Hometown: Hong Kong/ San Francisco, U.S.A

Education Background: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies

Pre-MBA Career Background: Human Resources Tech Solutions Sales

About Me: A motivated disciplined individual who enjoys working in fast-paced settings and a desire to connect with others

My Biggest Career Accomplishment

When I first started at my company, my role was fully in-person, where we handled the entire sales cycle from the first meeting to fully onboarding a new client. After six months of hands-on training on the last week, the shelter-in-place order started. What we thought would be a two-week virtual setting turned into two years. I had to relearn the job from scratch with minimal direction, as this was a new environment for everyone. Transitioning from daily human interactions to only being able to do outreach virtually made the role very challenging, and I eventually missed my promotion mark. The market was tough, and overall, our overall clientele had significantly decreased due to businesses closing.

It was challenging to unlearn what we had been coached on and introduce new methods to an established sales methodology. However, I trusted my mentor and manager’s feedback to try unique selling strategies and found creative ways to increase my clientele by utilizing my existing network. The experience taught me the importance of adaptability and resilience. After a year, I was able to achieve phenomenal results and was referred to a new business unit to work with larger sized clients. Last year, I achieved my highest sales quota record, generating almost half a million-dollar in revenue for the company, ranking third in my division and qualifying for an all-expenses paid trip to Puerto Rico to celebrate this milestone.

Aspirations for Pursuing an MBA

I have spent the past five years in the tech sales industry, where I developed a keen interest in business strategy. Now, as I embark on my MBA journey, I aim to enhance my technical business knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of the Asia market. My ultimate goal is to leverage this education and experience to become a strong business leader who can make a significant impact in my field. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and explore career opportunities in both the consulting and finance fields. The desire for change, coupled with my constant drive to challenge myself with new exposure, has motivated me to pursue an MBA.

Why HKU MBA

I decided to pursue an MBA at HKU for several reasons that align with my career aspirations. One of my non-negotiables was having an exchange semester, as it was one of my most crucial experiences during undergraduate studies, where I spent four months in London.

I first explored this programme as my dad is a part-time MBA alumni class of 1996, and he has shared many stories of his memorable journey. HKU’s reputation as the best-ranked MBA programme in Asia, along with access to a myriad of resources, intrigued me. The partnership with leading institutions also enhances our network and job opportunities in a different country. As I am interested in exploring my options both in Hong Kong and the United States, I was delighted to see CBS as an option.

Since I am open to many different job roles and industries, I liked that the elective selections offer flexibility, allowing me to choose courses that align with my interests. This enables me to explore various career paths and gain valuable knowledge rather than being confined to a single focus. Finally, the diversity of the student body enriches the learning both inside and outside the classroom, as I will engage with peers from various backgrounds, bringing unique perspectives and insights to our discussions.

Advice for Prospective Candidates

Attend as many networking events as you can to learn about the range of MBA programmes available, ensuring you find the one that feels like the right fit. Speak to alumni of the programmes you are interested in to gain more personal perspectives. Your community while pursuing this journey is everything, so make sure you take the time to learn more about your yourself and what you truly what out of this experience.