From Shaanxi to Auckland: Fangzhou Jiang's Remarkable Immigrant Journey

Fangzhou Jiang's story is one of grit and ambition. Born in a small town in Shaanxi Province, China, he arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, at the age of 16 with limited English and no family connections. To support himself, he worked nights at a North Shore chip shop while attending Rangitoto College. Despite these challenges, Jiang excelled academically, becoming Dux of the school and the first international student in New Zealand history to earn the Premier Scholar award in 2013—one of the top 10 academic honors nationwide, presented by then-Prime Minister Sir John Key at Parliament.

This achievement marked the beginning of Jiang's ascent in higher education. His experience as an immigrant student navigating New Zealand's education system gave him unique insights into what it takes for young people, especially those from diverse backgrounds, to succeed in competitive global university admissions. Today, as co-founder of Crimson Education, a New Zealand-based edtech powerhouse valued at over $1 billion, Jiang is sharing these lessons through his new book, Classroom CEO: Think Like an Entrepreneur, Thrive as a Student and Turn Ambition into Results.

Building Crimson Education: A Kiwi Startup Goes Global

In 2013, while still a student, Jiang co-founded Crimson Education with Jamie Beaton and Sharndre Kushor. Starting from Auckland, the company has grown into a global leader in university admissions coaching, mentoring over 10,000 students to offers at Ivy League schools, Oxbridge, and top institutions like UCL and KCL. Crimson students are reportedly seven times more likely to secure spots at Ivy League and Top 15 universities compared to average applicants, with notable stats including 1,615 Ivy League offers and 442 Oxbridge acceptances.

For New Zealand, Crimson's impact is profound. Kiwi students have achieved record applications to US universities, with enrolments up 5% to 1,781 in the latest year. Examples include South Island student Ryan Williams gaining admission to Dartmouth from Balclutha High School, and many from schools like ACG Parnell and Rangitoto ranking high on Crimson's Top 50 NZ Schools for global success list. The company's strategies bridge NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) curricula to international standards, helping NZ college and university-bound youth compete on world stages.

Crimson's model includes personalized roadmaps, research mentorships with Harvard/MIT professors, SAT/ACT tutoring, and essay reviews by former admissions officers—tailored for NZ contexts like transitioning from high school to universities such as the University of Auckland or University of Otago.

The Release of Classroom CEO: A Framework for Student Success

Released in early 2026, Classroom CEO distills Jiang's experiences into a practical guide. Endorsed by Sir John Key, the book urges students to treat education like a high-growth startup, shifting from passive learning to CEO-level leadership. Drawing from his immigrant roots and Crimson's track record, Jiang addresses how AI, global competition, and mental resilience shape modern admissions.

The core CEO Flywheel framework breaks down into three pillars:

• Character (C): Building rejection-proof mental toughness and 10x thinking. Jiang shares how facing early failures in NZ built his disruptor mindset.
• Execution (E): Compounding consistency and anti-burnout systems for sustained excellence.
• Outreach (O): Crafting personal advisory boards, storytelling pitches, and AI-enhanced networking.

This step-by-step approach empowers students to define terms like 'entrepreneurial mindset' (full name: entrepreneurial mindset, a proactive, risk-tolerant approach to opportunity creation) and apply processes like daily habit stacking for long-term gains.

Applying CEO Principles to New Zealand Higher Education

In New Zealand's context, where universities like Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University emphasize research and equity, Jiang's strategies align perfectly. For instance, Character building counters NCEA's breadth-over-depth critique, encouraging NZ students to pursue passion projects for standout UCAS or Common App profiles.

Execution involves step-by-step planning: 1) Audit current habits; 2) Prioritize high-impact activities like academic competitions; 3) Track progress with AI tools. Outreach means leveraging NZ's strong alumni networks at top unis—e.g., building mentor ties via Crimson for Otago med students eyeing Johns Hopkins.

Statistics show promise: Crimson's Top 50 NZ high schools list (ACG Sunderland rising fast) correlates with Ivy acceptances, proving these methods work locally before university entry.

Success Stories: Kiwi Students Conquering Global Unis

Numerous NZ tales highlight Crimson's role. Jenna from Wellington landed Stanford; Patridge to Yale. In 2025-26, CGA (Crimson Global Academy) NZ students snagged Ivy, Oxbridge, and Top 50 offers—8% to Ivies alone. These cases involve real-world timelines: Year 12 NCEA Excellence, Year 13 research internships, polished essays showcasing cultural context like Māori perspectives for diversity edges.

Stakeholder views: Parents praise holistic growth; educators note Crimson's push elevates NZ colleges' global prep. Challenges include costs, but ROI via scholarships (e.g., full rides) is evident.

Challenges and Balanced Perspectives in NZ Admissions Coaching

While celebrated, Crimson faces scrutiny—Reddit threads cite 'ghost offices' or high fees. Jiang addresses this transparently: Value lies in proven outcomes, not hype. Multi-perspective: NZ Ministry of Education stats show rising overseas enrolments, but local unis like Auckland (QS Top 100) urge balancing global dreams with domestic contributions.

Solutions: Free resources like Crimson's ebooks; school partnerships for equity. Future: AI integration for personalized NCEA-to-Ivy paths.

Timelines and Actionable Insights for NZ Students

Jiang's path: 2013 Premier Scholar → ANU/Stanford/Harvard → Crimson 2013 → Book 2026. For NZ college students:

• Year 1 Uni: Build Character via clubs/resilience training.
• Year 2: Execute with internships/research (e.g., Otago summer programs).
• Year 3: Outreach—network for recs, craft narratives.

Cultural context: NZ's biculturalism adds unique strengths for global apps. Stats: 73,535 intl enrolments near pre-pandemic; NZ outbound rising.

Implications for New Zealand Universities and Colleges

Jiang's model could transform NZ higher ed. Universities like Canterbury partner on skills; colleges adopt CEO for retention. Implications: Higher global mobility, alumni donations boost. Future outlook: With visa changes, entrepreneurial coaching ensures NZ grads thrive abroad or return innovating locally.

Expert Opinions and Broader Impacts

Sir John Key: "Embodies ambition and service." Jamie Beaton: Complements Crimson's mission. Educators: Valuable for competitive edges amid AI. Actionable: Parents implement CEO at home; unis integrate frameworks.

Photo by Muhammad Salim on Unsplash

Looking Ahead: Global Ambition from Aotearoa

Jiang's legacy inspires NZ's next gen. Classroom CEO equips for top unis like Harvard (20% Crimson rate vs 3.7% avg). For NZ colleges/unis, it's a roadmap to elevate local talent globally while strengthening home institutions.