Tara Gillan has been living in Beijing for over 10 years, and works in Education. Soon to take on a new role as the Director of ECC Operations at one of the biggest Bilingual schools in Beijing. Married to a west African and raising her third-culture, multilingual kids; two boys aged 8 years and 6 years’ old.

Yimei Li is from China and she has been living in Beijing for past 9 years. Graduated from University of Edinburgh in Scotland, she came back to China with her husband and settled down in Beijing. Yimei joined in the China’s largest State Owned Enterprise as a busy professional. Working and living in the heart of China, she loves the city and never stops exploring it. Now she starts her new adventure here with her little girl through the journey of pregnancy, birth and motherhood.

As a young and local mother, Yimei will cover her personal perspective on having and raising a baby here. She knows the city very well and would love to share her knowledge and experience with new moms and moms new to Beijing.

Jennifer is an American with over 25 years’ experience in the field of education in Beijing. A fluent Mandarin speaker, she has an undergraduate degree from Goucher College in English Language and Literature with Honors and post-graduate certification in Montessori Elementary Education. In addition to her extensive teaching experience, Jennifer has personally consulted with hundreds of families on their educational plans, academic needs, and long-term options for schooling locally and internationally.
As the mother of three American-Chinese sons, Jennifer has a great appreciation for the concerns of parents as they navigate the international school waters and try to find the best fit for their children in China and abroad. As part of this process, she has visited more than 60 boarding schools in the U.S. as well as international, bilingual, and local Chinese schools across China to better understand how local Chinese students engage and learn in western educational environments.
In her role as an administrator, Jennifer has also worked with international and local teachers to identify gaps in understanding while encouraging mutual respect and enhancing teaching practices on both sides to ensure the success of the students in their care.

As an established professional who has lived and managed a career outside of her home
country, Eike Westerholt brings a well-rounded, global perspective to coaching her clients
through life’s challenges. She is passionate about helping people adjust to new situations
and thrive while doing so. Her approach to coaching mirrors her approach to international
living – creative, flexible, courageous, and adaptable.

Though she calls Germany home, Eike has also lived and worked in Hong Kong, Japan,
and China. She holds a degree in Business Administration and worked 10+ years with
Siemens. Her coaching credentials come from The Coaches Training Institute in Beijing.
In addition to coaching, Eike owns and operates Wan Lin Bicycle Tours, guiding people on
their discovery of Beijing. She serves as the Western President of the YCIS Beijing Parent
Organization. Eike spends her free time studying languages, cooking, and reading. She
lives with her husband and two daughters in Beijing.