As CEO of NBA China, Derek Chang oversees all of the league’s basketball and business development in China, including television, digital media, media licensing, marketing partnerships, social responsibility and events including NBA China Games, and extensive fan engagement and community enrichment activities.

With decades of experience in communications, Chang spearheads the NBA’s effort to expand its presence in China as the preeminent sports league in the country, capitalizing on the NBA’s groundbreaking collaboration with Tencent and a strong lineup of digital media partners including Alibaba, ByteDance, China Mobile Migu and Weibo. The NBA is also focused on basketball and youth development, working with the Chinese Ministry of Education to grow the game throughout the country.

Chang has more than 20 years of extensive experience leading and managing global media brands. Before joining the NBA, Chang was the Head of International Lifestyle Channels at Scripps Networks Interactive and the Executive Vice President of Content Strategy and Development at DIRECTV. He has also held senior executive positions with Charter Communications, the YES Network and TCI Communications.

Chang holds a BA in history from Yale University and an MBA from Stanford University. He was named one of Cablefax Magazine’s “Top 100 Executives in Cable” and one of the “50 Most Influential People in Sports Business” by Sports Business Journal.

Carol Li Rafferty is the Managing Director of Yale Center Beijing. She graduated cum laude from Yale University, with dual B.A. degrees in Economics and International Studies. She received her J.D. degree from Stanford Law School. She is also a China Fellow of the Aspen Institute. In 2016, the World Economic Forum (WEF) selected Carol as a Young Global Leader (YGL), and she currently serves as a member of the YGL Advisory Group, the YGL’s global advisory board.