Harvard Students Explore China's Strategic Product Model

Kmind Consulting's innovative framework sparks interest at Harvard College China Forum

Apr. 20, 2026 at 3:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a sleek, geometric display stand with the YOYO toy product prominently displayed, surrounded by a clean, monochromatic seamless background. The lighting is sharp and dramatic, with deep shadows, highlighting the premium materials and elegant design of the toy.Kmind Consulting's Strategic Product model helped MINISO's YOYO toy become one of the fastest proprietary toys to surpass 100 million in global sales.Cambridge Today

Kmind Consulting, a leading Chinese consulting firm, was invited to attend the 29th Harvard College China Forum for the fourth consecutive year. At the event, Noah Xie, President and CEO of Kmind Consulting, shared the company's Strategic Product model, which offers a more innovative and practical approach for navigating the BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible) world compared to traditional Western strategy frameworks. The model, which focuses on identifying customers' unmet and deeply rooted needs, was well-received by Harvard business academics and students, who expressed interest in learning more about the strategic thinking and business insights emerging from China's economic development.

Why it matters

Kmind Consulting's Strategic Product model addresses a common challenge many global companies face in the BANI world - the disconnect between strategy and products, and the tension between rapid growth and sustainable competitive advantage. By integrating corporate vision and product strategies, the model aims to help businesses achieve more sustainable growth, which is particularly relevant as companies navigate the complexities of the post-pandemic business landscape.

The details

The Strategic Product model is built on the Value Triangle, guided by a Strategic Backbone, and organized around a Strategic Agenda. The Strategic Backbone acts as the core anchor for a company's long-term development, "defining the fundamental reason customers choose it over its competitors." Kmind Consulting used the case study of MINISO's trendy toy, YOYO, to illustrate the model's practical value. YOYO is one of the fastest proprietary toys to surpass 100 million in sales, reflecting the impact of Kmind Consulting's strategic branding approach.

  • Kmind Consulting was invited to attend the 29th Harvard College China Forum for the fourth consecutive year.
  • In 2025, Kmind Consulting became MINISO's global strategic advisor and helped develop YOYO as a Strategic Product.

The players

Noah Xie

President and CEO of Kmind Consulting.

MINISO

A retail giant originally from China with more than 8,000 stores worldwide.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

Kmind Consulting's Strategic Product model offers a innovative and practical approach for global companies to navigate the complexities of the BANI world, integrating corporate vision and product strategies to achieve more sustainable growth. The model's success with MINISO's YOYO toy has sparked interest among Harvard business academics and students, who see value in exploring the strategic insights emerging from China's economic development.