Ben Guan builds the experiences, relationships, and stories through which Eastern aesthetic culture reaches global audiences.

 

His work sits at the intersection of Chinese tea, craft, and design — and the Western consumers, professionals, and institutions discovering them for the first time. A certified Chinese tea master, Ben has brewed tea for diplomats and heads of state, advised on cross-cultural brand strategy, and spent years translating the depth of Chinese aesthetic traditions into experiences that resonate across cultures.

 

At Johns Hopkins University, he founded a Chinese tea culture organization that grew to over 1,000 members across 9 campuses — the largest of its kind in the United States. He then initiated and led the first American university student tea research trip to China, a 14-day immersion across seven cities developed in collaboration with Zhejiang University's top-ranked Tea Science Department. The trip received dedicated national television coverage in China, including a personal interview segment, and was recognized as an official cultural exchange scholarship program.

 

Ben has been invited to brew tea and speak on cross-cultural communication at some of the highest-level institutional settings in Washington, D.C., and has hosted a Chinese tea ceremony for over 100 guests — including a university president and a Grammy-nominated composer — at the George Peabody Library, one of the most beautiful libraries in America.

 

He holds a Master's in Management from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management (2026) and a Bachelor's in Music Technology from Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory, with a minor in Psychology and an exchange at the University of Cambridge. His background in music composition and sound design informs how he approaches sensory experience, aesthetic storytelling, and the emotional resonance of cultural objects.

 

Currently, Ben is building at the intersection of Chinese aesthetic brands and global markets — through cultural immersion experiences, brand strategy, content, and partnerships that help Chinese artisans and heritage brands find their audience worldwide.