervention. The icing on the cake was a greeting video from the team, sent from the Bering Strait. It was the most memorable gift I’ve ever received.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UndOzew6n4Q

Guo Chuan would often tease me, saying that the sailing projects I worked on with him were akin to a parallel PhD degree. I personally found them to be even more challenging than a traditional PhD. Nevertheless, achieving both was a significant milestone in my life.

And so, as I chart my course through the vast ocean of life, each wave, each challenge I encounter, serves as a reminder. They are not merely obstacles, but opportunities in disguise, shaping me into who I am today. Each wave carries a lesson, a story. So, I ask you, what lessons will your waves bring? How will they shape your journey of life?