Phoenix, 2007 Spring

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Contents

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From the Editor

Cover Story

- MBA Footprints

in the Pearl River Delta

EMBA in the Spotlight

- Leading the Way

to Business Success

Campus Link

- Energizing Hong Kong's

Competitiveness

- Colorful Start for

Business School Central

- The Best 'Unranked'

Full-time MBA Program

In

Focus

-

MBA Mini-Olympics

Alumni Corner

- Networking Power

- Outstanding Recognition

-

Are You a Giga-Manager?

MBAAA News

- Task Forces on Show

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From the Editor

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elcome to the latest edition of Phoenix! It comes to you a little later than usual. However, it means we now have even more news and initiatives to share with you!

Our Cover Story features the latest developments on the HKUST Shenzhen MBA Program, the School's first MBA offered across the border. Launched in 2002, the part-time program has rapidly become a business education leader in the Pearl River Delta region. Exciting plans to launch an MBA Alumni Association Guangdong Chapter have also been set in motion.

Already up and running is HKUST Business School Central, the School's sophisticated downtown center which is spotlighted in Campus Link. You can also check out why HKUST MBA was not in this year's Financial

Times rankings (nothing to do with quality!) and how MBA alumni can contribute to building the HKUST brand in the future.

On the career and personal development front, several individual alumni pass on their tips for success in this issue. Long-time FedEx senior manager Jim Brigance shares his strategy for effective leadership. Award-winning corporate trainer and author King Lee explains his middle management competencies model. In addition, financial executive Benno Jaeggi discusses how networking assisted his job search.

It is not all business, though. Caring for others in the community is important to our alumni too, as noted by Sean Lin who recently became one of Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons award-winners.

Meanwhile, it is inspiring to see School and MBAAA activities developing greater synergy. This is reflected in our report on MBAAA members' weekly newspaper articles launched as a follow-up to last year's Hong Kong Competitiveness Forum, jointly organized by RTHK and HKUST Business School. Indeed, with support from the Alumni Development Office, MBAAA has had an eventful year!

Stay tuned for more dynamic news in the months ahead. I look forward to seeing you all at the next alumni event!

~ZIr

Kitty Chong (PT03) Editor-in-Chief

Phoen

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HKUST MBA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

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2007 Spring

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.

Cover Story

-Cover picture and above:

Shenzhen Intake 2006

MBA Footprints

in the Pearl River Delta

It is different and it is bold. While MBA education in the Pearl River Delta has mushroomed

in recent years, HKUST's MBA Program in Shenzhen is forging ahead, taking a leading

position in less than five years with its international content, world-class faculty and

globally recognized degree.

Phoenix

reports on the pioneering program

Cove~

Story

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65 The HKUST Shenzhen part

-time MBA was the perfect

solution, allowing me to

r

ealize

both my dreams: joining a world

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ass organization and obtaining

a world

-

class MBA

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Michael Zhang (Intake 2002)

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KUST launched its part-time Shenzhen program in 2002 after the Shenzhen Municipal Government invited famous universities to start courses in the city to boost business education. Since then, the reputation of HKUST's program has grown rapidly. Taught in English and offering a full HKUST degree, the MBA program has answered a need among Pearl River Delta (PRO) professionals seeking quality business education with a global outlook.

Take management executive Michael Zhang, a member of the first Shenzhen intake. His original plan was to study at a European business school. Then two events changed his mind: he was offered the opportunity to become a senior marketing manager at Citibank Shenzhen, making him reluctant to leave the city; and he heard about the new HKUST program. "The HKUST Shenzhen MBA was the perfect solution, allowing me to realize both dreams: joining a class organization and obtaining a world-class MBA," he said.

Michael, now Vice-President of start-up Shenzhen Feng Ying Technology Co Ltd, is just one of a fast-growing group of HKUST alumni and students in Shenzhen from a variety of different fields. While many on HKUST's Hong Kong programs come from finance, accounting, and sales and marketing backgrounds, Shenzhen participants often work in engineering, IT, retail businesses, and logistics. Numbers

have risen from 20 in 2002 to 60 in 2006, drawing students from nearby cities, including Guangzhou, Dongguan and Huizhou. As it is taught in English, the program also attracts mainland-based expatriates from Asia, Europe, North America, as well as Hong Kong.

To ensure quality delivery and support for faculty members and students, a Shenzhen MBA Program Office has been set up. It recently underwent expansion to provide more space and to prepare for additional growth. The office, supported by three members of staff, includes classrooms, a student lounge, breakout rooms, and facilities tailor-made for MBA teaching.

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For the HKUST Business School, the Shenzhen program is an ideal pilot for expansion of HKUST business education in Mainland China, according to Chris Tsang, Associate Director (Postgraduate Programs), and a great, practical opportunity for brand-building. "The Shenzhen program allows us to understand how to operate in Mainland China so that we will be ready when opportunities come up in other areas of the country," he said.

Similar in content to the Hong Kong part-time MBA, the Shenzhen program is structured to offer core courses and pre-selected electives taught by HKUST faculty via all-day Saturday classes. The relatively short

distance from Hong Kong

Market n

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Several factors help the HKUST MBA program to stand out from its local competitors: first-class international faculty who teach in English; program quality; and global recognition of its degree. Learning the latest international business practices and up-to-the-minute trends and developments is becoming makes it logistically easy

for HKUST faculty to teach in Shenzhen. Classes are currently held in the Institute of Education Research

increasingly significant for entrepreneurs and professionals in Mainland China as

G:3

The Shenzhen program allows us to

understand how to operate in Mainland China

so that we will be ready when opportunities

come up in other areas of the country

9.;)

more companies prepare for expansion overseas. Professionals working for multinational companies in the region also need (IER) Building, a joint

Chris Tsang

Associate Director (Postgraduate Programs)

venture between HKUST, Shenzhen Municipal Government and

Peking University. A mini-bus picks up academics from the UST campus early in the morning and transports them across the border to

06

the IER Building, located in the Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Nan Shan

District, in time for classes at 9.30am. The program is run by the Shenzhen MBA office, who provides the first-hand support to the teaching faculty. Students can get the most prompt assistance from the office as well.

to equip themselves for career advancement.

"HKUST's international faculty team is important," said Shirley Yang (Intake 2006), Human Resources Director at Park'n Shop China, "and it's great to be able to communicate with them in English. Many translations of business concepts are available here. But I wanted the real thing! The experience has been brilliant."

Those from overseas have been equally impressed by the program. Martin Tosh (Intake 2005), Technical Manager Asia at engineering design firm Pure Digital and originally from Scotland, said: "I thought about a distance learning MBA

MBAAA Guangdong Chapter

The long-awaited news has finally arrived! Fifteen Shenzhen students and alumni, representing all intakes, have set up the MBAAA Guangdong Chapter Organizing Committee to prepare for the September launch of a HKUST alumni branch in Guangdong. "This will strengthen ties among the Shenzhen group and also our affiliation

to the School," said Michael Zhang, President of the Organizing Committee. "We would like to contribute to building a stronger brand given all we have gained from the program."

The Shenzhen committee has been in touch with the Hong Kong MBA Alumni Association in order to share its experience in arranging student and alumni events.

Kelvin Lam (PT05), HKUST MBAAA President, said: "We are delighted to see alumni in Shenzhen taking the initiative to launch a local

chapter. We appreciate their enthusiasm and will be working closely with them in the next few months to turn this plan into reality."

course, but didn't really want to do this as I felt interaction with other students was important. HKUST came up on my Google search and when I saw it had a program taught in English with classes held just 10 minutes from where I live in Shenzhen, this had to be my choice. It has turned out to be a very good decision."

The fact that HKUST offers the same degree, core courses, faculty, credit requirements and exchange opportunities as the Hong Kong part-time program is also influential. Part-time programs in the mainland often suffer from the view that they concentrate more on networking and are less serious academically. HKUST's emphasis on delivery of top program content thus gives its Shenzhen MBA a competitive advantage in the local market.

In line with this emphasis on quality, the Shenzhen program is equally strict on its admission process, seeking out participants who fulfill the academic requirements and have strong leadership and communication skills, boost class diversity, and are likely to add to the brand. They must also be prepared for the demanding nature of the program, appropriately qualified to learn in English, and financially equipped to pay the fees, which are the highest in the market. "If students are keen, but not yet qualified, we tell them to wait two years until they are ready," Chris Tsang said.

cont...

Cover Story

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MBAAA Guangdong Chapter Organizing Committee together with MBA Program members.

Strong reputation

One sign of the program's success is that the increase in regional recognition and numbers has been achieved without heavy marketing. At a recent information session, 200 potential applicants attended. Immediately afterward, many went online and later that same day the Shenzhen MBA Office started receiving further enquiries.

Current students and alumni are enthusiastic ambassadors when discussing the program with others. There are also distinct differences in their thinking after taking the program which friends and colleagues can see. "We have been told in interviews with prospective students that they could see the changes in their colleagues who had taken the course," Chris Tsang said. "Those from the HKUST MBA thought differently and came up with different and effective ideas and activities. This showed they had learnt a lot and made other people consider taking the course as well."

In addition, many companies have been supportive in sending their staff to the program. These include Wal-Mart China, now a close HKUST partner, Park'n Shop China, Fed Ex, TCl, and UT Starcom. "We started to send our senior staff to the HKUST Shenzhen MBA program in 2003," said Stephanie Wong, Vice-President of Wal-Mart China. "The HKUST MBA has provided a great opportunity for members of our management to extend their vision, widen their horizons and develop their overall capabilities."

Alumni

networking

A further exciting development is the setting up of the MBAAA Guangdong Chapter Organizing Committee

in preparation for its official launch in September.

With 170 current students and alumni, the formation of the local chapter will be a milestone in strengthening ties between different intakes, helping students to keep in touch with each other, and boosting links between the cohorts from Hong Kong and Shenzhen. More cross-border events are planned to allow greater networking opportunities among students and alumni in both locations.

"People treasure the MBA networking experience," said Michael Zhang, an MBA Alumni Board member in 2006 and President of the MBAAA Guangdong Chapter Organizing Committee. "An

MBA program is not only about knowledge. It is about learning from other students, either on the program or afterward. Without communication this cannot be done so we need an organization to promote this and tie up all the intakes together."

Another core role for the new association will be assisting in program promotion and brand-building. This will be of increasing

Shenzhen Spring Dinner on March 3.

-Cover Story

~

Shenzhen Views

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(I

ntake 2

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Human Resources Director

Parl<'n Shop China

Shirley moved from Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, to Shenzhen in 1992. Long established in the HR field, she has worked for Park'n Shop China for the past 2)1 years. She is a member of the MBAAA Guangdong Chapter Organizing Committee.

63

I really enjoyed the Residential Program and ELP. It was

interesting to find that mainland and Hong Kong people have such different ways of thinking when trying to achieve a goal! Totally different in fact! It means teamwork can be time-consuming.

However, we also learn to understand each other

9;)

importance in future years as competition intensifies further among MBA programs in the region. While HKUST's Shenzhen MBA program has established a leading position, Chris Tsang notes there are likely to be more English-language entrants in the future. This means the School must continue to strengthen its brand recognition and reputation for quality in order to remain bold and different in the years to come. \n

Shen

z

hen MBA Fact File

Launched Mode Program Duration Location 2006 Intake Class Size Age Range Gender Working Experience Origin Email Website : 2002 : Part-time : Two years IER Building,

Hi-Tech Industrial Park,

Nan Shan District,

Shenzhen : 60

: 26-38 years

: Male 66%; Female 34%

: 3-16 years

: Mainland China, Hong Kong, Asia, Canada

: [email protected]

: www.bm.ust.hklszmba

From front, anticlockwise: Senior Representative Grace Liang, Marketing Officer Irene Xu and Program Officer Linda Lin.

Martin Tosh

(

Intake 2005

)

Technical Manager Asia and China Representative

Pure Digital

Martin first started to visit China on business in 2001 and moved to Shenzhen in 2003. He has found the peer learning and interaction with fellow paliicipants a unique way to gain a better understanding of the working environment and culture in Mainland China.

63

If I have issues with tax, or other matters, there are accountants and lawyers on the course that I can speak to about how things work in China. My classmates have been really helpful and useful in giving me straight answers.

Having a network of business contacts in China that I can trust is obviously invaluable for me

9;)

Joseph Fong

(I

ntake 2

00

5

)

Technical Consultant

Ericsson China

Joseph, originally from Hong Kong, has been working and living in Guangzhou for the past five years. He is a previous Shenzhen MBA class president and is currently a member of the MBAAA Guangdong Chapter Organizing Committee.

63

I am very happy that the MBAAA Guangdong Chapter is being

established as there is a desperate need for it. It's not easy for

Shenzhen students to meet up with their counterparts in Hong

Kong. If we have a local chapter, we can increase the connection

between the two groups through joint activities. I am looking forward

I

EMBA in the Spotlight

James Brigance (KH06)

Vice-President, Asia Pacific Operations

Fed Ex Kinko's

Starting out at FedEx over 20 years ago, James Brigance now heads office

and print services retailer FedEx Kinko's in Asia Pacific. His role includes

overseeing company development and 1,700 employees in the region. Below,

he shares his strategy for effective leadership

Clear vision and direction

As a leader, you must know where you are going with your business and be able to articulate this very clearly. This vision and direction must be continuously communicated to everyone in the organization, from the senior executives who directly report to you down to front-line employees. Everyone must understand where the company is going and how it is getting there. The vision must also be achievable.

Have the right team in place

You need the right people from both a technical sta dpoint and a leadership perspective. Good strategies still have to be executed and you need a team that you trust to d0 this. They must also trust you and your direction. You mus then empower them so they can go out and do their job.

I

Know and listen to your customers

Know who your customers are, what they are saying about your business, what their needs are, and listen to what is happening in the market. Never assume that what you are doing is the best for your customers and the market. Whereas the market used to change every five or 10 years, now it changes every five or 10 months. You have to keep aware.

Positive corporate culture

There is a strong people culture at Fed Ex. This stems from the People-Service-Profit philosophy of founder Fred Smith: if you take care of your employees, then they will provide good service and customers will always come back. I think employees in any company want a good working environment, to be treated fairly and with respect, to be part of the bigger picture, and to feel they have made a contribution.

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A good

leader is

willing

to adapt

his/her

views in light

of other

people's opinions

~

EMBA in the Spotlight

People management

There are many successful leadership styles from micro-managers to those who are completely hands-off. What determines success is how good you are at being a leader within those styles. My own style is a combination of individual views, learning, and elements adopted from the great bosses I have been fortunate enough to work for over the years. I do not totally manage by consensus but I am not the only one to set directions either. I listen to experts in their area and give people a chance to be part of the decision-making. We communicate frequently as a team to make sure we are keeping on track. If we are off direction, we review the strategy to find out why and to see if changes need to be made. This brings people closer together and makes everyone take ownership. My job is to knock down the road blocks for my team and to empower them to do what they do best. I think I have been successful with this style because it's what I truly believe in and live every day.

Identifying solution-providers

Earlier in my career, I would sometimes wonder why certain staff members or people from different levels had been invited to meetings. It soon became clear. Successful leaders know what they need to get done and get the right people involved, regardless of whom they are and where they work in the organization.

Willingness to adapt

A Mark Twain quote goes: "It ain't what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." I have been in meetings where I have known beforehand the direction in which my boss was thinking. Yet, after discussion, a completely different strategy has been determined. A good leader is willing to adapt his/her views in light of other people's opinions. During a discussion, you must also know when to step in and when to let people talk.

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11

EMBA in the Spotlight

The FedEx Couple

Communicating at all levels

I have regular communication with those reporting directly to me. I talk frequently to Dallas HQ and communicate that message to my directors here. I also have an expectation that no director of operations or functional group is too busy to be out in the stores talking to employees. I travel a lot and on every business trip I visit our stores. Early in my career I cherished those times when people five levels above would come in and talk or send me a message. I think others do as well. I ask employees questions, they ask me questions, and if I can't answer, I'll get back to them. I can't see customers every day but our employees do. What has made a customer's day? What has really upset a customer? Front-line people are one of the best channels of information to gain such insight. Hopefully what you hear in the boardroom and in the stores will be in sync. If it isn't, a red flag quickly goes up and you need to start asking questions.

Implementing change

Change is healthy in a business. It is a challenge for both the person coming in and for those already in place. My switch to FedEx Kinko's meant I was moving out of an industry I loved and knew a great deal about into a fresh arena. It was a tough decision to make and sometimes has seemed overwhelming (like learning to drink from a fire hydrant!), but the transition has been good. In my first year I've been asking a lot of questions about the business and day-to-day operations. Where I have seen gaps in how we work as a management team, then I have made changes.

Some disruption is good but there's no need to immediately turn the ship upside down when it doesn't need to be."IW

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12

Mr

. Bernard Chan

Member of the Executive Council

Mr

.

Fred Lam

Executive Director Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Dr

.

Lily Chiang

Deputy Chairman Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

Mr

.

Leung Chun-Ying

Member of the Executive Council

Energizing Hong Kong's

Competitiveness

By Cammy Leung (PT05)

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dynamic forum on "Hong Kong Competitiveness" (~ji~Jt.¥ j]~±I), co-organized by HKUST Business School and Radio Hong Kong (RTHK), proved a wide-reaching community event with journalists and opinion leaders in attendance together with MBA alumni and students.

At the forum, held in July 2006, five business leaders and industry experts shared their views on how to energize Hong Kong's competitiveness: Mr. Bernard Chan, Member of the Executive Council; Dr. Lily Chiang, Deputy Chairman, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Prof. Paul Chu, President, HKUST; Mr. Fred Lam, Executive Director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council; and Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Member of the Executive Council.

Views were stimulating and thought-provoking, covering a wide range of topics including the government's role in enhancing Hong Kong's economic reform and growth (Mr. Leung), the business sector's vital role in stimulating Hong Kong's competitiveness (Mr. Chan), the importance of highly educated human capital (Prof. Chu), leveraging Hong Kong's uniqueness to generate assets and strive for the city's development (Dr. Chiang), and building Hong Kong's strengths in technology, design, retail and branding (Mr. Lam).

During the Q&A session, facilitated by Dean KC Chan, Hong Kong's taxation system, the goods and services tax, and alternative ways to broaden the tax base were discussed. The impact of Hong Kong's environment on competitiveness was also raised. Other topics focused on the logistics industry, and the need for greater mobility of human resources, including high-quality students, between Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Overall, the views generated by the forum suggested that competitiveness and continued development go hand-in-hand, and that the biggest competitor is not others, but ourselves. Thus,

it is up to each business, industry, and sector to enhance itself and remain competitive. ~

Phoenix note: Two edited radio broadcasts of the forum were aired in July by RTHK.

A live recording is available at http://publicaffairs.rthk.org hklpa_speciall

hkcompetitivenessl. In response to the forum,

a

number of alumni shared their views in a weekly column published by the Hong Kong Economic Journal (see P25)

H

KUST Business School Central, the School's sophisticated new downtown venue, celebrated its launch with a National Day fireworks party on October 1, 2006. Thanks to

the center's spectacular, 180-degree harbor view, alumni from

the Class of 1994 to Class of 2006 and their families were able to enjoy the full impact of the sparkling display.

In operation since September 2006, the center offers facilities

for MBA courses, Executive Education programs, EMBA alumni

seminars and corporate training. It has already been utilized

for many different activities, including MBA information sessions,

admission interviews, and a party to celebrate the EMBA's

NO.3 ranking by the Financial Times. The MBA Alumni

Association has also been making full use of the facilities for

regular meetings, a team-building workshop, MBAAA forums,

and Trailwalker briefings. All events held at the center are well supported by the Business School Central team, with catering

services available on request.

\'Y1

14

65

A cozy environment with a magnificent

view of the harbor!

c;:9

- Davis Law (PT96)

65

Superb, customer-oriented service by

the staff! One of the most desirable training

venues in Hong Kong

c;:9

- lionel Ma, Principal Consultant

LMA Consultancy Service (Corporate Client)

65

Amazing! The design, equipment, and

view provide an incomparable atmosphere

for learning. A perfect place to relax and

socialize too!

c;:9

i

I I

Inaugural Speaker

M

rs. Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Chairperson of the Savantas Policy Institute (llI~~ Il) and former Secretary for Security, was the distinguished guest at the first MBA Alumni Forum at Business School Central. She gave a talk entitled "2007 Chief Executive Election Preview: Challenges Hong Kong's New Chief Executive Will Be Facing". The event took place in February.

Alumni Special Offers

1. Exclusive rental rates on facility booking and F&B packages for MBA alumni events 2. Priority booking for alumni's corporate use

3. Extended hours of use, Monday-Sunday, 7am-midnight

4. Free, one-time access to Meeting Room (for MBAAA members only)

Call 2358-8922 or email [email protected] for rate card, booking, and availability.

Establish Your Presence

I

n appreciation of the contribution made by alumni to the MBA Alumni Fund, the meeting room at Business School Central has been officially named the MBA Alumni

Conference Room. In addition, patrons who

have donated HK$5,000 or above to the fund will have their names inscribed on the conference room's glass door.

Heartiest thanks to those listed below for their contributions to the MBA Alumni Fund from June 16, 2006 - March 31,2007.

Donations are on-going, with the accumulated amount recognized. Make your pledge now by contacting the MBA Alumni Office at

[email protected] or downloading the donation form at www.mbaaa.com.

Donation of HK$10,OOO or above

JAEGGI Peter Benno FT06

Donation of HK$5,OOO - HK$9,999

CHEUNG Siu Wai Feliciana PT97 CHONG Kit Yee Kitty PT03 HO Edmund PT94 HO Ka Chung Kenneth PT95 MA Ka Yee Karen FT02

CHAN Kim Sze Alexander FT95 CHOW Kin Sang PT95 DEKREY Veronica

KO Mun Yiu Monica PT94 KO Yuk Choi Andrew PT99 LAI Chun Yee Petty FT95

BRUNET Pascale M FT98 CHAN Shuk Ying Amy FT96 CHEN Tsun Ni Fritz FT07 CHEUNG Ho Man PT99 ELLI Marco PT98 KOH Yue Yiu Karen PT04 LAM Kar Man Kelvin PT05 LAW Chun Hung Davis PT96

MOK Koon Yip Edwin PT05 YUEN Hei Wai Andy FT94 Class of 1995

Class of 2007 (FT)

MA Hon Kan Terence PT98 TSE Chun Ming Raymond FT94 WU Ming Kei Eddy PT94 YOU Zhen Yu Jerry SZ04 Class of 1994

Anonymous PT94

LAW Yau Kan Francis PTOO LIN Sean PT03 SO Chiu Mei Nandia PT04 TSANG Wing Han Connie PTOO WONG Yim Nei Jessica PT94 Anonymous PT98 Anonymous PT99

Campus Link

The Best 'Unranked'

Full-time MBA Program

What you might not know and what you need to know

I

t is no news that HKUST's Full-time MBA program did not appear in the 2007 Financial Timetime this has happened since the School began participating in 2000. The non-appearance had nothing to do with s (FT) rankings, the first quality but was due to a lack of alumni data for the FT to evaluate. In the past, the FT had warned the School about this problem so it could encourage alumni to respond. This year, the School was only told after the results had been finalized.

The Dean's Office and MBA Program Office have since received communications from a cross-section of alumni expressing their disappointment but, at the same time, offering support and suggestions on how to strengthen alumni involvement and commitment to the School.

This is indeed a wake-up call and the School is now seeking your help in order to build a better future together.

How Rankings Are Determined

The HKUST MBA Program participates in MBA rankings conducted by the FT and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). In both ranking exercises, full-time program alumni from specific years are invited to participate in a survey. Their responses are then evaluated together with other information provided by the business school.

FT EIU

What is being • Alumni salaries and career • New career opportunities evaluated? development • Personal development and

• Diversity and international reach of the educational experience business school and MBA program • Salary increase

• Research capabilities of the • Networking potential business school

There are a total of 20 criteria in the Data provided by the above areas, 8 assessed from the business school: 78% alumni survey Data provided by students

and alumni: 22%

Which groups of Full-time alumni who graduated Full-time alumni from the past alumni participate? 3 years ago 3 years + current students Minimum survey 20% of the surveyed class size or 25% of the current class size response required a minimum of 20 responses

PPP adjustment * Yes No

HKUST ranking Not ranked due to lack of alumni 37

in 2007 survey responses Top in Asia and Australasia

'PPP = Purchasing Power Parity. Salaries are PPP adjusted according to the currency reported, giving Mainland programs an advantage over those in Hong Kong.

PR Disaster vs Reality Check

While the HKUST Full-time MBA did not appear in the FT rankings, its absence is not a reflection of program quality. From the FT survey results of HKUST Class of 2003 alumni who did respond this year, 54% were senior managers/executives, 46% received their job offers from their internships and one-third worked in a different country before their MBA. More than 80% had also achieved what they wanted to achieve in taking an MBA in terms of change of career, increased earnings, networking, career progression and international mobility.

Separately, alumni in the Class of 2003 have reported that the HKUST MBA has been instrumental in assisting their recent career progression. "I am sure I would not be where I am today without the HKUST MBA," said Frederick Mutto, recently promoted to Director, Planning & Forecasting at Emerson Electric. "Thanks again, HKUST, for connecting me up with Emerson Electric in the first place. It has definitely paid off!"

Dumbo Cheng, Senior Product Manager at Kimberly-Clark, is equally happy with his progress since taking the MBA. "I really want to thank HKUST for helping me find my job at Harbin Beer Company after my MBA. This took me on to AC Nielsen, Hawley & Hazel, and now to Kimberly-Clark, where I am looking after the South China and Hong Kong market. Without the MBA program, I'm sure my path would not have been so smooth."

Results from an alumni survey conducted by the School in July 2006 also showed that HKUST MBA graduates are proud to be alumni and feel they stand out from their peers. They found their MBA experience helpful to career advancement and would recommend others to join the program.

Moving On

A strong alumni network and close communication with the School are important to ensure HKUST is ranked in the FT MBA league table in the future. Alumni can also help to strengthen the School and boost program development through career support and

experience sharing among alumni, corporate links and job referrals.

Indeed, every effort counts toward building the HKUST MBA brand. The diagram below shows the various ways in which alumni can support and contribute to the School. We look forward to YOU joining one of them (if not more!). For further details and to sign up, please contact the MBA Alumni Office at

[email protected]. \w

How You Can Contribute

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• Mo

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.

• Ex

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• Job

Sharing

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PT Yr 2, basketball and overall championship winners.

.

•

Emma Fung (PT94), table tennis women's singles champion.

Faculty team members (in green) leap into action on the basketball court.

The EMBA team celebrates winning

the tug-of-war championship.

Dennis Hui (PT99), badminton men's singles and doubles champion,

Prof. Stephen Nason prepares for a 3-point shot.

EMBA (KH09) members Eric Lai (left) and Simon Yau (right) in the table tennis men's doubles match.

Alumni Corner

Networking

Power

B

en

no

Jaegg

i

(FT06)

,

previously a project manager

in

the

world

's

second largest cement

company, became Business

Management

,

Assistant

V

i

ce-President, at

international

bank ABN Amro after his HKUST

MBA.

He discusses how networking can open up

job

opportunit

i

es and bui

l

d social bonds

"Networking can take many forms and open different doors.

My current job, for example, developed from a social gathering organized by an MBA classmate rather than structured recruitment. I was introduced to someone who worked at ABN Amro. We had a good discussion on an unrelated topic, and later he gave me his business card. It turned out his department was looking for qualified candidates with the right potential for my current position.

"I had always imagined I would move into strategic planning

back in the corporate sector, not finance. However, the position at ABN Amro sounded interesting and I thought I fitted the requirements. I sent him my CV, he forwarded it,

and I was then given an interview with the person who is now my boss. I only met human resources later.

"During the MBA, I built up bonds with others at HKUST by

arranging social activities. This was a great way to get to know all sorts of people - exchange students, part-timers,

Executive MBA participants, among others. I also attended many events organized by the MBA Career Services Office,

where you can learn about different organizations, and meet people in business circles.

d5

Now

I'm

an alumnus,

I

'm

keen to

keep up my

links with

HKUST and to

help others do the same

9.)

"You don't have to have an outgoing personality to network.

In fact, I have always been a shy person. But the MBA made it much more natural for me to build relationships and interact with others. When meeting people, I always try to interact on a personal rather than a business level, just as you would with friends.

"Now I'm an alumnus, I'm keen to keep up my links with HKUST and to help others do the same. One way I am trying to do this is to bring current MBA students together with alumni in the financial industry to explore the various aspects of the business, to discuss how alumni found their jobs, and to get to know each other.

"The multinational, multicultural nature of the HKUST MBA program offers a great chance to become friends with many different people from many different countries and fields. Participating in or organizing alumni activities or current program events keeps this valuable opportunity open even after you leave." \W

Phoenix note: Benno has joined the 2007-08 MBAAA ExCo as Treasurer. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Outstanding

Recognition

Sea

n Lin (

PT

0

3

)

Senior Inspector Hong Kong Police Force [email protected]

H

e is energetic, always ready to participate, and an active HKUST alumnus. Now Sean Lin's positive presence and work on behalf of others have been recognized on a community-wide basis as one of Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons award-winners in 2006.

"I was honored to be chosen as one of Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons," he said. "This will make me work even harder to inspire others to lead an active, caring life, and to fully participate in society."

Along with his busy working life in the police force, Sean has found the time and energy to contribute further to life in Hong Kong in many different ways. As chairperson of Friends Unlimited, a non-profit-making NGO set up in 1998 to draw more adults into community work, he helps organize business mentoring, English language development for young people, services for the elderly, and special projects for children in need.

In addition, Sean is a dynamic force in HKUST alumni organizations. He is keen to continue his personal development (he has two master's degrees and international certificates in information security) and is kept on the go on the home front by his two young daughters.

Motivating him in all his pursuits is his philosophy of "forwarding my best" to others, his drive for excellence, and passion for life. "Work and studying should not be the only focus. To truly experience life, you need to be prepared to help and make time for other people, not only yourself," he said. "If you set your heart on this course of action, it will certainly be challenging but also extremely rewarding in a personal sense."

\Y1

Sean and family.

Phoenix note: The Ten Outstanding Young Persons award

scheme is organized by Junior Chamber International Hong Kong. For more details, visit httpJltoyp.jcihk.org.

Sean in one of his many roles - as a voluntary business advisor to secondary school students.

Are You a

G

iga-Manager?

King Lee (PT05)

Senior Training Officer

Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation

[email protected]

F

aced with redundancy during a company restructure, how can you turn such a bleak situation into an opportunity for success? This is the scenario examined in

Giga-Manager «Gigmtgl!.A» (Hong Kong Economic

Press, 2006), a fictional tale aimed at middle managers by King Lee.

Inspired by the MBA Management Accounting course book, The

Goal by Eli Goldratt, King's work

focuses on the competencies required for middle management in today's fast-changing business world. The title, Giga-Manager, refers to competent middle managers who can process giga pieces of information at giga-hertz speed.

After winning the Hong Kong Management Association's Outstanding New Trainer award in 2005, King felt he had a mission to share his knowledge and skills with managers across different

industries. After thinking for eight months about the book's content, he completed the first draft, which

runs to 40,000 Chinese

characters, in just one week over Chinese New Year in 2006.

To King, training programs today have to show they add value to a company and provide measurable business results to demonstrate effectiveness. They should offer a global outlook but also address learners' specific needs. For example, in orientation for new staff at the KCRC, he includes an overview of railway best practice worldwide, examines

Phoenix note: King has also contributed articles on corporate training, innovation and mergers to the MBAAA weekly column published by the Hong Kong Economic

Journal (See P25).

the business situation of KCRC, and looks at careers prospects within the corporation. He thus expands the conventional approach to orientation which centers on a company's history and values.

King's goal at work is to devise a methodology to measure the business contribution of management training. He also

A model created in the book Giga-Manager

t:- .

hopes that one day he might launch a consultancy to teach management skills to secondary students. "As a former secondary school teacher, I know many brilliant students lack the interpersonal business skills, such as leadership, self-marketing, influencing others, that assist career development," he said. "Making money is not my objective. The purpose would be to enhance the quality of Hong Kong's future leaders." \w

Task Forces

onShow

T

he various MBAAA Task Forces have been working hard to provide a

wide range of activities over the past year, inspiring a total attendance

of 1,200. Alongside MBAAA traditions, such as Oxfam Trailwalker, Dragon

Boat Racing and the Mini-Olympics, a number of new initiatives have been launched and others extended, as featured in our Task Force highlights below. The MBAAA has also encouraged members to act as business advisors in the company program run by Junior Achievement Hong Kong, demonstrating the MBAAA's commitment to social responsibility and leading to a Caring Organisation logo award from the Hong Kong Council of Social

Service.

Build a School

@

China

M

BAAA representatives Cindy Chu (FT02) and Sean

Lin (PT03), VP Internal Affairs, traveled to Guizhou in January for a three-day site visit to six rural schools. The

schools are in urgent need of renovation in order to give

the children in these remote, mountainous areas an opportunity to study in a safe learning environment. The

purpose of the MBAAA's Build a School @ China

fund-raising project is to:

• Demonstrate your small act of giving can make a BIG difference

• Promote the attitude of "teaching them to fish" instead of just giving money. If you can spare a weekend, you can actually playa part in stopping cross-generational poverty by teaching or sharing your knowledge with these children

• Help young people in Hong Kong, including your own children, to experience another way of life and to learn to treasure what they have.

We have identified two schools which we wish to make our top priority. We can rebuild these schools with a donation of HK$250,000 and matching funds from the local government, helping 500 children. Fund-raising starts in March so stay tuned for details.

.~.il~

caringorganisatioOrf

Awarded by The Hong Kong Council of Social Service

~*itlWiRIi:r~~WiAA~~

Special thanks to our partnering organization U-Hearts (http://www.u-heart.org)

for all the arrangements that made the trip possible.

cont...

The Three

Ps

(and One

R)

of Arran

g

Organizing an alumni forum can take you on a roller-coaster ride of peaks and troughs. Lifelong

i

offers her formula for a stimulating and well-attended event

MBAAA Alumni Forum 2006-07

May 2006 Jul Aug Sep Feb 2007 Mar

Strategic Responses to Talent Management Challenges in Greater China

What Matters Most as a Good Financial Analyst, Management Executive and Chinese Writer iAwareness

The Quest for Oil, Money, Power and Fame

2007 Chief Executive Election Preview: Challenges Hong Kong's New Chief Executive Will Be Facing

Managing a Leading Chinese Financial Daily

Dr. Allen Fung Managing Partner McKinsey & Company HK Tsoi Tong Hoo

Executive Director and CEO Varitronix Limited

Edwina Chiu HADO Instructor Prof. Albert Kwong Founder and President PetroAsian Energy Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee

Chairperson, Board of Governors Savantas Policy Institute Chan King-Cheung Chief Editor

Hong Kong Economic Journal

in

g a Forum

Le

arning task force member Kit Tse (PT04

HKEJ Weekly Column

F

ollowing the Hong Kong Competitiveness Forum

(1f~~.H~j]~.tI), jointly organized by Radio Hong Kong and HKUST Business School in July 2006, a number of MBA alumni from different professions also shared their views on the subject by contributing to a

weekly MBAAA column in the Hong Kong Economic Journal

(1*¥&)

.

Twelve

articles were published in the series, which appeared in the paper's

Economic and Management section on Tuesdays from August to November.

A new series, ~~£.IIl*, began in December focused on general business

management and current social issues. Articles can be found at

www.mbaaa.com.

Many thanks to the following contributors:

Fritz Chen (FT07) Kan Leung (PT05)

YF Cheung (PT05) RudiLeung (PT05)

William Chiu (PT06) Edwin Mok (PT05)

Christer Chow (PT02) Cliff Tse (MTM04)

King Lee (PT05)

If you are interested in joining the writing team, please contact Edwin Mok

at [email protected]

Launch of New Cards

T

hanks to the great commitment of Kelvin Lam (PT05), VP Membership,

and Cammy Leung (PT05), General ExCo Member, the MBAAA's membership cards have been successfully re-Iaunched. Over 800 cards were sent to members in August 2006 and many more have followed the initial batch. These cards mean you can now effectively prove your MBA identity to secure alumni benefits, including buying notebooks on campus. We are working on providing more benefits in the near future.

If you have not yet received your card, please contact [email protected] and update

your correspondence address.

cont...

About the Program

Master of

Science

in Global Finance provides high-performance industry practitioners in the Asia-Pacific

region with specialized finance knowledge and updates them with the latest trends and developments in the

global financial markets.

A uniquely positioned, finance-focused program run by HKUST Business School and NYU Stern School of

Business, both recognized internationally for their achievements in finance research.

What Will You Gain?

Knowledge from senior faculty of two

world-renowned academic institutions

A deeper, global understanding of

finance

-

from corporate finance,

derivative markets to financial

engineering

Who Should Attend?

High-performance financial

professionals based in the

Asia-Pacific region

Minimum 5 years of full-time

working experience

Guest of honor

•

The Hon. Henry Tang,

GBS, JP, Financial Secretary of

the Government of the HKSAR

Keynote speakers

•

Professor Dipak Jain

, Dean, Kellogg School of

Management

•

Dr. The Hon. David Li Kwok-po

, GBS, Jp, Chairman

and Chief Executive, The Bank of East Asia

•

Mr. Daniel Pink

, best-selling author of two

influential business books, Free Agent Nation and A

Whole New Mind, previous White House chief

speechwriter and celebrated American business

columnist

Plenary topics

•

"Straddling Cultural Challenges"

•

"Human Capital Development for Business

in

the

Next Decade"

Concurrent sessions

•

Building a leadership agenda

•

Brand building in Asia Pacific

•

Market outlook for China and India

For more information and to register,

visit

www.kh10th.com

Special reunion activities are planned for Kellogg-HKUST

EMBA alumni throughout the weekend of 25-27 May 2007.

More details are available at

www.kh10th.com

or by

contacting

[email protected]

.

Luncheon Sponsor: Co-Sponsors:

I

Invest

Express

6

¥f1t!:1¥Jner

V

The liong Kong]ockl'yCllIb

t«~~~~

Kellogg-HKU ST

EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAM

Media Sponsor: Supporting Organizations:

THE WALL srRm JOURNAL.

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.

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