Phoenix, 2006 Summer

aders

III

02

Contents

03 From the Editor

04

Cover Story

- The Talented MBA Alumni Leaders Around You

12

EMBA in the Spotlight

- Flying Toward a World-Class

Air Cargo Logistics Hub

14

Campus Link

- HKUST Launches Entrepreneurship Contest - MBA Students Triumph Against World's Best - Alumni Coaching Boosts Job Interview Skills - Experiencing the Real Shanghai

18

Alumni Corner

- Budget Views

- Key to a Successful Career Switch -Banking on the MBA Community - HR Insights for Executives - PRC Update

22

Special Feature

- Alumni Heroes of WTO MC6

26

MBAAA News

- Message from the President - Soaring to Fresh Heights

- "Given the Hectic Schedules of People Today, Why Did We Want to Become Members of ExCo?"

31 Alumni Gift

, From the Editor

I

F

uelled by the exciting alumni and student activities that have taken place recently, I have come up with a new concept for MBA -Motivate By Action. In this issue of Phoenix, we feature a number of stories that illustrate the idea.

This summer, the MBA Alumni Advisory Board will dramatically expand with the addition of 32 new members. All are keen to contribute to their alma mater

and to inspire you to do the same. Get to know some of these leading lights in our Cover Story.

In Campus Link, we celebrate the School spirit shown by the MBA teams who have worked long and hard to achieve success in overseas business competitions. By beating other top business schools to bring back a clutch of awards, these full-time students have enhanced the global status of the HKUST MBA.

We also report on the successful launch of HKUST's own international business plan competition. The contest drew entries from leading business schools around the world, with EMBA and MBA alumni among the judges. Meanwhile, in MBAAA News, Executive Committee members explain their goals and call on alumni to join one of the association's new Task Forces (see insert).

Can you feel the energy of your peers now? By transforming words into deeds,

they clearly demonstrate the Motivate By Action notion. As an Advisory Board member notes in Alumni Corner, it's time for all of us to help generate a School culture that is recognized, respected and envied around the world.

Other features in this issue include the alumni heroes of the Hong Kong WTO Ministerial Conference; and the EMBA graduate who is helping to transform Beijing Capital International Airport into a world-class air cargo hub.

Take note, too, of the call for support for the Business School's Island Center (see back cover). The venue is due to be in operation by this Fall.

All in all, an action-packed edition. Let's go!

~

~

Kitty Chong (PT03) Editor-in-Chief

Phoenix I

HKUST MBA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER - 2006 SUMMER

Editor-in-Chief Contributing Editor Associate Editor Artwork & Design

Kitty Chong (PT03) Sally Course Fiona Tse Bigzip Design

Please submit letters, stories or photos to [email protected].

To update your correspondence address, please login at www.mbaaa.com.

MB

Umnl

I

Since its launch last year, the MBA Alumni Advisory Board has brought together 40-plus senior

alumni from widely different backgrounds to support its goals: to boost long-term development

of the HKUST MBA Program, to further the program's presence at the forefront of business

school education worldwide, and to foster the HKUST MBA alumni spirit. Here, a number of

these high-flyers introduce themselves to their fellow alumni

Lion City Links

PHILIP CHOW (PT94 - Inaugural Class)

Director, Counterparty Risk - Asia

ING Bank, NV. MBAAA ExCo 1995

~

"

M

y initial experience of university life was in the UK where I took my first degree in Civil and Structural Engineering and later a Master's in Computer Science. I then worked as a program analyst for a UK military defense software company before returning to Hong Kong in 1990 and joining the auditing department of the Chase Manhattan Bank, NA

To bolster my understanding of business management practices, I enrolled in the first part-time HKUST MBA class

(

G5

The School should appoint alumni

anchors to facilitate networking in cities

other than Hong Kong. A cohort of

alumni who know the local environment

and business practices can then serve

as a platform for other alumni who

decide to work or relocate there

9)

in 1991. With the fresh skills and knowledge learned, I wad /

able to take on new challenges, embrace opportunlti~s, ~ and make the transition from computer auditing to financial

auditing.

- Philip Chow

4

I have now been working at ING for 10 years. In 2003, I relocated to Singapore after the company's regional headquarters moved there. In Singapore, an MBA is viewed as an essential 'passport' to job mobility and career advancement. This certainly echoes my own experience as my HKUST MBA proved to be the turning point in my career.

I have been enjoying my new environment in the Lion City, with shorter working hours enabling me to balance family life with my three daughters better. I even have leisure time to cultivate a herb garden to feed my other passion:

Mediterranean cooking. But will I stay? Probably not for good. At the end of the day, my affiliations and heart still lie in Hong Kong.

-From Corporate Man

to

Entrepreneur

KELVIN LEE, (PT98)

Executive Director Adfront Communications Ltd MBAAA ExCo 1999 l

I

founded my marketing consultancy and creative agency with a

partner in 2004 and we now have offices in Hong Kong and Beijing, serving blue-chip clients as well as state-owned enterprises. Prior to that, I worked for the San Miguel Brewing Group for over 10 years. I was General Manager (Marketing) of Greater China Operations at the time I left.

It was a kind of 'mid-life crisis' that took me out of the corporate world and turned me into an entrepreneur. This move has proved to be the right decision. There are a range of new challenges with your own business and I'm having fun facing them.

To set up your own business you need to sort out your core competencies and build your business around them. You also need to be realistic about the pace of expansion and ensure sound financial management to sustain your business through the start-up phase. If you are in a partnership, each partner must contribute and be fairly rewarded. And don't just try to set up your own business because you don't like your current job, especially if you are in a financially weak position.

In my new role, I need to take care of all aspects of the business like a CEO, but, in addition, have to make funding and investment rlP"j"j,')n<,'//I!,

as the owner. What's the greatest challenge of running your

company? Paying your staff when there's no business! The qrE~atElst'///mW satisfaction? Paying your staff when there is.

G5

To stay at the top, HKUST Business

School strives for continuous improvement.

This requires a joint effort by both the School

and alumni

~

-

-Cover Story

Traits of a True Leader

SIMON WONG (PT95)

Vice-President & General Manager, China/Hong Kong Philips Domestic Appliances & Personal Care

D

uring my 23 years at Philips, I have worked in many different management positions. I believe a truly outstanding leader must have four crucial characteristics: dreams, heart, endurance and perseverance.

Dreams create vision, vision creates passion, and passion creates success. No leader can drive a team to success unless he directs them in an inspirational manner.

Heart is not a concept, but refers to a shared value that determines right or wrong and directs the team's path to its goals. Despite different management styles, a truly successful leader always treasures good people, is open and fair, and acts as a role model in dedicating himself to the team's mission. This effectively motivates the team and creates mutual trust, which leads to success.

Endurance is essential as a leader often has to live with hardship, adversity, and even humiliation to conquer the mountains and cross the valleys. But by enduring and overcoming hardships, people learn how to treasure and help each other to achieve their goals.

Leading a group of people can be very hard so perseverance is also critical. This is not just a matter of having a strong personality. It means consistently striving for the ultimate goal. In tough situations, what really inspires people is their leader's persistence in overcoming difficulties.

Peop le

-

Service

-

Profi

t

CONNIE TSANG

(

PTOO

)

Managing Director, Segment Management & Analysis,

Asia Pacific Marketing, Asia Pacific Headquarters

Federal Express

F

ederal Express (Fed Ex) is a great place to work. The 'People-Service-Profit' (P-S-P) philosophy has been a key to our company's success: if we take care of our people, they will deliver good services to our customers who bring us profit. The profit is channeled again to our people and the overall operational efficiency will be improved. At FedEx, there are no limits to career progression. One example of this is promotion from within. I joined FedEx in

M

ilan is my hometown but I always dreamt of working outside Italy. After jobs in West Africa and the Mainland, where I met my wife, I moved to Hong Kong in 1996 and took the HKUST MBA. This paved the way for a career switch from construction companies to consumer goods. I worked as CFO for Italian confectioner Ferrero in Tokyo, returning to Hong Kong after five years as CFO for all Asian markets. Last November, I became CEO at Pirelli, another Italian firm. This company produces high-end products for prestigious car brands such as Ferrari.

- ~ -

-Cover Story

)r1

. !--=-- - - - - -- -

-Learning

to

Succeed

in Asia

MARCO ELL! (PT98)

President & CEO Pirelli Japan KK

Advisory Board Member 2005

Hong Kong remains a solid bridge between the US/Europe and Asia. Working in Hong Kong gives you the managerial tools to deal with business in the Mainland as well as other Asian markets. But the HKUST MBA was my ace in beating other candidates to join Pirelli. In Italy, MBA graduates are still in short supply. As mine also had an Asian flavor, it

" I

helped me stand out further.

At HKUST, I also learnt how to be a team player and how to lead a team instead of acting individually - a common management syndrome in Italy. Moreover, studying with faculty who all held PhDs and often came from top US schools was extremely useful. It helped me to learn the essence of conducting business US-style while at the same time understanding how to work in an Asian context.

Definitely an asset and a way of differentiating yourself when companies are choosing among candidates.

d5

Coming from outside the region, Hong Kong is a good

'gym' to shape your Asian skills and connections

9;)

- Marco Elli

1997 in Hong Kong as a Financial Analyst. In 2000, I moved to Singapore as Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis, as I had always wanted to experience working overseas. I returned to Hong Kong in 2002 and took up a new challenge as Manager, Revenue Management. This job combined knowledge from finance, marketing and sales and greatly broadened my horizons. In turn, such mUlti-location, multi-disciplinary exposure has helped me to gain my current position.

Echoing the FedEx outlook, I am a firm believer in people development. Thus I enjoy supporting MBA activities. The HKUST MBA contributes to society by developing people and helping them to succeed in their careers and this matches my beliefs. I look forward to helping the School to further enhance the HKUST MBA as an Advisory Board member.

Cover Story

Advisory Board Adventures

JACKSON NG

(PT95)

Chief Financial Officer & Director Modern Terminals Ltd

Advisory Board Member 2005

October 2005 Hong Kong

A

s a founding board member, I enjoy taking an active part in activities as it gives me a chance to undertake very different tasks from my daily duties. At Modern Terminals,

my key role is to position and lead my team in supporting the company's strategic growth both in Hong Kong and Mainland China. As an Advisory Board member, I have been invited to become a Citigroup case competition judge and joined the interview panel for MBA admissions.

The interviews enabled me to meet candidates at different stages in their careers and thus understand the general market better. At my level in Modern Terminals, I would normally only see candidates that have been short-listed for specific roles.

I think MBA alumni development is moving in the right direction by inviting alumni to get involved. This now needs

to be extended to reach out to more alumni, or to organizations through alumni, to further promote the School.

MBA Admis ions 2006

February 2006 Beijing

Jackson Ng (PT95) Joanne Ho (PT99) Felix Yau (PT96) Feliciana Cheung (PT97)

Ii s

February 2006 Shanghai April 2006 Hong Kong

Grace Wang (FT99) Josie Wong (PT94) Connie Tsang (PTOO)

anelis 's for B jMissions 2006 HKUS I In'e 'nat onal Business Plan Com :>etition Judges

February-April 2006 Hong Kong May 2006 Hong Kong

Edmund Ho (PT94) Feliciana Cheung (PT97) Ahmad Ayaz* (FT94) Feliciana Cheung (PT97) Jackson Ng (PT95) Arthur Yuen, JP (PT98) Lavin Mok (FT96) Kelvin Lee (PT98) Kenneth Ho (PT95) Jenny Ng (PTOO)

Rebecca Chan (PT97) King Wai Lo (PTOO) '2005-06 member

MBA Alumni Advisory Board Mission

The Board seeks to:

•

Advise on MBA program development and administration on behalf of alumni

•

Promote MBA Program links with companies, the media, and potential candidates

•

Facilitate access to companies for research and case study development

•

Guide the School in building financial resources and support fund raising initiatives

•

Foster commitment through participation in School projects

•

Serve as local class anchors and actively support School and alumni events

Pearl River Delta Connections

JERRY YOU (SZ04)

Director

China GrenTech Corporation Ltd Advisory Board Member 2005

S

ince 2004, I have worked for China GrenTech Corporation Ltd, a leading provider of wireless products and services in China that was recently listed on NASDAQ. My responsibilities involve building up an international business team and developing overseas contracts in our target markets.

I started out 10 years ago as an engineer at China Motion Telecom Group and gradually moved to business development. Changing from a technical position to business management was demanding but very exciting. Joining GrenTech as Sales and Marketing Director of International Business was also a tremendous challenge involving totally new target markets outside China.

I was keen to become an Advisory Board member because it enables me to keep fellow alumni in Shenzhen up to date with the latest alumni community developments and to collect their ideas. To tighten links between Shenzhen alumni, it would be good to have regular activities to bring people together. To increase bonds with Hong Kong alumni, I think matches could be organized, involving teams from both places.

W

orld of Louis Vuitton

THOMAS NG

(

PT98

)

Supply Chain & Logistics Director

Louis Vuitton Asia Pacific

I

was first recruited by Loewe, a company within LVMH, before moving to Louis Vuitton (LV). I have been with the company for 10 years and am now head of supply chain and logistics in Asia Pacific, covering two regional

logistics hubs, 14 markets and 77 stores. Working at LV is fun and involves many different dynamics.

There are many reasons why LV has become successful as a prestige brand: market positioning, services strategy, tradition, among others. In fact, our President in Japan, Kyojiro Hata, has written a book about this. In Louis

Vuitton Japan: The Building of Luxury, he shares his personal view on LV's success and his experiences with the brand.

To progress in a career, being open-minded, ready for new challenges in a changing world, and cultural sensitivity are important elements for smooth development. But home life is also important. Three years ago, I promised I would leave the office by 7.30pm at the latest to spend a minimum of two hours with my son (then aged three). I have been trying my best to keep to this and, happily, it does seem to be feasible.

--- ~ - - - ~ -- - -- - -

-Cover Story

Who's

Who

Advisory Board 2006-07

Aaron AU (PT99) General Director

Vietnam Star Automobile Ltd Vicki AU (PT9?)

Brand General Manager - Clinique

Estee Lauder (HK) Ltd Daniel CHAN (FT94) Director Yuanzuo Limited Derek CHAN (PT94) Managing Director

Tai Fook Capital Ltd

Mabel CHAN (PTOO)

Senior Partner

Mabel Chan & Co

• Rebecca CHAN (PT9?)

Partner

PricewaterhouseCoopers

10

Geoffrey CHENG (PT95)

Director of Equity Research

Daiwa Institute of Research (HI<) Ltd

• Feliciana CHEUNG (PT9?)

Deputy General Counsel Office of the General Counsel

Hong Kong Monetary Authority Arthur CHOW (PT03)

Director, e-Commerce Services

Yahoo! Hong Kong

• Edmund HO (PT94)

Director - HK Investment Banking

Citigroup Global Markets Asia Ltd

• Joanne HO (PT99)

Vice-President

Human Resources & Administration

Li & Fung (Trading) Ltd

Formed in July 2005 with 16 founding members,

the MBA Alumni Advisory Board now comprises

46 members located in seven different cities. Board

members are nominated by the MBA Alumni

Development Office and confirmed by the Dean's

Office. They serve for a period of two years.

Hong Kong

Kenneth HO (PT95)

Executive Director, Finance

AC Nielsen Monica KO (PT94)

Associate Director/Chief Financial Controller

Shun Tak Holdings Ltd Simon KWAN (PT94)

Managing Director

Festo Ltd Petty LAI (FT95)

Assistant Director-General (Regional Cooperation)

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

• Mabel LAU (PT95)

Managing Director

LGT Investment Management (Asia) Ltd

Kelvin LEE (PT98)

Executive Director

Adfront Communications Ltd

Paul LEE (FT94)

Director, Senior Investment Advisor

Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch

• King Wai LO (PTOO)

Deputy General Manager Leasing, Office Leasing Dept

Sun Hung Kai Real Estate Agency Ltd Terence MA (PT98)

Director of Sales Operations Mobile Devices Business

Motorola Asia Pacific Ltd Lavin MOK (FT96)

Managing Director

Oppenheimer Funds (Asia) Ltd Erica NG (PT01)

General Manager

Chamber Services Ltd

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

• Jackson NG (PT95)

Chief Financial Officer & Director

Modern Terminals Ltd • Jenny NG (PTOO)

Partner

Spectrum Strategy Consultants Thomas NG (PT98)

Supply Chain & Logistics Director

Louis Vuitton Asia Pacific Connie TSANG (PTOO)

Managing Director, Segment Management & Analysis,

Asia Pacific Marketing, Asia Pacific Headquarters

Federal Express Raymond TSE (FT94)

Regional Managing Director

Sales and Support Asia Pacific

Thomson Financial HK Ltd Aldous WONG (PT96)

General Manager

Aplications, Greater China Region

Oracle Systems Hong Kong Ltd Simon WONG (PT95)

Vice-President & General Manager China/Hong Kong

Philips Domestic Appliances & Personal Care Andy YUEN (FT94)

Executive Director, Markets Coverage Group

Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C.

Arthur YUEN, JP (PT98)

Executive Director (Banking Supervision)

Hong Kong Monetary Authority

-BEIJING

Jordan CHEUNG (PT94)

Director

MANPEX (Asia) Ltd Jessica WONG (PT94)

Executive Director, Finance Controller

Beijing Gao Hua Securities Company Ltd

• Felix YAU (PT96)

Chief Financial Officer

Unihub Global Services China Ltd

Amy ZHANG (FT99)

Executive Director, Research Department

China International Capital Corporation Ltd

LONDON

• Josie WONG (PT94)

Chief Representative

Hong Kong Monetary Authority

Outside Hong Kong SHANGHAI

Hon Man CHEUNG (PT99)

Regional Director, WorldWide Procurement

Dell Inc

Lilian LEUNG (FT95)

Deputy Director of Research, China

Alliance Capital Ltd Walter NGAN (FT93)

General Manager

-East & North China

SSA Global Technologies (China) Co Ltd Enoch TSUI (PT99)

Deputy Chief Marketing Officer

Ping An Insurance Group

• Grace WANG (FT99)

General Manager

Jebsen & Co (Shanghai) Ltd

SHENZHEN • Jerry YOU (SZ04)

Director

China GrenTech Corporation Ltd Michael ZHANG (SZ04)

Executive Vice-President

Topstar Digital Technologies Co Ltd

SINGAPORE

Philip CHOW (PT94)

Director, Counterparty Risk-Asia

ING Bank, N.V.

TOKYO

• Marco ELLI (PT98)

President & CEO

Pirelli Japan KK

• Eddy WU (PT94)

President & CEO

GE Toshiba Silicones Co Ltd

General Electric

• Advisory Board Member since 2005

Many thanks to all members who have contributed to the MBA A

l

umn

i

Fund and comm

i

tted

time and shown the

i

r support through serving on the Board. For more information

,

please

contact the MBA A

l

umn

i

Development Office at [email protected].

\0/1

Phoenix note: See also Alumni Corner (PI 9-20) for interviews

with Advisory Board members Amy Zhang and Arthur Yuen.

In preparation for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) is undergoing massive expansion, with a third runway and three new passenger terminals now under construction. Alongside, an ambitious One-Stop Customs Clearance Logistics Park is also being built to propel Beijing Capital forward to become the leading air cargo hub for North-East Asia. When completed by the end of 2007, BCIA's annual capacity will rise to 80-90 million passengers, 600,000 aircraft movements and 1.8 million tons of cargo.

As CEO of Airport City Logistics Park Company Ltd (ACL) , which is developing the Logistics Park, EMBA alumnus Desmond Shum finds working on such a large-scale project - one that will benefit both Beijing and the country as a whole - both meaningful and exciting.

Phoenix spoke to him about his work.

Vice-Chairman and CEO

,

..

..

.

: ~

What is ACL's mission?

ACL was founded by Capital Airport Holding Company and the Shunyi District of Beijing, with the approval of CAAC and the Ministry of Commerce in 2004. We are the sole developer and manager of the new cargo area at Beijing Capital. All air cargo operations will eventually move to the integrated Park, which is being developed with the full cooperation of both the airport authority and local government. The Park will also include the first customs bonded logistics center (type B) approved by China Customs at an airport.

What

excites you most about this project?

The Park will provide state-of-the-art facilities, including one of the most innovative IT platforms in the aviation industry. At other airports, facility upgrades are usually restricted by having to build on to legacy IT systems or developments. At Beijing Capital, we are starting again from scratch. This is our advantage over other airports. It is an unprecedented opportunity to create a world-class,

integrated facility that is tailor-made to meet customers' Just-In-Time requirements.

12

What facilities does the Logistics Park have?

The Park is located at the northern end of the BCIA extension.

It covers 3.5 square kilometers and is being developed into

a comprehensive, sophisticated air cargo logistics facility,

which will include air cargo terminals, an express cargo center, an import/export air cargo customs supervised zone,

customs bonded logistics center (type B) and office premises.

~ if! Ifi.

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Airport Town _ ~,

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5.

2

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IS--,,~~ Location of the Logistics Park. IllFf.·i}.!l!m Shunoing Ex,,"eSSWBY

\

\

\

-< Drawing of the Beijing Capital International Airport passenger terminals currently under construction.

ACL Cargo Terminals Customs Supervised I mportlExport Cargo Zone Express Cargo Center Customs Bonded Logistics Center (Type B) Customs and Office Buildings

The Park's operational structure.

How will the Park boost Beijing Capital as an air

cargo hub?

One major way will be through increased efficiency. With our hi-tech "digital customs" network, the average time taken from customs declaration to release of export cargo at our express center, for example, will be reduced to just half an hour, saving a dramatic 50% on current best times at other mainland airports and resulting in an overall reduction in costs for customers.

How will the Park benefit the economy?

Its services and facilities should attract new, high-level manufacturers to Beijing - those who want to move their goods via air. This will help upgrade the city's economy and increase employment. On a broader scale, it can increase the city's international competitiveness as an air cargo handling hub. Beijing has been lagging behind in the past. We want to recapture the cargo in Beijing's natural catchment area that has been lost to other airports, such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Incheon in South Korea. We are aiming to make Beijing Capital really compete not only domestically but on a regional and international level as well. \Yt'

Desmond at ACL's first anniversary celebration.

Giving a speech at the Air Cargo Conference 2005.

Desmond's Profile

Born in Shanghai and raised in Hong Kong, Desmond has devoted himself to building up greater understanding of China around the world. He is co-chairman of the steering committee for the China & Globalization Program at the Foreign Policy Center in the UK. In addition, in 2005 he set up the Desmond & Whitney Shum Fellowships at Harvard University, which enable graduate students studying contemporary Chinese social sciences to spend a year in China.

Prior to joining ACL, Desmond was heavily involved in investment. He is chairman and CEO of Ocean Pacific Investment Management Co Ltd and has previously been the Chief Representative of ChinaVest. He is also a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute, a US think tank that promotes "enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue".

G5

Find something you like to do. Then

money and everything else will sort

Campus Link

HKUST Launches

Entrepreneurship Contest

T

he Business School has taken another great step forward in the global arena with the launch of the HKUST International Business Plan Competition (IBPC). The highly successful event, held on campus from May 5-7, was the first entrepreneurial contest for graduates organized in Hong Kong. It drew 60 submissions from around the world, with 10 teams from top business schools, including HKUST, UC Berkeley, Peking University, and Stanford University, short-listed to compete in the final.

Unlike a regular business plan competition where students assist companies to find solutions to business problems, an entrepreneurial contest requires teams to present a product with a view to launching a real business. Making the event even more special, the HKUST team TrueArt took second place for its digital artwork software program, utilizing a technology developed at HKUST.

"We are proud that a home-grown product could gain recognition through the contest," Dean KC Chan said. "We will continue to host such events, which can help the School attract more scholars and practitioners interested in entrepreneurship and provide students with the drive to apply the business knowledge they have acquired in a practical way."

During the contest, teams set out to convince a panel of Hong Kong and regional venture capitalists, investment bankers and CEOs including MBA and EMBA alumni -of the viability, growth and pr-ofit potential -of their proposed businesses. The event comprised a coaching and feedback session; trade show reception; elevator pitch contest where each team had 90 seconds to pitch their business concept; O&A; and formal presentations.

At the trade show reception, participants demonstrate their products and services to judges and others attending the event.

In the end, Cytex Therapeutics from Duke University was named Grand Champion and also took first prize in the Elevator Pitch Contest for its novel plan for re-growing hip cartilage from adipose stem cells. Prizes worth a total of US$25,000 were presented by Dean KC Chan to the winners and other finalists. ~

d5

A wonderful preview of the life of

an entrepreneur and an extraordinary

chance to learn from

the

experie

of successful venture capitalists

business people

~

Jan Sy (F Yr 1),

TrueArt Team Leader,

HKUST

d5

It was astounding that this was the inaugural contest

and was largely student-planned and led. The competition

exemplified the host city and region

-

young, dynamic, and

certainly world class. The personal warmth a d sha,r

industry insight contained

'

in the feedback rom

executives and entrepreneurs across Asia, an beyond

simply blew our minds

~

Dartmouth US/ LSE (UK)/

1M

Kumasi (Ghana) Team

Panel judges listen attentively to a team presentation.

. business involves a true-to-TrueArt's innovative m that enables

k sottware progra

lite digital artwor d teel ot natural art by te the look an t users to crea h ' al movement 0

accurately simulating the p

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screen, The kes on a comp ST brush stro der license trom HKU ,

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will be the tlrst In a Art A prototype IS , vided by True, ,

and services pro , 't I artists and visual currently being tested by dlgl a

display companies, I gy are available at t 'I of the techno 0

h HKUST team took second Further ,de al ~ s ust.hklMoXi,

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people

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and create growth-orient d

businesses

~

~

Yr 1 students) comprising

Chan, the TrueArt team (a\l FT orea), Jan leslie Sy From left: Dean KC kis (Greece), Sebastian Kim

(~ong

)

,

product inventor Georgios Kntsota (India), Keith Tsul (Hong ,

(PhiliPpines), Piyus h

Shar~a

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Nelson Chu, Prof, Steve e

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This type of contest forms an im

the venture capital ecosystem in the Uni

It is a good development for Hong Kong t

is pioneering it here

9.)

was impressed by the enthusiasm and

enuity of the participants who grasped

s ggestions quickly and incorporated them

i to their presentations, An ideal platform for

tudents from different institutions to meet and

change ideas

~

MBA Team Coach Feliciana Cheung (PT97),

ep

ty General Counsel, Hong Kong Monetary Authority

Judging Panel Member Michael Scown, Managing Director, Intel Capital Asia

Campus Link

MBA Students Triumph Against World's Best

From February to April 2006, six teams of FT Yr 1 students participated in various business

plam-ling and case competitions alongside the world's leading business schools

. This resulted

in some notable victories for the School, with two of the major successes detailed below.

\IY1

~I

\'

Ove,-f'11

Chanlpiol'l

WAKERlRESf

ELEVAT

®

R

Date April 7-8 Organizer Contest Highlights

Wake Forest University, Babcock Graduate School of Management, North Carolina

Teams had to board elevators and persuade venture capitalist judges to invest in a

business. The HKUST team, the only non

-US contestant, impressed the judges with its proposal for a rapid viral detection device that distinguishes between acute bacterial or viral infections inexpensively, quickly and

accurately. The device was developed by a HKUST professor of chemistry.

Participants MBA students can compete

head-to-head with top business schools 9.;)

crs

Winning this event is a great honor for the team and HKUST.

It also helps to establish a strong HKUST brand in the US for excellence in entrepreneurship education 9.;)

20 teams including HKUST, Carnegie Mellon, Chicago, Duke, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Michigan, New York University, and Wake Forest.

Further Information

6:5

Our learning involved the

'3 Cs': creativity, commitment

and communication. We learnt

that we are like vines: stretch us

individually and we will break;

weave us together and we can

lift the world. Confidence is also

a key factor. This comes from

teamwork, research, and help from the MBA Office, professors and classmates c;P

16

HKUSTTeam

Birgit Vagani, Neha Bhatia and Carl Li

Team Advisor

Prof. Mark Cannice

Date

February 9-10

Organizer

University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

Participants

10 teams comprising HKUST, USC, UCLA, Kellogg, Wharton, London Business School, Yale, HEC, Emory and IPADE.

HKUSTTeam

Fritz Chen, Tejasvi Devaru, Rebecca Chen, Jenny Shih and Murli Madamsetty

Team Advisors

Prof. Larry Franklin, Prof. Steve Nason

crs

The ultimate compliment was

given to the HKUST team when

one of the judges said: 'I want

to hire those guys' c;P

www.mba.wfu.edu

Contest Highlights

Contestants had to draw strategic conclusions, generate future industry scenarios and formulate action-oriented recommendations for business situations faced by

Herbalife International, a global marketing company selling nutritional supplement and personal care products. They were judged by industry experts, top management executives and consultants. HKUST was the only team from Asia.

Herbalife International management was astounded by the HKUST team's "A++" recommendations.

Further Information

www.marshall.usc.edu r)M§i~esS

.

,

rm.

~ ." took part m . HKUST

te~ms :~~rests

in the US.

the followmg I ternation~~

C/BER MBA n competition

• _BUSI 'ness _. Case

Wisconsin . I MBA case

GWU Internatlona • Competition DC washington, ChampionshiP 2()06 NeW venture • oregon . I BusinesS plan USF Inter~atlona • petition Com FranciscO San

Alumni Coaching Boosts Job Interview Skills

I

n April, an enthusiastic group of alumni volunteered their

time and coaching skills to help FT Yr 1 students with mock interviews. A total of 51 interviews were completed and many appreciative comments received from interviewees. Participant Nick Shi said: "The interview was tough! I was asked lots of questions on 'why you?' These seemed easy to answer but the interviewer kept on challenging me. In addition, the feedback was extremely helpful. You need to relate actual experiences to impress an interviewer. Just saying you are good at analysis or communication is not enough."

Jennifer Chen also found the experience very useful. "My

interviewer asked really difficult questions and picked out some inconsistencies in my resume. It turned out to be to harder than the real interviews I've done so far. He also provided straightforward and informative feedback, something I couldn't expect after a real interview." \'Y1

The MBA Career Services team wishes to thank the following alumni for their great support:

Bill Chan (PT97) Jenny Pong (PT03)

Patience Chan (PT98) Connie Tsang (PTOO)

Joe Choi (PT02) Winlyn Tsang (PT05)

Dennis Lee (PT06) Flora Wai (PT03)

Frankie Leung (PT03) Josie Wong (PT94)

Sammy Mow (PT04) Winnie Wong (PT02)

Florian Pihs (FT05) Andy Yuen (FT94)

Lunch in Xiantiandi.

Company visit to Kane.

From left: Akshay Jaising (FT Yr 1), Jenny Pong (PT03), Janet Li (FT Yr 1) and Frankie Leung (PT03).

Experiencing the Real

Shanghai

A

three-day study tour to Shanghai in April proved an eye-opening experience for 25 FT Yr 1 students, with company visits to domestic giant Bao Steel and MNCs Ritz-Carlton, Heineken, Kone and Citigroup. The trip also saw the first social gathering of local alumni, full-time students and new MBA students (for the 2006 intake) with around 40 coming together to enjoy Shanghai cuisine and local nightlife.

Jackson Chan (FT Yr 1) said: "We were able to see corporate China and the wonders of the world's greatest marketplace at first hand. The companies we visited shared their insights on the different challenges they face in Shanghai regarding human resources, strategic planning and joint ventures. I was also amazed by the scale of manufacturing at Bao Steel.

"At the dinner, alumni talked about their professional experiences and new students asked us about current MBA life," Jackson said. "These trips should become an integral part of the HKUST MBA learning process. Such experiences cannot be found in the classroom." \'Y1

A

lumni

Corner

Budget Views

W

hen HKSAR Financial Secretary Henry Tang

promised to address the tax burden shouldered

by the middle class in the 2006-07 Budget, the Hong Kong

Economic Times invited HKUST MBA alumni - who have

profiles representative of those most likely to be affected - to participate in an online survey on their expectations before the Budget Speech and their views afterwards.

Survey participant Wilson Kwong (PT04), Executive Assistant to the Managing Director, Jardine Matheson Ltd, said the government should handle the surplus wisely and not just consider a tax refund

or reduce tax rates. "I would rather see an increase in tax allowances on items such as continuing education, home loan interest, and support for dependants. These are more

relevant and practical to people in the middle class like myself,"

Wilson said.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Ho (PT95),

Executive Director, AC Nielsen,

was disappointed by the speech. "The government should have

managed tax payers'

expectations better and been more generous this time in order to boost morale after years of recession and anxiety within the society," he noted. "The Budget needs to be managed prudently but not excessively so." Kenneth would also have liked to see an increase in the tax on tobacco to improve social well-being.

The Budget Speech was delivered on February 22. Results of the survey are summarized below. \Y1

I

Survey period: February 18-21

Survey 1: What are your expectations regarding the 2006-07 Budget?

Sample size: 216

Publication date: February 22

Ql.

Do you think the

Financial Secretary should reduce tax?

Q3.

Apart from reducing

salary tax, how can the Government help to ease

the tax burden? Extend

Ql.

How would you rate

the Budget as a whole? (5

=

highest)

18

Aqree (76%) Reduce rates (17%)

Q2.

If you agree that

tax should be cut, what is the best way to do it?

Q4.

Do you have high

expectations of the 2006-07 Budget? Increase tax allowance for dependants (47%) No comment (3%) _{No comment} Adequate Refund tax paid (13%) Reduce salary tax 52% air expectations

63-10

I

Survey period: February 22-23 Sample size: 1 02 ~

Publication date: February 24

Q2.

Has it done enough

to alleviate the burden of the middle class?

Q3.

Some commentators have said the

Budget was too conservative and did too little to share out wealth. What's your opinion?

Key

to a

Successful Career Switch

Amy Zhang (FT99)

Executive Director, Research Department,

China International Capital Corporation Ltd (CCIC), Beijing [email protected]

B

e brave and be prepared to show your passion for your work. For Amy Zhang, Executive Director of the Research Department at China International Capital Corporation Ltd (CCIC), these are the qualities that will open doors if you are looking for a change in career after your MBA.

Prior to her MBA, Amy worked in marketing and sales at General Electric, China. She undertook

as Executive Director in 2004, Amy feels proud to have built her team from just a few staff to over 50 and to have helped the company become an award-winner within the industry. With her hiring experiences at CICC, Amy's advice to all potential job-seekers is to be sure you want the position before you attend an interview. "If a person doesn't feel inspired about a company or job, the recruiter will know. You have to be committed, learn inside out what you want to do and show your passion."

She is also highly positive about the benefits of working in the Mainland. "People in Hong Kong must be brave and come to the Mainland as this is where the opportunities and the future competition lie. Think long term in order to be prepared."

It hasn't been all work for Amy. Married with a young son, she now balances her demanding but satisfying career with family life. "Doing both is tough but rewarding. There will be more traveling for work soon, but the MBA program with a clear goal in

mind. "I was determined to go into finance. I took all the relevant courses which shed lots of light on the knowledge and skills needed to move into the field.

GS

Be brave and show your

passion for your work

~

that allows me to visit my husband working in New York and my in-laws in Europe. A lot more challenges lie ahead. However, I like what I do and

I also gained an internship in equity research at Merrill Lynch and the company offered me a permanent job in Hong Kong after graduation." Unfortunately, visa problems intervened and Amy could not take up the post. Instead, she found herself facing the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis, restricted job opportunities, and economic recession. Despite the difficult environment, she remained set on her career move into finance. In 1999, her go-getting outlook brought results and she started work at CICC, a fast-growing financial services company in the Mainland. "The starting salary was even less than that prior to the MBA. However, you shouldn't measure an opportunity by its immediate return. It is more important to do what you really like. It will payoff eventually."

And so it did. Starting as a Research Associate, she would often work until 1 am and at weekends. Yet she relished her role and within two years, she was promoted to Vice-President. "It wasn't demanding for me as I loved it. I felt I was adding value to clients." Assuming her current duties

this is the most essential factor. " \,0/1

Phoenix note: Amy has been sending her staff on the HKUST MBA for the past few years. She joined the MBA Alumni Advisory Board in 2006 to contribute further to the alumni community and the School, especially the development of the Beijing market.

Alumni Corner

Banking on the

MBA Community

A

s Executive Director (Banking Supervision) at the

Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Arthur Yuen is currently supervising about 200 banking institutions authorized under the Banking Ordinance to accept deposits from the public.

Helping Arthur to carry out such duties is a management philosophy developed over the years since he first started out as a high-flying Administrative Officer in the Government

in the mid-1980s. "I am a strong believer that one has to

demonstrate to your colleagues how things could and should

be done effectively and efficiently. You have to set a good

and conspicuous example for others to follow," said Arthur,

now in his 1 Oth year at HKMA, Hong Kong's de facto central bank and banking supervising authority.

This approach equally applies to his role as an alumnus of the HKUST MBA program. Despite his many responsibilities, Arthur has continued to provide active, effective support

to the alumni community. He is a former MBAAA

President and has recently participated in MBA admission interviews. "It is encouraging to see the School involving alumni in the MBA applicant selection process," he said. "This is a great way to bring alumni closer to the School, as well as to potential MBA-ers. Having recently taken part in one of the interview sessions myself, I have felt at first-hand the excitement of being in touch with people who may one day join the alumni community.

d5

A stronger MBA

program and a

supportive alumni

community are

mutually reinforcing.

Alumni stand to

benefit from giving

their support in the long

run and by fostering their

sense of pride in the

School

9;)

Arthur

Yuen

,

JP (PT98)

Executive Director (Banking Supervision) Hong Kong Monetary Authority

[email protected]

"Above all, it reminded me that association with the School should be an on-going proposition which creates new value

for both the alumni community and the MBA program itself."

Arthur believes the way ahead for the HKUST MBA lies in effectively positioning the program internationally as the management knowledge hub for Greater China, in particular

the Mainland, to draw more students from around the world.

He also sees alumni development as a critical factor. "If you look at successful programs globally, you see

their alumni are really proud of their association with the school. It is important to foster this sense of pride to secure long-term success. In return, alumni should do their part by maintaining a cohesive bond, helping to strengthen the program whenever

the opportunity arises, and participating in alumni

activities. A stronger MBA program and a supportive

alumni community are mutually reinforcing. Alumni

stand to benefit from such support in the long run."

In any spare time, Arthur likes reading

a good novel. He added: "The pre-requisite to really enjoying free time

is the ability to switch off from the

HR Insights

for Executives

By

Susan Su

(FT99)

[email protected]

I

was honored to be invited to take part in the HR Manager

Salon, recently hosted by Human Capital Magazine (a well-known Beijing human resources publication) at the HKUST Beijing Education Center. The Salon was also a great opportunity to put my research into practice and interact with business leaders rather than students and faculty members.

In the March 8 session, I discussed career development concerns with 60 local professionals. These typically involved how to advance up the career ladder, maintain momentum at work, find the right career, and how to become successful. Using a combination of research findings and personal experience, I was happy to find I could resolve many problems, following up with emails in some cases after the meeting. On March 22, EMBA alumna Diana Niu (KH03), Vice-President of Human Resource Management, VOLVO (China), joined me for the second session which focused on performance issues related to employees in key roles and

"star" workers.

Beijing Celebrations (February 27)

Dean KC Chan hosts a Spring Dinner for MBNEMBAliEMBA alumni

and hears ideas from his guests about the new Business School building planned for the HKUST campus in 2011.

---Alumni Corner

Diana Nu (KH03) and

Susan Su (right).

The latter, for example, may excel on their own but fail to work well as team members.

However, as Diana pointed out, by definition a "star" employee should not only produce individual results but also fit into the corporate culture - an inspiring new perspective for many of those attending. \0/1

Phoenix note: Susan is currently an Associate Professor at the School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics (BUM). Her research interests lie in HR Management and Career Development. She has also been Director of the Career Development Center at the School since September 2005.

Thanks to Timothy Lam (FTOG) for his translation of the original article.

PRCUpdate

S

ince setting up local offices in Shanghai and Beijing,

the School has been building its profile on the Mainland and boosting the HKUST MBA spirit among the growing number of alumni in cities there. Among recent developments:

• Local updates have been sent via e-news to all alumni in Beijing

• Some alumni in Shanghai and Beijing have been invited to join the MBA Alumni Advisory Board to assist in developing the Mainland market

• MBA Advisory Board members in the Mainland have helped interview MBA candidates in their respective locations for the 2006 intake.

Mainland city alumni directories will also be circulated and uploaded to the alumni website in the near future to assist networking and to help build ties. \0/1

Shanghai Gathering (January 10)

MBA Program Director Steve DeKrey meets MBA and EMBA alumni based in the city.

H

KUST's diverse group of MBA

alumni include

s

several

members who played important roles

at the Sixth World Trade Organization

Ministerial Conference (WTO MC6)

held in Hong Kong in December 2005.

After the Conference, MBA Alumni

Forum invited these "alumni heroes"

to share their inside view of WTO

MC6. The enlightening session was

held on campus on January 15, 2006,

with Professor Francis Lui, Director of

the Center for Economic Development

at HKUST, also joining the event.

V'

Liaison Officer Peacekeeper SI~NEY FUNG (PT05) Chief Superintendent of Police Project Coordinator PETIY LAI (FT95) Deputy Head MC6 Coordination Office Negotiator REX CHANG (PT96)* Assistant Director G li - eneral

rade and Ind

HKSAR G ustry Department

overnment

'

.

"

w.

Co ,

SEAN LIN (PT03)

Senior Inspector of P I

_I

_olce '

• ~s Rex was unable to att

mterviewed earlier and end the Forum, he was

a summa f '

MC6 Preparation

Petty

63

MC6 was a HKSAR Government-hosted event

and it cost over HK$200 million. It involved a huge amount of planning, including hotel accommodation, transportation, venue set-up with conference facilities and IT security, community relations, translation/ interpretation and staffing. Preparations started back in 2003, with a study team sent to MC5 before it was even confirmed Hong Kong would host the event. The Coordination Office was set up in summer 2004. We

started with 40-odd staff and grew to about 150. In

addition, there were over 700 civil servants engaged

on a short-term basis, 400 volunteers, over 200 interpreters, and staff from other organizations. The event was a government-wide effort involving all bureaux and departments, even seemingly unrelated ones such as the Social Welfare Department, to name

but one

9;)

Sidney

63

Like Petty, I was also heavily involved in MC6.

My colleagues made thorough plans to ensure that every possible eventuality would be taken care of. Indeed, almost everything happened just as expected - including contingency scenarios such as the closure of Gloucester Road and various cross-harbor tunnels and the rounding up of a large number of protesters.

There were really very few surprises

9;)

Petty at the venue command post at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Sidney (right) visits one of the frontline commanders at the "battlefield" in Wanchai.

Interacting with Demonstrators

Kit

63

I was re-deployed to man a command post for

the Police Negotiation Team whose role was to liaise and engage with stakeholders such as the protesters, local and international alike. This was to facilitate mutual understanding and smooth operations. I missed all the sizzling excitement of direct confrontation with the protesters at the frontline, but I was glad that I could step back and make 'cool' decisions behind the scenes. To better police Public Order events, there's a saying

from the British police that it's better to go from being

a lamb to a lion, not vice versa

9;)

Sean

63

The police were well prepared. We planned ahead

for every possible scenario. Of course, only a portion

of our preparations were actually required. Nonetheless, we thought it was crucial for the police to handle everyth!-Qg right as Hong Kong's image was on

the line ':;0)

Sidney

63

My office dispatched over 1,300 police officers

from the Kowloon East Region to Wanchai over the MC6 period and I spent three nights in the office without going home in order to work hand-in-hand with

Special Feature

MC6's Benefits for

Hong Kong

Petty

G5

Undoubtedly, Hong Kong's reputation has been enhanced as we showed our ability to host such a major international event. This is good for tourism. It also goes without saying that the Hong Kong Police's professional handling of the riots won praise for Hong Kong overseas

QJ

Prof. Francis Lui

,

Director

,

Center for Economic Development

G5

It is hard to quantify the economic return. The WTO itself doesn't bring direct benefits to Hong Kong as Hong Kong has been a free economy for a long time. In fact, Hong Kong is in a position to help the WTO by being a fine example of an economy that does not impose tariffs but prospers nonetheless. However, if the WTO is effective in helping other countries to get rid of protectionism, then Hong Kong's exports and re-exports will also expand further

QJ

4

Rex

6S

As host of MC6, Hong Kong was at the core of

th~

'

negotiating process. Our performance both as Chair of the Conference and as a constructive delegation earned the appreciation of members from developed and developing countries. With our enhanced profile in development and agriculture, and recognition of our solid work in services, non-agriculture market access and trade rules, we will be able to participate more effectively in future negotiations. This in turn facilitates our ability to pursue Hong Kong's commercial interests. Hong Kong's role as an

honest broker in trade negotiations when chairing MC6 was also well respected and accepted without question

QJ

What

'

They Will Remember About MC6

Rex

Petty

GS

It was extremely busy, but a good experience. My colleagues and I worked very long hours over consecutive days during MC6. The overall atmosphere at the Convention Centre (where MC6 was held) was tense and uncertain. Remember, delegates did not agree on the Hong Kong Declaration until the very last moment. But once we realized that MC6 had been a success, we were really happy. Even though it was past midnight and my colleagues and I were exhausted, we decided to go to a nearby wanton noodle shop to celebrate

9.)

GS

Every single notice we put up had to be in three languages - English, French and Spanish. On the night when Gloucester Road was partially closed, we had to have translators/interpreters on stand-by late at night just to announce the latest transportation arrangements for delegates!

9.)

MODERATOR

Kit

GS

The event demonstrated the Hong Kong Police Force's tremendous teamwork and their willingness to support one another. I am really proud to be a Hong Kong police officer

9.)

Sean

GS

With an important operation like MC6,

you don't want police to have to excuse themselves because of a bad stomach while a riot is going on! This meant even the preparation and delivery of meal boxes became part of logistics and security management planning

9.)

Sidney

GS

I will always remember the professionalism and dedication my staff demonstrated during those few days. Although they worked extremely long hours, their spirit was always high. I could see the fire in their eyes. I have been in the police for 31 years and this was one of the most brilliant operations I have seen carried out

9.)

~

~

oot

I

GKO»G

\\,'1

Oi'C

More about WTO MC6

The Ministerial Conference (MC) is the highest authority in the World Trade Organization structure and takes decisions on all matters under multilateral trade agreements. MC6 was the sixth conference held. For further information, visit

www.wto.org

Ho 11J I I \t1 ( Mi Ii!:>! rial Conference www.wtomc6.gov.hk

Acknowledgements - MBA Alumni Forum 2006

-

- - -

-REPORTERS OTHER PANEL MEMBERS

Special thanks to Wilson for his hard

work before and during the event.

YF Cheung (PT05) Albert He (Guest)

A Forum Video is available for viewing on request. Please contact the MBA Alumni Office at [email protected].

Message

from. the President

Dear Fellow Alumni,

I am honored to be in a position to serve the HKUST MBA alumni community. I can still recall my first MBA course, which focused on the "geese" analogy. Each bird plays a different role - be it a

leading or supporting role - in order to benefit the whole group. Leaders take up more responsibility and perform at a higher standard when they have good support. They also need other members to

take their positions when the time is right. In this way, the group remains sustainable.

My goal is to work together with all of you to generate high synergy through our excellent network and to help sustain the long-term development of the MBA program and HKUST Business School. One way the new Executive Committee (ExCo) is hoping to draw alumni in and fulfil our

R-I-C-H mission more effectively is through the introduction of five, new task forces.

What are the different roles played by the Alumni Development Office and the MBAAA? How should the Association be operated? How do we spend the membership fees? Clarifying the answers to these questions will be part of the work of the Legal and Operational Review task force which will examine the Association's current structure and put forward proposals that can set MBAAA on a firm foundation as the alumni base grows. This is expected to take about 12-18 months to complete. Stay tuned for how you can help!

More details on the other task forces - Community Service, Sports & Interest, Lifelong Learning, and Member Services - can be found in the insert enclosed with this issue of Phoellix and on the

MBAAA website at www.mbaaa.com.Pleasegiveusyoursupportbyparticipatinginthem.It

would be a great step forward if more members and alumni became involved - something that we would love to see happening NOW!

For updates on membership benefits, remember to check your email for our latest e-news. You can also visit the new FAQ section on the MBAAA website.

Action speaks louder than words. We look forward to getting to know you at our forthcoming activities.

Let's build a stronger alumni network and better community together! Best wishes,

EdwinMok

President, MBAAA ExCo 2006

Soaring to Fresh Heights

•

m

Prof. Larry Franklin during the magic show.

AGM

&

Annual Dinner 2006

The auction heats up. The MBAAA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Annual

Dinner 2006 was held on March 4 at the Police Officers'

Club in Causeway Bay, with over 150 guests taking part

in the lively event. Those attending included Dean KC Chan,

MBA Program Director Prof. Steve DeKrey, Associate Director

Mr. Chris Tsang, MBA Alumni Advisory Board Members and

MBA Office colleagues.

Alumni from all years were well represented, from members

of the first graduating class in 1994 to the latest graduates.

Current students from both the full-time and part-time

programs also came along - many rushing to get to the AGM after a full day of classes.

The happy evening proved a memorable occasion. The HKUST Magic Club gave everyone some spell-binding fun

by transferring Prof. Larry Franklin's $500 note from a small

bag to inside a fresh lemon. The auction, on the other hand,

saw fierce bidding for items generously provided by sponsors Bvlgari, Fat Angelo's, Haagen-Dazs, HKUST Alumni

Association, HKUST Business School, Microsoft HK Ltd,

Nike, Symantec, and Zonasa Network Ltd.

Congratulations to the newly elected MBAAA Executive

Committee who will be leading the alumni association to

new heights in the coming year! \Y1

Recent MBAAA Highlights

pitch in.

The Dragon Boat

team in action.

For more pictures, check out our Photo Gallery at

www.mbaalum.ust.hklGallery.asp. We hope you will be appearing

in it soon!

Special Thanks

We could not have held these events without the dedicated assistance

of alumni and members. In particular, we would like to thank:

• Andrew Chiu (PT Yr 3) for organizing the Nansha Golf Trip in April

• KK Luk (PT04) and Richard Chan (PT Yr 3) for coordinating training

for the Dragon Boat Race 2006

• Alex Tai (PT Yr 2) and Fritz Chen (FT Yr 1) for organizing various

soccer games for the alumni community. \Y1

"Given the hectic

why did we want to become

Sean Lin (PT03 [email protected])

Vice-President {Internal Affairs)

G:5

In addition to my MBAAA service, which I began in

2003, I am also President of the HKUST Alumni Association

and Chairperson of the charity Friends Unlimited. I am

committed to bring the HKUST MBA brand to another peak while in my current post g;)

Kitty Chan (PT Yr 2 [email protected])

Treasurer

G:5

As a qualified accountant, I am honored to be able to

use my professional skills and expertise to serve alumni

through MBAAA. Being a member of ExCo is a new challenge

for me. I would like to interact with more alumni and also

organize continuous learning events, not just participate

from a financial point of view

g;)

8

Irene Tse (PT04 [email protected])

General Member

G:5

This is my third year on ExCo. I see our major challenge

is to strengthen bonds between alumni from different years. My focus this year will be to organize community services

and sports & interest groups to bring together alumni from

diverse backgrounds. Only with a strong alumni network can we ultimately create a unique HKUST MBAAA identity of which we are all proud g;)