By Aisling Maki - The Daily News -

Wei Chen, the Memphis-based businessman who last spring became the first Chinese citizen to fly around the world in a single-engine plane, will share his rags-to-riches story with Memphians Tuesday, Jan. 10, during a sold-out lunchtime presentation hosted by the Leadership Academy at its 22 N. Front St. office.

Chen is a trustee of the nonprofit organization, which provides emerging leaders with the tools, experiences and connections they need to help make Memphis a city of choice and improve the quality of life for its residents.

Chen exemplifies the American Dream. Chen, who describes himself as a “very ordinary Chinese person,” was born in the Hunan Province in 1971. His childhood in Changsha City was marked by hunger and poverty.

“I just want to share my story and hopefully people will appreciate more what they’ve got over here, instead of complaining about what they don’t have,” Chen said.

Chen was awarded a full academic scholarship to the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis. After graduating with a Master of Business Administration degree in 1998, Chen founded his own business, Sunshine Enterprises, which today employs more than 400 employees and has four offices in the United States and two manufacturing facilities in China.

“When I came to Memphis, I basically had nothing,” he said. “I came because of a scholarship the University of Memphis offered to me. Then I met my wife over here at school and started a business right here in Memphis. I didn’t have to go to New York or Los Angeles to be successful; I had everything I needed here in Memphis, in a good, central, internationally recognized location.”

Although Chen said hard work, relationship-building and luck each played a role in his success, none of it would have been possible without the unique opportunities that Memphis afforded him.

“I felt the opportunity I got here is something you can’t really get anywhere else,” Chen said. “It’s tied to the big success of FedEx and all those companies here.”

He plans to discuss those opportunities in depth at Tuesday’s “Wei around the World” Lunch and Learn event.

“The Leadership Academy really believes that Memphis is a uniquely positioned city for those who are eager to make a mark and make a difference, and Wei Chen exemplifies that so powerfully,” said Nancy Coffee, president and CEO of The Leadership Academy. “He is, of course, a citizen of the world who chose Memphis for his education and also to grow his business, and then he really brought with him the spirit of giving back and doing something that’s much larger than oneself. I think that Memphis is just a beautiful ecosystem for those who want to grow themselves, grow their businesses, and grow altruism, benevolence and service.”

He will also discuss how he – out of more than 1 billion Chinese citizens – became the first to fly around the world in a single-engine plane, sharing details and photographs of his journey around the world (www.weiaroundtheworld.com).

“The trip itself was magnificent; I enjoyed every bit of it,” Chen said. “The trip was not just about Wei Chen and how I made my dream come true; it’s about what I’m passionate about in Memphis, like raising money for St. Jude, and what I can do for the city.”

Chen said that on Tuesday, Jan. 17, Memphis will be featured on China’s most-viewed television program of the year “The Chinese Spring Festival Gala,” which is expected to attract 700 million viewers.

A segment about Chen’s historic journey and his life in Memphis will air during the program. It will feature the Memphis Grizzlies, as well as Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell.

“Everything is going to be in that show,” Chen said. “I’m so excited about that because it’s like you’re buying a two-minute documentary in the Super Bowl talking about Memphis. It’s going to bring a lot of credibility to Memphis. The Chinese know New York and Los Angeles, but most of them have never heard about Memphis. Now they will know about Memphis.”

Chen said he hopes the program will bring more Chinese tourists to Memphis and help nurture a business relationship between Bluff City businesses and the world’s second-largest economy.

“There’s a lot of wealth being generated now, and they continue to invest outside of China,” he said. “It’s a golden opportunity for Memphis, economy-wise. There are a lot of people who would criticize about taking jobs away and all that, but they have to face reality; the opportunity is there. If Memphis doesn’t do it, somebody else will. And when the investment comes to Memphis, it will help us create more jobs and a stronger economy – all good things.”