What was your background prior to joining the HKU MBA Programme?
I have a wealth of experience working in consumer tech, having been in the industry for more than a decade. Today, I am head of Global PR Media Relations for leading smartphone brand, HONOR. After graduating in Finance & Economics and completing my Master Degree in Computer Management, I started my career as a system engineer with IBM before becoming an Android developer at Motorola and then moving into marketing at Huawei. My passion for telecommunication and marketing took me to the world’s hardware capital, Shenzhen, in 2016 while working for OnePlus. I travelled to 49 countries, lived in 8 different cities, and worked in 15 other markets. With 4 years of engineering experience and 9 years of marketing & communications experience, I champion diversity and inclusion at HONOR HQ and HKU. I have been a core member in setting up the biggest Android community globally and worked closely with Google in setting up Women in Tech in India. My passion for diversity & inclusion and sustainability led me to become one of the founding members of the HKU-MBA ESG Club.

Why did you choose HKU MBA?
It might sound crazy to some, but studying for an MBA during the pandemic has been the best decision of my life so far. I wanted to continue thriving in my job while engaging in the MBA Programme during the weekend, and HKU MBA had the perfect Programme for me to do this. It didn’t require a lot of soul searching, mainly because HKU had always been a dream of mine – not only the Programme but also the institution.
It is a business school where teamwork and effort are at the forefront throughout the MBA Programme and I am extremely glad that I am currently pursuing my part-time MBA at HKU. This is not just the next phase in my life – it is a milestone for me. Although balancing a full-time job with business school is intimidating, I know it will prepare me to tackle ever-evolving risks and challenges that businesses face in this pandemic. An MBA will perfectly complement my graduate degree in computer management and polish my skills in marketing & PR.

What are your expectations of studying for an MBA?
This journey is essential for me; it will be much more than gaining management skills. For me, it’s about understanding big data to make critical business decisions, picking up skills in finance, consulting, data analytics, business sustainability, and finding my confidence in leading through times of uncertainty and crisis. I see very few women of colour in leadership positions at tech firms; I want to change that and pave the path for many other women in tech. Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I wish to bring in the change that I want to see in the world with my MBA education.

How is your experience so far?
After completing 6 months and 5 courses of my MBA, I feel I have evolved substantially over this short period of time – both professionally and personally. I understand and value working in a team more than ever. I loved being a top performer, but now, I function as a team and make the right decisions that will make us win by inculcating a growth mindset. My class is diverse and filled with talented and inspiring classmates from all walks of life and professions and I get to learn a lot from each of them. I have acquired a lot of new knowledge through the different courses, group assignments and examinations. I am looking forward to an even more exciting period as we start new electives very soon.