A case study derived from experience. In August 2014, eight gifted youngsters (ages 15 to 18 years old) helped organise their own study-trip to Beijing. The main question accompanying their study was: ‘What can Dutch executives, teachers and students learn from their Chinese colleagues?’ To be able to answer this question, the youngsters engaged in an in-depth research of the differences between the Chinese and the Dutch method of talent stimulation. The Squibs Foundation, Gifted Youth Peer Community, provided guidance for these eight gifted youngsters in their preparation of the trip and during the trip itself. In this presentation the author talks about the role of the mentor in guiding the experience of gifted youngsters in this specific example. Three key-aspects are thoroughly discussed: • The stimulation and creation of challenging situations • The development of executive skills • Personal drive and motivations The presentation is richly illustrated with examples from experiences during the preparation of the trip. During the trip the youngsters learned a great deal, not only, on the fascinating culture of the world’s fastest growing economy, on durability issues that become ever more relevant now China’s economy and demography are growing through the roof and on the new young generation of Chinese people that grows up in a society, that is hardly comprehendible for their parents. Most of all, the youngsters have learned a great deal about their selves. The youngsters have been able to encounter their own personal boundaries and at times stretching or passing these. What exactly did these gifted youngsters learn which can be applicable in the daily life of youngsters in the Netherlands? What role did the mentors play in assisting the personal growth of these youngsters? These questions are discussed to extent in this presentation. This presentation describes an integration of Dawson & Guare’s theory on executive functions and Grave’s model of Emergent Cyclical Levels of Existence in outer-curricular activities and is therefore relevant for executives, teachers and mentors alike.