Phoenix, 2007 Spring

Abstract

 HKUST Business School Phoenix HKUST MBA Alumni Newsletter 2007 Spring

Contents MBA Footprints in the Pearl River Delta in the Pearl River Delta EMBA in the Spotlight - Leading the Way to Business Success 13 Campus Link - Energizing Hong Kong's Competitiveness - Colorful Start for Business School Central - The Best 'Unranked' Full-time MBA Program 18 In Focus - MBA Mini-Olympics 20 Alumni Corner - Networking Power - Outstanding Recognition - Are You a Giga-Manager? 23 MBAAA - Task Forces on Show News

From the Editor Welcome 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! Kitty Chong (PT03) Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief : Kitty Chong (PT03) Contributing Editor : Sally Course Associate Editor : Fiona Tse Artwork & Design : Bigzip Design Please submit letters, stories or photos to rnbaalurn@ust.hk. To update your correspondence address, please login at www.rnbaaa.com. 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

Cover Story The HKUST Shenzhen part-time MBA was the perfect solution, allowing me to realize both my dreams: joining a world- class organization and obtaining a world-class MBA Michael Zhang (Intake 2002) HKUST launched its part-time Shenzhen program in 2002 after the Shenzhen Municipal Government H 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 (PRD) 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 world-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.

Pioneering in Shenzhen 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. Market niche Several factors help the HKUST MBA program to stand out Similar in content to the Hong Kong part-time MBA, the from its local competitors: first-class international faculty Shenzhen program is structured to offer core Courses and who teach in English; Program quality; and global recognition pre-selected electives taught by HKUST faculty all-day of its degree. Learning the latest international business Saturday classes. The relatively short practices and up-to-the-minute trends distance from Hong Kong and developments is becoming makes it logistically easy increasingly significant for HKUST faculty to understand how to operate in Mainland China professionals i n teach in Shenzhen. Classes are currently so that we will be ready when opportunities Mainland China as held in the Institute of come up in other areas of the country more companies prepare for expansion Education Research Chris Tsang (IER) Building, a joint Associate Director (Postgraduate Programs) Overseas. working for multinational venture between HKUST, Shenzhen Municipal Government and companies in the region also need Peking University. A mini-bus picks UP academics from the UST campus early in the morning and transports them across the border to the IER Building, located in the Tech Industrial Park, Nan Shan District, in time for classes at 9.30 am. 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. Market niche The Shenzhen program allows us to entrepreneurs and 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 b, 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.” MBAAA Guangdong Chapter Organizing Committee together with MBA Program members. 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. Intake 2002 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 skills, boost class diversity, and are likely to and have strong leadership and communication A 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. .. 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, FedEx, 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.

Shenzhen Views Shirley Yang (Intake 2006) Human Resources Director Park'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 ½ years. She is a member of the MBAAA Guangdong Chapter Organizing Committee. 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 importance in future years as competition intensifies Martin Tosh (Intake 2005) further among MBA programs in the region. While HKUST's Shenzhen MBA program has established a Technical Manager Asia and China Representative 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 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 participants a unique way to gain bold and different in the years to come. Shenzhen 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 : szmba@ust.hk : www. bm.ust.hk/szmba a better understanding of the working environment and culture in Mainland China. 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 Joseph Fong (Intake 2005) 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. 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 I Kong. If we have a local chapter, we can increase the connection between the two groups through joint activities. I am looking forward to this very much EMBA in the Spotlight James Brigance (KH06) Vice-President, Asia Pacific Operations FedEx 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 vole includes overseeing company development and 2,700 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 standpoint and a leadership perspective. Good strategies still have to be executed and you need a team that you trust to do this. They must also trust you and your direction. You must then empower them so they can go out and do their job. 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 FedEx. 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. A good leader is willing to adapt his/her views in light of other people’s opinions 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 hid 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. cont ... EMBA in the spotlight 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, 1’11 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 .n the E ;hip upside down when it doesn’t need to be.;7-’ The FedEx Couple James is not the only FedEx high flyer in the Brigance household. His wife Linda is also a long-time FedEx executive and the company’s Chief Information Officer for Asia Pacific. Their days often begin with early calls to the US, followed by long hours in the office, and evenings involving conference calls to the US or Europe. Both also travel extensively. Being in Hong Kong at the same time may not happen as much as we would like, James said. While the couple does often talk about work, they also have a life outside, James said my wife is my best friend and we love to play golf, dive and go hiking but we also enjoy just being at home with each other in addition they have a global family of cats to attend to one each from the US, Hong Kong and Singapore. When we first moved to Hong Kong it was an assignment James said Today Hong Kong is home for us. 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) and Pierre Suen A dynamic forum on “Hong Kong Competitiveness” co-organized by HKUST A 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://publica ffairs.rthk.org hklpa-special1 hkcompetitiveness/. 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) Campus Link Colorful start for Business School Central HKUST Business School Central, the School’s sophisticated H 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, MBMA 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. A cozy environment with a magnificent view of the harbor! - Davis Law (PT96) Superb, customer-oriented service by the staff! One of the most desirable training venues in Hong Kong - Lionel Ma, Principal Consultant LMA Consultancy Service (Corporate Client) Amazing! The design, equipment, and view provide an incomparable atmosphere for learning. A perfect place to relax and socialize too! - Markus Kopetzky (FT Yr 1) Inaugural Speaker Mrs. Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Chairperson of the Savantas Policy Institute 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 MBAM members only) Call 2358-8922 or email central@ust.hk for rate card, booking, and availability, Establish Your Presence In appreciation of the contribution made I 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. Donation of HK$10,000 or above JAEGGI Peter Benno FT06 Donation of HK$15,000 - HK$9,999 CHEUNG Siu Wai Feliciana PT97 MOK Koon Yip Edwin PT05 CHONG Kit Yee Kitty PT03 YUEN Hei Wai Andy FT94 HO Edmund PT94 Class of 1995 HO Ka Chung Kenneth PT95 Class of 2007 (Fl-) MA Ka Yee Karen FT02 Donation of HKS2000 - HKS.999 Donations are on-going, with the accumulated amount recognized. Make your pledge now by contacting the MBA Alumni Office at mbaalumQust.hk or downloading the donation form at www.mbaaa.com. 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 Fr95 MA Hon Kan Terence TSE Chun Ming Raymond WU Ming Kei Eddy YOU Zhen Yu Jerry Class of 1994 Anonymous BRUNET Pascale M CHAN Shuk Ying Amy CHEN Tsun Ni Fritz CHEUNG Ho Man ELLI Marco KOH Yue Yiu Karen LAM Kar Man Kelvin LAW Chun Hung Davis FT96 FT07 PT99 PT98 PT04 PT05 PT96 LAW Yau Kan Francis LIN Sean SO Chiu Mei Nandia TSANG Wing Han Connie WONG Yim Nei Jessica Anonymous Anonymous PT98 Fr94 PT94 SZ04 PTOO PT03 PT04 PTOO PT94 PT98 PT99 The Best 'Unranked' Full-time MBA Program What you might not know and what you need to know It is no news that HKUST's Full-time MBA program did not appear in the 2007 Financial Times (fl) rankings, the first time this has happened since the School began participating in 2000. The non-appearance had nothing to do with quality but was due to a lack of alumni data for the f T 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 from specific years are invited to participate in a survey. Their responses are then evaluated together with other information provided by the business school. Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). In both ranking exercises, full-time program alumni .. . Alumni salaries and career development Diversity and international reach of the New career opportunities educational experience Personal development and program Salary increase Networking potential What is being evaluated? Which groups of alumni participate? Minimum survey response required PPP adjustment * HKUST ranking in 2007 business school There are a total of 20 criteria in the above areas, 8 assessed from the alumni survey Full-time alumni who graduated 3 years ago 20% of the surveyed class size or a minimum of 20 responses Yes Not ranked due to lack of alumni survey responses Data provided by the business school: 78% Data provided by students and alumni: 22% Full-time alumni from the past 3 years + current students 25% of the current class size No 37 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. loving On A strong alumni network and close communication with the School are important to ensure HKUST is ranked in the 17 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 rnbaalum@ust.hk. How You Can Contribute Business School FT and EIU rankings Alumni Advisory Board MBA Alumni Fund Phoenix editorial Brand building- show the program’s quality as HKUST MBA alum Connections with non-local alumni UG mentors Guest speakers for UG courses Admission MBA ambassadors Sharing at info sessions Alumni interview panels Program referrals Career Support / Program Enrichment Mock interviews Experience sharing Job referrals Campus recruitment Corporate links Judges for case competitions MBAAA Sign up as class anchors Join ExCo Help organize events Participate in alumni activities.

MBA Mini-Olympics October 14, 2006 Basketball overall championship winners Emma Fung (PT94) Faculty team members (in green) Basketball court Dennis Hui(PT99), badminton men’s single and doubles champion, squash champion. In Focus Table tennis women’s singles champion faculty

Prof. Stephen Nason prepares for a 3-point shot. EMBA (HK09) members Eric Lai and Simon Yau in the table tennis men’s doubles match.

Alumni Corner Networking Power

Benno Jaeggi (FT06) (middle) at the MBA Residential Program. Networking Power enno Jaeggi (FT06), previously a project manager in the world’s second largest cement B company, became Business Management, Assistant Vice-president, at international bank ABN Amro after his HKUST MBA. He discusses how networking can open up job opportunities and build 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. Now I’m an alumnus, I’m keen to keep up my links with HKUST and to help others do the same “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.“ Phoenix note: Benno has joined the 2007-08 MBAAA ExCo as Treasurer: He can be contacted at benno.jaeggi@gmail.com.

Outstanding Recognition Sean Lin (PT03) Senior Inspector Hong Kong Police Force sean.lin@alumni.List.hk He is energetic, always ready to participate, and an H active HKUST alumnus. Now Sean Link 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.' Sean and family.

Phoenix note: The Ten Outstanding Young Persons award scheme is organized by Junior Chamber International Hong Kong. For more details, visit http:lltoyp.jcihk.org. Sean in one of his many roles - as a voluntary business advisor to secondary school students. I

Alumni Corner Are you a Giga-Manager King Lee (PT05) Senior Training Officer Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation kingleeben@yahoo.com. h k Faced 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 <<Gig >> (Hong Kong Economic Press, 2006), a fictional tale aimed at middle managers by 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 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 t o 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 Y King's goal at work is to devise a methodology to measure the business contribution of management training. He also 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.' A model created in the book Giga-Manager 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).

Task Forces on Show The various MBAAA Task Forces have been working hard to provide a T 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. 2006/07 caringorganisation Build a School @ China BAAA representatives Cindy Chu (FT02) and Sean M 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 play a 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. cont.. . Special thanks to our partnering organization U-Hearts (http://www.u-heart.org) for all the arrangements that made the trip possible. 23

The Three Ps (and One R) of Arranging a Forum MBAAA Alumni Forum 2006-07 May 2006 Strategic Responses to Talent Dr. Allen Fung Management Challenges in Managing Partner Greater China McKinsey & Company HK

What Matters Most as a Good Financial Analyst, Management Executive and Chinese Writer Tsoi Tong Hoo Executive Director and CEO Varitronix Limited Aug iAwareness Edwina Chiu HADO Instructor Sep The Quest for Oil, Money, Prof. Albert Kwong Founder and President PetroAsian Energy Power and Fame Feb 2007 2007 Chief Executive Election Preview: Challenges Hong Kong's New Chief Executive Will Be Facing Financial Daily Chief Editor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee Chairperson, Board of Governors Savantas Policy Institute Mar Managing a Leading Chinese Chan King-Cheung Hong Kong Economic Journal The six MBAAA forums drew over 200 participants, including alumni from the Class of 1994 to Class of 2006, current students and guests. 24 Learning task force member Kit Tse (PT04 HKEJ Weekly Column Following the Hong Kong Competitiveness Forum Forum, 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. 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, 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) Rudi Leung (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 edwin.mokQalumni.ust.hk Launch of New Cards Thanks 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-launched. 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 mbaaa@ust.hk and update your correspondence address. cont ... Performance I hosted two 2006 forums and prepared myself with extensive background research on the speakers, before the forum began, I outlined the discussion parameters with the speaker and had a set of back –up questions ready in case the audience was too shy to ask any A rapport between speaker and participants is a performance indicator. However, interactive dialogue also means control of airtime will be required.

Review Feedback and review are essential for continuous improvement We looked at the attendance rate, percentage of no-shows and distribution of alumni participation from various years. If a forum had proved difficult to sell we also reviewed the topic timing pricing, and venue to try to identify reasons. Seeing new faces at events always made me particularly happy as it meant we were succeeding in bringing together a wider group of alumni.

Reflections on an Eventful Year

Master of Science in Global Finance HKUST Business School NYU Stern New york University Leonard N. Stern School of business 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? I Who Should Attend? Kellogg-HKUST EMBA Program 10th Anniversary Management Conference Moving Forward in the next Decade JW Marriott Hotel Saturday 26 May 2007 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 50 % discount for MBA and EMBA alumni of HKUST Business School For more information and to register, visit www. khlOth.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 emba@ust.hk.

Kellogg-HKUST EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAM Luncheon Sponsor: Co-Sponsors: Media Sponsor: Supporting Organizations: Within a decade of its inception in 1998 the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Has grown from an innovative idea to a global success. IN the latest Financial Times annual rankings, the program was ranked as no. 3 in the world hand it has been placed in the top 10 by the Financial Times since 2003. The Economist has described it as the world’s most successful EMBA partnership program A Management Conference will be held on 26 May at the JW Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong as a tribute to the on-going support of the Kellogg School of Management Northwestern University and the HKUST Business School Entitled Moving Forward in the next Decade the conference will feature internationally and regionally prominent speaker who will share their insights into issues that will help to prepare participants for the decade ahead.

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