Samson Poon

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Alumni Experience

I was not only obtaining academic knowledge from HKU MBA classes, but also expanding my human network and creating friendships that would have positive impacts on my ongoing journey
Batch Year
2014
Nationality
Hong Kong

Student Story

  • What motivated you to choose HKU MBA amongst others?

HKU is the most prestigious university in Hong Kong, withover a hundred years of history and a vast alumni network. Being a top tier higher education institution in the region gave me confidence that HKU was not only home to communities of scholars and students from around the world, but also provideda world-class curriculum that I believed to be the best in Hong Kong. Hong Kong University’sPart-time MBA was therefore the best platform for me, when looking to enhance my knowledge and capabilities, particularly after several years of working. It would give me the competitive edge I was looking for.

  • How was your overall experience of HKU MBA?

In those two years of being a part-time student, it was a tough time for me initially. Spending over 8 hours sitting in a classroom every Saturday was not easy, so many years after having completed my undergraduate. In addition, there were a lot of team discussions and group work that took place after classes, as well as in the week and sometimes even holidays. However, these have become memories that bring me a lot of joy and I now consider to be some of the best moments in my life. I was not only obtaining academic knowledge from MBA classes, but also expanding my human network and creating friendships that would have positive impacts on my ongoing journey.

I graduated 6 years ago (class of 2014) and still have close contact with classmates. We will occasionally exchange experiences and ideas from our current jobs or life experiences. I hope this meaningful life-long relationship will be maintained.

  • What did you find most useful through-out your experience? 

I enjoyed lots of events that the MBA office organised for us, particularly the alumni events and talks by professionals. The one that impressed me most was an alumni gathering held in Luke Yew Hall inside the HKU main building. We met a lot of alumni from previous years, as well as professors and friends. It reinforced the bond of MBA alumni networks and the sense of belonging to HKU. In addition, the leadership talks and specific topics by professionals are very helpful.. They gave up-to-date knowledge from many markets and industries. Perhaps the alumni office could organise more leisure clubs that involve alumni participating together, such as a Dragon Boat team etc?

  • A lot of MBA aspirants may be hesitant on the workload of both working and studying, how did you manage your time to do both?

It’s not easy to balance your time between working and studying, but when I decided to study part-time, I had my family’s support. They understood that my spare time would be spent studying in those 2 years. Don’t overestimate yourself on time management, thinking that you can manage your normal weekend activities together with MBA classes, otherwise you will not do well on both sides. In terms of daily work, I assessed my workload before pursuing my MBA to ensure the class workload would not impact my responsibilities and vice versa. In other words, prioritisation of MBA classes and workload is important if you want to obtain what you expect to achieve from the HKU MBA.

  • Are there any insights or work advice you can provide to our students who are looking to do a part-time MBA?

MBA classes are different from any professional masters degree. It helps you become more agile and flexible in building your life and career. Do not expect the MBA to change oneself and provide you professional knowledge in particular. However, it will subject you to what you want to be and allow you to explore opportunities and evolve your thoughts, inspired by professors, classmates and the alumni network. Most importantly, though, enjoy every moment of your 2 years. It will be one of the most fruitful journeys of your life and deeply influence you going forward.

Industry: Financial Services
Company: UBS
Job Title: Portfolio Execution Project Manager, Wealth Management