Phoenix, 2008 Spring

Abstract

HKUST BUSINESS SCHOOL Phoenix HKUST MBA Alumni Newsletter 2008 Spring Women in the 21st Century Contents From the Editor Cover Story Women in the 21st Century School News What Makes a Corporate Leader Today Heading for the World’s top 10 Building the Future Alumni corner The Perfect Shot Are you on facebook A honeymoon Trip for 16 Graduation The World is your Stage MBAAA Guangdong Chapter Celebrates Launch Family Fun at Mini-O Trailwalker Crisis Management Class Notes

From the Editor

Kung Hei Fat Choi! May you and your family have good talented circle of people and friendships that will last a lifetime. health and wealth in the Year of Rat! PT07 knew that when the class cemented ties at its Graduation Dinner (P20). Participants at the Mini- The start of a new year is often a time f Olympics knew that as they enjoyed sports reflecting on life past, present and future. and family fun with 200-plus other In this issue of Phoenix, o members of the MBA community Story focuses on three high-flying (P23). We all knew that when the part-time MBA alumnae, who MBA program was ranked No.1 share their individual stories and in Asia by the Economist shed light on the choices Intelligence Unit (P12). facing 21st century women in relation to career, children Special thanks to those who and family responsibilities. responded to the recent They also explain the Phoenix Readers' Survey. decisions that have steered Some of the ideas put them on their respective forward have been paths. incorporated in this issue, with more changes to come. Yes, it's all about choices! Class Notes (P25) is one of How about a honeymoon trip the new additions suggested. to Europe with 14 other This snippets section enables classmates and friends? Two alumni to keep classmates and newly-wed members of PT03 class other readers up to date with their decided to do it (P18)! Are you on latest news and enhances Phoenix's Facebook? There is an exciting MBA role as a community builder. But it will need alumni community in this part of the cyber world if you choose to join (P16). Keep the ideas coming and, when it comes to reading, make One right choice that we all made was to take the HKUST Phoenix is one of your top choices. MBA program. In doing so, we have gained entry to a highly 4 Kitty Chong (PT03) Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief : Kitty Chong Contributing Editor : Sally Course Associate Editor : Renee Cheng Reporters : Sushma Srinivas (FT Yr 1) Editorial Assistants : Jennifer Fok, Heidi O : Kalvin Zhang (FT Yr 1) Artwork & Design : Bigzip Design Please submit letters, stories or photos to phoenix.mba@ust.hk. To update your correspondence address, please login at www.mbaaa.com.

Cover Story Women in the 21st Century

What are the challenges and choices women face today as they seek to reconcile their career aspirations with relationship and family goals? Phoenix asks three MBA alumnae for their views Phoenix a - Mabel Mabel Lau (PT95) Managing Director LGT investment Management (Asia) Ltd Has being a woman ever hindered your career? I haven't found it harder as a woman at junior and management levels. Perhaps it depends on your character. When I was working 20 hours a day at HSBC, I thought it was fun as I had so many things to learn. I traveled to many places and met many people. It might be true at the top-tier boardroom (cigar- Mable graduated from the London School of Economics with a BSc (Econ) Statistics smokers') level, but I can't comment as I haven't been there. She I think it is more essential to consider yourself part of the worked at HSBC for 10 years and is a former group, to work hard, and to regard oneself as a capable human executive director of UBS. She joined LGT in 2006. rather than a man or a woman. Sexual differences have sometimes been used as an excuse for not trying hard enough. What are the advantages/disadvantages of being a woman in the business world? I have never emphasized my gender at any time in my career. However, I feel women tend to be better at marketing due to their, generally, more patient nature and attention to detail. We are more thoughtful regarding other people's needs and usually handle tedious enquiries better than men. Geography also makes a difference. I am glad to have chosen Hong Kong as a base for the past two decades where equality has been evident, at least in the financial industry. How do you balance your personal life and work? The most important factor for women is their biological clock. So you need to make a decision about whether to have a family early on. I decided that I would not have kids after my first month as a trader. If you want to go into investment banking long term, you do need to plan carefully, as a woman, as it is very demanding. I also have my own, clearly defined I guidelines. My parents are my highest priority - you should never forget your roots and my mother and father provided me with the fundamentals to become what I am today - with my health and friends following closely behind. Work comes next. My philosophy is: never regret what you have done, never do what you would regret! How do you think you have been able to rise so far in your career? Neither of my parents finished secondary school but both taught me the essentials for survival from an early age - to depend on oneself, be responsible, and not to blame anyone else for your life. What is your family background? My mother was a domestic helper, my father a construction worker and we initially lived in a 100 sq foot government flat in Kowloon City. When I was 11, we moved to the UK where my parents started a food manufacturing business and my brother and I joined a comprehensive school in the rougher part of Manchester. Most of my class of 30 did not finish five years at secondary school, with many getting into trouble (either with the law or falling pregnant). No student was expected to go to university. What made you different? I had to help my parents with factory work as well as go to school. This was very tiring and it made me determined to gain a degree in order to have a life of my own. I took 0-level mathematics at the equivalent of Form 3 but I had to wait until I was 18 to go to the London School of Economics (LSE) as my school did not have resources to give me extra classes. How did you choose your career? I always liked Hong Kong and wanted to return after graduation, despite being offered a postgraduate scholarship and opportunities to work in top banks and actuary firms in the UK. When I came back, I went for an interview with HSBC. They said it would take six to eight weeks to complete the process. I had to ask if they could speed things up as I didn't have enough money to last that long without a job! Luckily, they came back within two weeks and offered me a treasury trainee post. My career path was set from then on. Do you see yourself as a feminist? No. I believe everyone should try their best to do their best. I have never identified myself too strongly as a female worker but simply one of the group. When I select candidates, I decide on the basis of ASK (attitude, skill and knowledge), as a lazy team member is useless regardless of gender. How would you sum up your approach to life? My philosophy is: never regret what you have done, never do what you would regret! Mabel takes her parents and five-year-old nephew to Bordeaux, France, for a summer holiday. cont Ida Lee (PT01) Principal Assistant Secretary (Communications and Technology), Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, HKSAR Government Ida graduated from CUHK with a BBA. She spent eight years at Hong Kong Toy Centre where she held posts of export sales executive, China Trade Department manager and deputy general manager of Playwell Kids. She worked at In-Q-Beta Holding Company as a business consultant before joining the HKSAR Government five years ago. Phoenix Ida Have you ever felt being a woman has restricted your career? Not really but of course, how other people view you is a different story. I think Hong Kong is quite an equal opportunity society with little discrimination for women in either the commercial or government sector. There may be some differences in the roles women play in business but as an administrative officer in the government, people are generalists and there is no gender distinction in the policy bureaus you rotate to in your work. How has your upbringing influenced your career expectations as a woman? I come from a grassroots family. My father was a hospital well as a daughter.' He meant I would need to make my own way in the world, not rely on getting married as traditional families expected daughters to do. In your first job, you were involved in China trade, which is often regarded as difficult for a woman. Why did you do this? I like challenges -the more difficult the more I am interested! After I got my bachelor degree in early 1990s, I joined a listed toy company and was later offered an opportunity to start up its China division. I was not initially the preferred candidate as a male was considered more suitable. But at that time the male candidates did not want to take the risk as it was a worker and my mother a machinist so there wasn't a lot of completely new area. Some also didn't speak Putonghua. I family time. My younger sister and I learnt early on to depend had taken courses at CUHK and spoke the language fluently. on ourselves. My father always said to me: 'You are a son as That's why I was finally picked. Finding a partner is not about external qualifications. It is about meeting someone with whom you can really communicate

How did you handle business relationships in Mainland China? Rather than station Hong Kong people in the Mainland, I would hire local people - all men! - to manage the office and meet clients. Being a woman was actually a plus. I sometimes needed to go drinking to strengthen business relationships. Socializing meant I would be regarded as a friend and it helped to complete business deals. However, as a woman, I was able to excuse myself after one or two glasses. I was also given Is it harder for well qualified career women in Hong Kong to find a partner? It depends on how the individual thinks. If you are always looking for a richer, cleverer man and pay too much attention to surface things, this may be true. Many women now have good jobs and qualifications and are on a par with men. But finding a partner is not about external qualifications. It is about meeting someone with whom you can really communicate. respect as one of the few women selected to explore the China market at that time. By the time I left that role, we had set up A- 12 offices in the Mainland with an extensive retail and wholesale network. Why did you switch to the government? I left the toy company to set up a consultancy , with a partner. The business helped start-up companies to package their ideas and sell them to venture capitalists. It was during the internet boom so this was something A new and challenging at that time. Then the dot.com crash occurred. It also happened that the Hong Kong government was holding its first open recruitment for senior administrative officers. I knew the selection process would be tough but that was one of cont. .. I the major reasons I wanted to give it a try. Inspiring the Next Generation Mabel and Ida shared their experiences as women in business with HKUST undergraduates at a seminar for the Global Business Program (GBUS) in November, the discussion was one in a series aimed at connecting those on the program with the working world. The event was enjoyed by both interviewees and interviewers, with questions ranging from whether the women had experienced sexual discrimination at work to advice for those starting their career. Karen Lee, Director of Sun Hing Group of Companies and a former investment banker, also took part. Isabelle Fairless GBUS UG Student What is your own situation with regard to I am 38 and single. But I have found the person with whom I want to share the rest of my life and eventually we will get married. We met through Oxfam Trailwalker, the annual charity event that involves walking or running the 100-kilometer MacLehose Trail in the New Territories. We were not part of the same team but we both belong to the Cosmoboys group. There are some core values involved in competing in Trailwalker which means that people who are attracted to this kind of activity will not only share interest in the event but also share beliefs and have a similar mentality. This makes it easier for Ida and her Cosmoboys teammate at the North East Mountain Marathon 2007 where they won the championship. What about kids? If you had asked me two or three years ago if I would have children, I would have said definitely Not, Now I won’t rule it out. But I don’t see myself giving up my job. I feel you need to stay within society as a whole in order not to have a generation gap with your children in the future. Record-breaking Success Ida was the only woman in her Trailwalker team in 2007 , completing the trail in 14 hours and 9 minutes, This makes her the fastest female to finish the event in Trailwalker history. The team also gained two awards, Trailwalker Champion and Mixed Team Champion, breaking the record in both categories. Dorothy Lai (PT03) Stay-at-Home Mom Dorothy graduated from UCLA with a BS and MS in Electrical engineering. She worked as an application engineer at NEC Electronics, a product marketing engineer at Samsung Electronics and a principal analyst at Gartner before becoming a full-time mother Two years ago, Dorothy Lai gave birth to her first child, an event that ''You what...?'' is the reaction I often receive when I tell those who knew me as a career woman that I have left my job to become a full-time mother,' Dorothy said. 'And when those who know me as a professional mother find out I have a Master's degree and an MBA, they often say: 'What a waste! How could you give up your job just like that?' My reply is: 'No one dislikes money. But there are some things that are even more valuable. To me, spending time with my children is one of them.'' Career switch Making the decision to swap a high-powered business career for nappies and lullabies wasn't easy for Dorothy. She loved the challenges of her job as a principal analyst at Gartner, an IT market research company. At the same time she felt strongly that full-time parenting during a child's early years was high important.

'My job at Gartner was the most interesting paid job I had had. I devoted much time and energy to it, often taking work home and going on business trips. This was my life for five years. Then one day, I asked myself: 'Is this the way I want to live for the rest of my life? Is there something missing?' I knew the answer. But I did not know if I had the courage to change.' In the end, after realizing she could not juggle home and work and be her best at both, she found she did have the courage. She now has her hands full every minute of the day with twoyear- old Gabriel and her younger son Theodore. 'Even though my salary has been cut significantly, the working hours are longer, and my 'clients' sometimes become strange animals, I love what I do. I am there for my kids' first smiles, first words, first steps and all their funny ways. Nothing in the working world can compare with those moments. More importantly, I ani there to teach them about life.' While it was Dorothy's own decision to stop working, her husband has given her 100% support emotionally and practically. Although it has meant some economizing, both felt they would be able to manage on a single income and were prepared to do so. Professional mother Dorothy prefers to call herself a professional mother as she applies the same zeal, passion and perfectionism to the role as she did in her previous jobs. She believes that her strong educational background has taught her critical life skills that she is putting to good use in raising her children. 'One MBA class that has been useful in connection with my current responsibilities is 'Negotiation' from the Marketing Department. I constantly have to negotiate with my elder kid over what can be done and what can't and he seems to understand what my bottom line is most of the time. We both want to reach a win-win situation. I don't want to have a child that is constantly crying.' Dorothy also uses the analytical skills she has built up through her studies to do extensive research on childcare and related subjects. As she is the primary care-giver, her husband is also willing to accept her decisions on child-care matters, she said. 'You may wonder if I regret studying so much if I have ended up becoming a full-time mother. The answer is no. My studies have trained me to be more analytical which is important even when raising a child. I do lots of research, develop my own theories and, most importantly, I don't simply follow tradition. It is like doing postgraduate research with live samples!' d Among the conclusions she has come to, as a result of her research so far, is that in i children's formative years it is important to discipline in moderation but not to overindulge them. Job challenges and benefits The transition from career woman to full-time mom does involve sacrifice, Dorothy said. This not only involves your immediate career progression but also lifestyle adjustments to accommodate the heavy physical and emotional demands of bringing Dorothy Day December 2007 children full time. She sticks to a tight daily schedule, just as in her previous jobs. However, working hours now extend from early morning to midnight - and she is constantly on call at night too. Despite this, the rewards make it worthwhile, she said. 'The joy of raising well-adjusted, well-disciplined 5 children far outweighs the challenges and can make this a very rewarding phase of your life. Dorothy plans to return to the workplace, although the timeframe will depend on her children's progress and when she feels they can manage without her - full-time supervision. To prepare herself to re-enter the fast-changing business world, she intends to take further courses but for now raising her children demands all her time and attention. 'Many women in Hong Kong face the dilemma of wanting to have children but not being able to afford to stop working. If there was more support within the society, for example, flexible working hours, it might be easier to combine both roles,' Dorothy said. 'A 'professional mother' often gets fewer credits than she deserves, but I believe she strives to do her best just as she would in an office.' No one dislikes money. but there are some things that are even more valuable. To me, spending time with my children is one of them Dorothy has a full-time helper who assists with household chores only, not childcare. What Makes a Corporate Leader Today In the past, the primary goal of business was to maximize profits for stakeholders. Today, according to Mr. Ron McEachern, President, Asia for PepsiCo International, a leader should be able to apply sound management practice to help a company to achieve human sustainability, environmental sustainability and talent sustainability as well as profits. Mr. McEachern shared his views at the 3rd Annual conference of the Association of Asia Pacific Business Schools (AAPBS) hosted by HKUST in November. AAPBS seeks to provide leadership and representation to advance the quality of business and management education in Asia Pacific. In the Dean’s Panel session to gather insights from industry leaders on how companies and business schools can work together to develop human capital, Mr. McEachern noted the three additional goals now required for corporate leaders involved the following. Human sustainability: A company needs innovative and creative business models with cross- cultural and cross-functional flexibility to meet unexpected needs in different cultural contexts, it needs to manage and make good business decisions by collaborating and influencing through communication among the team, Knowing the theory and technical knowledge is not enough. The human element always needs to be taken int6o account so that you are taking others with you. Environmental Sustainability Corporate social responsibility is essential. For example water and energy resources should be conserved in business operations Companies should work closely with regulators and relevant outside experts when developing products. A business should also have a positive impact on the community by addressing social needs.

Talent Sustainability: A talent war is underway in the corporate world. A work-life balance, talent management/retention, continuous learning/ development for employees, and succession planning are all important to keep a business moving forward.

Employer Expectations Self-awareness Global thinking Effective communication Self-accountability for performance Ability to speak languages./understand local markets Curiosity and life-long learning/ mentoring junior colleagues Sensitivity to political, social and environmental changes. Ability to understand business issues and processes Ethical awareness / Commitment to society Courage to accept failure Cross-cultural sensitivity Self-initiative Sources: Managing Student and Employer Expectations.. Presentation by Prof Ainin Sulaiman, University of Malaya, 3rd AAPBS Conference. MBA Alumni Advisory Board respondents Ideal Recruiter’s portfolio ” MBA program curriculum survey July 2007

To link the academic and corporate worlds , Mr. McEachern plans to form stronger partnerships

between PepsiCo and other business schools in the region, providing internship opportunities, scholarships, and business projects/ case studies. Involving business leaders in curriculum development and inviting them to give guest lectures are also effective ways to improve program quality, he said.

Other issues examined at the conference included innovations in MBA curricula, academic research in an industrial setting, and how business schools contribute to social harmony and promote corporate social responsibility.

Phoenix note: Mr Ron McEachern will join HKUST as an Adjunct Professor in Spring 2008. He will discuss how PepsiCo addresses the growing pressures for corporate social responsibility and give a practical roadmap for general managers introducing a brand in Mainland China.

School News Heading for the World’s Top 10 HKUST Business School hit the headlines twice in two months in the autumn, In September the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked the HKUST MBA as the top MBA program in Asia In October. The financial Times global EMBA league table saw the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA program become the world’s No.1 What’s next The School’s achievements in these rankings are a reflection of the hard work of faculty, staff and students, as well as the support and success of alumni from these programs. In assessing schools, the EIU and Financial Times invite alumni from recent years to respond to surveys on their educational experience during the program as well as their career progression, salary increases and personal development before and after the program. These responses contribute a significant percentage of a school’s rankings in both league tables. The next step, according to Acting Dean Leonard Cheng, is to take HKUST Business School into the world’s top 10 in the next decade, advancing Hong Kong’s goal to become Asia’s education hub. To do this various plans are underway.

The University’s reception to celebrate its EMBA ranking success was held at the Four Seasons Hotel on December 11. The event was hosted by Dr. John Chan. HKUST Council Chairman, and HKUST President Prof. Paul Chu. Hong Kong Chief Executive Mr. Donald Tsang. Secretary for Finance Services and the Treasury Prof. K C. Chan. Secretary for Education Mr. Michael Suen, Former HKUST council Chairman Dr. Vincent Lo and Donor of the HKUST Lee Shau Kee Campus, Dr, the Honorable Lee shau kee were the guests of honor some 400 people attended including corporate and student representatives, alumni, faculty members and School administrators.

A joint effort by the School, companies and alumni is essential to keep the MBA program up to date and to drive it into a higher orbit. A world-class MBA program is indispensable for the School to become one of the world's Top 10 - Acting Dean Leonard Cheng Business Case Development Center Building on the strength of its research capabilities and international reputation, the School will establish a Business Case Development Center to produce case studies involving family business, globalization and cross-cultural issues, especially in an Asian context. More relevant teaching materials about Greater China are in great demand, and faculty members will be encouraged to collaborate with corporate leaders to develop cases to teach students how to deal with the increasingly complex challenges of the business world. 'We aim to produce quality cases which will be widely used by other schools around the world to enhance the understanding of Asian business,' Acting Dean Cheng said. Collaboration with industry Close contact with companies and institutions is highly important to gain insights for future program design, to enhance graduates' prospects locally and globally, and to help to create a stand-out program that attracts the best of the best. MBA Program Director Prof. Steve DeKrey, who has recently been elected 2008 Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said: 'Guest lectures by industry practitioners allow an exchange of views through interactive sharing. Forging strong links with the corporate world is critical to the success of the Business School and internship opportunities. Such ties are especially valuable in providing real-world examples for case studies and project classes.' Alumni bridge . The HKUST MBA alumni community comprises talented people at different levels across different industries and across the world, providing a crucial bridge between the School and business sector. By sharing their business insights, knowledge and experience, alumni can assist in driving the HKUST MBA program forward. In turn they will feel additional pride to be alumni of a globally elite program. One link is provided by MBA Alumni Advisory Board members who have formed a number of committees to aid the School in the admission process and curriculum development and to provide career support for alumni and students. Some board members serve as interview panelists helping to select the best and brightest alumni-to-be. Those who are experts in their profession share the latest business trends in their respective fields with other alumni and students. Other alumni connect the corporate world to the School by becoming recruiters of HKUST MBAs and looking for employees through giving campus talks. Alumni volunteers who serve as mock interviewers also provide pertinent feedback and a reality check on their particular field for current students, which can increase the latter's chances of success for future job placement. Building the Future Plans for the Lee Shau kee (LSK)Business Building are moving forward. The building, due to open in 2011, will provide better infrastructure for quality programs. MBA Director Prof. Steve Dekrey has been appointed chairman of the business School Building committee, which collects feedback from the users to assist the architectural design process. Construction will start in October 2008. The site will be called the Lee Shau Kee Campus comprising the Institute of Advanced Study, LSK Business Building residential buildings as well as catering services. Alumni Gift Heartiest thanks to the following people who made donations to the MBA Alumni Fund from September 18, 2007 - January 15, 2008. Anonymous CLASS of 1996 PAASCH Carsten FT04 SCHAFFNER Thomas FT06 CHOl Ping Ah Wilfred PT94 LEE Bik Sai Ida PT01 NG Chik Sum Jackson PT95 TSANG Chi Chiu Jason PT00 Donation of HK$l,000 - HK$1,999 LAW Chun Hung Davis PT96 NG Man Chung Thomas PT98 TSANG Wing Han Connie PT00 To make your pledge, please download the form from www.mbaalum.ust.hk or contact mbaalum@ust.hk. Individual donors who contribute an accumulated amount of HK$5,000 or above can have their names listed on the glass door of the MBA Alumni Conference Room at Business School Central. The Perfect Shot By Christian Gasplmayr (FT07) gaspl@gmx.net June 2007 and my knees were knocking. I was standing at the first tee of the renowned Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland. About 100 people were watching me. The pressure grew. I had been playing golf for 15 years. Now I needed the perfect shot to prove why I was there, competing in an international tournament on that historic golf course. By then, I had finished most of my MBA classes at HKUST. It had proved to be a tough program - in line with being the best MBA in Asia. The MBA had also offered a range of opportunities that I never imagined when I applied. One was the wonderful chance to participate in the Boyd Quaich Memorial Golf Tournament at St Andrews. This is a global contest for university students in which two male players per university with a handicap of five or better may take part. So there I was, an Austrian representing HKUST and Hong Kong against over 60 other international students. Although I didn't win, the experience was unforgettable. I had played in competition on the one course every passionate golfer wants to try. Christian in his hometown of Eisenstadt in Austria. I decided to join HKUST as I was interested in Asia Pacific. I had studied Mandarin and wanted to learn more about Asian cultures. I found what I was looking for at HKUST. One of the most important benefits of the program was meeting great friends and contacts from all over the world, including Asia Pacific, Europe, the US and South Africa. Professors had international backgrounds and most also had work experience in the private sector. The challenges they set led to a 24/7 lifestyle, with no mercy shown after evenings in Lan Kwai Fong! Scotland was not my only venture outside Hong Kong during the MBA program. Business plan contests took me to the US, company visits to Mainland China and my own travels to other countries in Asia. But studying at HKUST was definitely not a vacation. I learned a great deal, not only Old Course at St Andrews. in terms of business skills and knowledge but also Photo: Paul Birrell, Wikimedia Commons. personal development. Since graduation, my HKUST MBA has helped me to move on to the type of career I wanted. At Ernst & Young in The Old Courses StAndrews9 Switzerland, I have a highly interesting job as a management This is the oldest golf course in the world and still regarded consultant and I work in an international environment. as the ultimate test for today's top international players. At the Meanwhile, my MBA classmates are regularly in touch with 2007 Boyd Quaich Christian Gasplmar news from around the world and my mind is set on a return (handicap: 5) was the only player representing Hong Kong. to Asia sometime in the future.

Alumni Corner Are You On Facebook HKUST was definitely the right choice: my perfect shot. In November Phoenix conducted a cyber networking survey to connect and reconnect people through common friends. to further understand the online social behavior of MBA Users also find it interesting to read friends' profiles to better alumni and students. Results understand their lives and views. from 113 responses showed that Facebook, a social networking YIP at Another important element of website, ranked third among Like About Facebook is the 'Groups' current students after email and instant messaging as the most commonly used communication tools. The site ranked second among MBA alumni after email. While email still forms the basis of most online communication, Facebook has become one of the most popular social networking platforms in the world since its launch in 2004. Site capabilities make it a onestop- shop for sharing photos, managing events and exchanging views on specific topics. It also provides a user- Can choose when to reply Good for record-keeping Most widely accepted - nearly everyone has an email address now Real time, instant response Know who is online and available Good to communicate with overseas friends quickly feature, which makes it easy for members of schools, clubs or interest groups to get in touch and share views, information and photos. Open groups allow anyone to join. For private groups, members join by invitation or after approval from group administrators. There are over 20 HKUST MBA-related groups currently on Facebook. These are formed around shared interests and class intakes, with numbers growing on a daily basis. Most involve alumni who graduated in 2000 or later. The Phoenix cyber networking friendly interface enabling email survey also showed that a and instant messages to be used more conveniently. significantly larger number of recent MBA alumni and students use Facebook when communicating with their peers compared One of the most appealing aspects of Facebook is its ability with early graduates. Fun Wall Connections Here are some comments from survey respondents about Facebook:I had lost touch with two old college friends and couldn't invite them for my wedding though I desperately wanted to. After two years, one of them discovered me on Facebook and got me back in contact with a bunch of people whom I had lost hope of contacting. I haven't met up with my friends for almost 10 years yet now I can see their faces, the things they do and the people around them.

Fun and convenient . only concern is privacy. How can I go to sleep without logging on to Facebook?

Group Name (as of Jan 15, 08) Join MBAAA on Facebook The Phoenix survey results and additional research show that Facebook has undoubtedly become a popular networking tool within the MBA alumni community. The MBA Alumni Association (MBAAA), the largest group among HKUST MBA-related groups represented on the site, is now actively encouraging MBA alumni to join its Facebook group. MBAAA will use this platform as a supplement to its current alumni communication channels - mainly e-news and its website - to give alumni more options for keeping up with the latest news about MBAAA. In addition, MBAAA can benefit from Facebook's ability to encourage forums and discussion - a feature strongly recommended by Phoenix survey respondents when asked to suggest ways to generate effective alumni communication. Nevertheless, most survey respondents felt that periodic e-news, alumni newsletters, regular events and social gatherings were still the key to strengthening bonds because, ultimately, networking is about meeting face-to-face and talking. Quick Facts Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg then a Harvard College Student 2004 Website www.facebook.com active users over 60 million Largest Network London, UK Toronto, Canada US Canada UK Australia Turkey Sweden Norway South Africa France Hong Kong Source: Wikipedia, January 2008 HKUST MBA-related Groups on Facebook

HKUST MBA Alumni Association 206 HKUST PT MBA 2007 Intake 156 HKUST MBA 131 HKUST PT MBA 2006 Intake 113 Tennis - HKUST PT MBA Interest Group 62 HKUST MBA PT Intake 2005 57 HKUST MBA PT Intake 2002 49 Hiking - HKUST PT MBA Interest Group 42 Skiing & Snowboarding - HKUST PT MBA Interest Group 40 HKUST - MBA 2007-09 36 UST MBA 04 2 7 HKUST PT MBA 2000 Intake 27 HKUST PT MBA06 23 HKUST Europe Alumni 19 HKUST MBA Exchange Students 2007 14 HKUST MBA PT07 Basketball Team 14 Junk Trip - HKUST PT MBA Interest Group 14 Wakeboard - HKUST PT MBA Interest Group 12 SPCC 93 + HKUST PT07 MBA + 11 Friends Texas Hold'em Group HKUST MBAO6 Pretties 8 Hkustmba2002pt.foodIover 8 HKUST PT MBA05 4

The above list was generated using the search criteria 'HKUST MBA' It is not exhaustive. Secure or Not? Social networking sites are a great way to stay in touch with friends and colleagues, but users need to exercise care in order to stop private information ending up in a public forum. Such sites are not the only means for personal information to spread online. Friends can (and frequently do) send other people's email addresses and/or photos to strangers accidentally. In addition, your name, photo, and even parts of your CV can often be googled, noted MBA alumnus Carsten Paasch (FT94), Head of Information Security Strategy at Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd. 'People don't need to break into Facebook to find out more about you,' he said. However Carsten, an active Facebook user himself, suggested employing a sensible amount of caution about the type of information shared on social networking sites. 'There is always the risk of a surprise leak as a result of a security loophole, for example, in a site's infrastructure. I think Facebook does a good job in terms of protecting privacy and data security. Its users can decide with a good degree of granularity which of their friends may see what information. But to be on the safe side, if there is something very private that would be disastrous for others to find out about you, don't put it on Facebook.' Phoenix note: Special thanks to Carrie Ho (FT Yr1), Janet Un (PT Yr 1), Derek Lam (PT Yr 2) and Jennifer Man (PT Yr 2) for helping to carry out the survey:

A Honeymoon Trip for 16 By Ko Bo Bo (PT03) Life is full of surprises. When I made my wise decision to join the HKUST MBA Program, little did I expect that one of the most valuable returns on this investment would be a group of wonderful friends. Over the past six years, we have shared countless memorable times: midnight chats, drunken birthdays, fun hikes and boat trips, happy weddings, and wonderful holidays around the world, including but not limited to Korea, Japan, Australia, Greece, Thailand, Cambodia and Shanghai. A recent highlight was a trip to Eastern Europe in October. At the airline booking office in Hong Kong, we were met with the following enquiry: 'Are you sure 16 of you are going to take a two-week holiday together?' Yes. What's more, this was going to be no ordinary vacation. It was destined to be a '16-Person-Eat-Eat-Drink-Drink-Eastern-Europe- Honeymoon', according to the newly-weds, who cancelled their original diving honeymoon in the Maldives to join us. How did it all happen? In July I spotted a tempting European flight promotion. I sent out an email invitation for MBA buddies to join me on a trip to Eastern Europe. Within days I received confirmation from 10 MBA friends. Route planning, hotel bookings, car rentals, collection of sight-seeing and historical information began, followed by our first 'tea party' in August to discuss details and share the anticipation. To provide additional interest, we selected various types of accommodation, including a historical apartment, medieval hotel, former monastery converted into a hotel, hunters' mountain lodge, spa resort and five-star hotel. We also decided to hire a 20-seater Mercedes and driver, instead of transporting ourselves. The driver, a young Hungarian, proved an added benefit as he was able to provide local knowledge during our grand tour. We took 6,000+ photos along the way. Have a look at some of them on the right. No. of nights stayed Newly-weds Lau Chun Hei (PT03) and Florence Chan (PT03) + Mary (friend) Lawrence Lai (PT03) + Carmen and Gordon (cousins) and Johnny (friend)I KO Bo Bo (PT03) + Ken (husband) and Jennifer (friend) Pedro Ng (PT03) + Cindy (wife) Clare Chap (PT03) Candy Ho (PT03) Janet Ma (PT03) I Ada Lee (PT03) CZECH REPUBLIC Prague 1. Group dynamics Outside Prague Castle. 2. City view of Prague. Cesky Krumlov 1. Honeymoon suite at the Hotel Zlaty Andel. 2. City view of Cesky Krumlov. The old part of this medieval town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. AUSTRIA a Salzburg (Mozart's birthplace) 1. City view of Salzburg. 2. Mirabell Garden, one of the sites where The Sound of Music was filmed. Pancake' demonstration by the owner of the chalets, a surprise gift for Pedro's 'nth' birthday. 3. Mountain region of Austria with breathtaking scenery. Vienna (City of Music) Grand entrance of Hofburg Imperial Palace. the official winter residence of the President of Austria. Patergassen 1. A peaceful stay at the Almdorf Chalets, where we enjoyed a woodfire outdoor bath, while gazing at a snow-filled valley. 2. 'Almdorf Fire HUNGARY Budapest (city of Spas) 1 & 2. The famous Szechenyi Bath, where we invented the game of spa pod swirling. 3. Cruising on the Danube River.

Graduation By Winnie Lee 2007 PT MBA Graduation Dinner coordinator

The PT MBA 2007 graduation party on November 3 proved a memorable occasion for all of the 139 people who attended and “lived the moment”. The world is your stage Annette Chan , the party ‘s creative director LK Shiu Anthony Jim, Eric Cheuk, Ivan Chan and Damon Boyles Spirit of togetherness Friendship Metcalfe’s Law Albert Ha Larry Frankin Graduation Dinner Speaker Shirley Lee Yearbook Chief Editor Alice Wong, Financial controller Annette Chan, Chief Creative Director and MC Chris Lim, Art Director Damon Boyles, MC Danny Sit, MC Idy Lam, MC Pearl Leung, Costume Director Shirley Lee, Fund-raiser and Yearbook chief Editor Winnie Fung, Backstage Director Welson Tevanotai and Kenny Zae, Special Effects Directors

Guangdong chapter Celebrates Launch Shenzhen students Indebted heart AGM In October, the HKUST MBA Alumni Association Guangdong Guangdong and Hong Kong, increase affiliation with the school Chapter (MBAAA GD Chapter) was officially launched, with and help to build up the HKUST MBA brand in the region.' its first annual general meeting to elect an Executive Committee held at the Holiday Inn in Shenzhen. Vincent Zhong (SZ05) and Allan Zhong (SZ Yr 1) were elected President and General Secretary of the GD Chapter respectively. The event was the culmination of six months' hard work for In all, the Executive Committee consists of 17 members from the GD Chapter's Organizing Committee and attracted a total of 118 people. Among those attending were MBA Director Prof. Steve DeKrey, Associate Director Mr. Chris Tsang, faculty members, MBAAA Exco members, alumni and current students. it was agreed that the chapter would be dedicated to developing and deepening the different intakes on a two-year term. 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. 'Nothing takes precedence over how to turn the GD Chapter into a cradle for Guangdong alumni network in order for all members to benefit all alumni and current students to connect up, gain a sense from the group. of cohesiveness and enjoy a lifelong feeling of belonging,' said Allan Zhong. Another core role will be assisting in program 'We have 170 students and alumni studying and living in the promotion and brand-building. plans for alumni - Guangdong area and the numbers are constantly growing'' development include the introduction of forums to strengthen said Kelvin Lam, MBAAA President. 'We hope that the formation bonds and boost personal development, member database of the new chapter will strengthen ties between alumni in integration and construction of a new website. MBAAA GD Chapter Executive committee President : Vincent Zhong (SZ05) General Secretary : Allan Zhong (SZ Yr 1) Treasurer : Jeremy Zhang (SZ06) VP, External Affairs : Jeffrey Gao (SZ Yr 1) VP, Membership : Xu Wang (SZ05) VP, Communication : Shanlin Liu (SZ Yr 2) General Members : Angela Chen (SZ Yr 1) Seawe Chen (SZ Yr I) Joseph Fong (SZ Yr 3) George Guo (SZ07) Rebecca Hu (SZ05) Jeff Ruan (SZ06) Alvin Leung (SZ Yr 3) Richard Lu (SZ07) William Mark (SZ Yr 2) Sidney Sun (SZ Yr 2) Hans Tian (SZ06) After I was elected, I felt the full weight of the responsibility I had been given. Luckily, I have a good team of Executive Committee members to work alongside me and to help to meet alumni expectations of a strong GD Chapter - Vincent Zhong Family fun at Mini-O The fourth Mini-Olympics saw a change of approach from previous years with the annual homecoming event evolving into a fun day for the MBA community plus families and kids. The successful tournament was held on October 21, drawing over 250 people, including MBA students, alumni, EMBAs, staff, faculty and family members. During the event, MBA athletes were tested by various sporting contests. The Kids' Olympics also proved a winner, attracting 15 alumni families. Children aged from eight months to six years came away with gifts after the games. Another high point was the tug-of-war in which the Full-time Year 1 team, energized by the Haka, a traditional dance from New Zealand, beat the EMBAs. The Full-time Year 1 team also won -la the Overall Championship. Phoenix note: The full photo album can be viewed at www.rnbaaa.ust.hk/rninio.htrn. Check it out!

This was my first Trailwalker and without the support of my wonderful team, I would not have been able to complete the event. They showed me what real teamwork is - understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each Member and how to compensate for individual shortcomings to reach a shared goal. Team 065 replacement Member Edgar Chan The three teams are proud to have maintained HKUST MBAAA's continuous presence at Trailwalker since the Association's first appearance in 1999 -Team 065 Leader Wai Chung Fung member and how to compensate for individual shortcomings to reach a shared goal 92 -Team 065 Replacement Member Edgar Chan The other two HKUST MBAAA teams who participated in Oxfam Trailwalker 2007 were: Team 063 Kin Hon THAM Vanessa LO(PT03) Y C LEE (PT96) Koon Ming LING Team 064 Andrew CHIN (pt07) Danny SIT (PT07) Wai Yin WONG Xavier LAU (PT07) Team 065 (completed in 25 hrs 07 mins) Leader Wai Chung FUNG (PT94) Original Member Ben KO (PT05) First Emergency Replacement Edgar CHAN (FT Yr 1) Second Emergency Replacement Ka Lap CHAN The HKUST MBA alumni community has been supporting the Oxfam Trailwalker fundraising event since 1999. Teams of four set out to complete the 100-km MacLehose Trail within hours. The route runs through country parks and across about 20 hills in Kowloon and the Territories. Photos used for the page background were taken along the trail by Team 065. Class Notes Ding Hiu Kwong (PT95) It was amazing to see half of the Class of PT95 back together again in September, 15 years after we first met (the intake was September 1992). We chose to meet in Business School Central so we could see the new downtown center and receive updates from the MBA Alumni Team on the latest school developments. Fifteen years on, we all seemed as young and energetic as before and had a great evening. Vicki Au (PT97) When we were small, we always complained how slowly time passed. Now we are approaching the peak of our lives, it is hard to keep up with the speedy passage of time. When the MBA Alumni Office asked me to help to organize the 10th Graduation Anniversary Reunion Dinner for the Class of 97, 1 could hardly believe that it had already been 10 years since graduation. Orientation day in the Shangri-La Hotel was still so vivid in my mind. It was certainly worth all the meetings and preparation arranging the event. On the night itself, I met so many familiar faces again, none of whom had grown old at all. For many, the past 10 years have been busy with marriage, children, career advancement, leaving little time to reach out to old friends. The reunion dinner renewed our ties, bringing all those memories of late-night projects and shared experiences alive again. The conversation was non-stop as we discussed all the changes we had been through over the past decade. The reunion night was the perfect occasion to remind us we should continue to foster such valuable friendships. Are you arranging the next get together for your class? We certainly are. Don't wait for the 20th reunion dinner to reach out. P5 Susanna Chan (FT98) It was really nice to meet up with my MBA classmates recently. I lost touch after moving to Singapore, then New York, soon after graduation. But I have been back in Hong Kong for two years now and have been happy to get together again with classmates, their 'other halves' as well as the new additions to their families. Time flies. But our appearance hasn't changed much, has it?! Isabel Lui (PT99) Just wanted to say hi from Sun Valley, Idaho to everyone I know. In June 2006, I married Brook Leiphart, an American whom I had met in Lhasa, Tibet in 2003 when I took a long vacation because of SARS. I am now residing in Sun Valley, the US' first ski resort. Why? Brook is a ski instructor. There is not much I can do here except ski and enjoy the great outdoor life that Nature offers. We travel within America and to neighboring countries during the off - season. I think I have come to a stage of life where I simply enjoy simplicity. Friends, hope to see you either in Hong Kong or Sun Valley. Isabel and her husband Brook on a trip to Machu Picchu in Peru. Kanie Siu (PT02) Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way ... Many new faces appeared at our pre-Christmas gathering at Business School Central. While we individuals have been growing older and wiser, our class has been growing bigger with the addition of spouses and kids. Along with our latest career moves, parenting was the major topic of conversation. The gathering was full of good food, Christmas carols, happiness and laughter. We all enjoyed the night very much! Saket and his wife Radhika. Saket Saurabh (PT06) After graduation I returned to my preferred industry, media and entertainment back in India I now handle marketing for India’s No.1 business news channel, CNBC-TV18, one of the leading franchises of the CNBC global network. The general management and strategic skills I learnt during the MBA program are proving invaluable in my work at CNBC . on the personal front, I got married in May 2007 in New Delhi. My wife, Radhika, is a journalist and I greatly look forward to visiting campus with her soon. While life has carried on, my time at HKUST will always be a cherished memory from all perspectives: a fantastic learning experience, an enthusiastic environment, and, above all, a lot of fun and lifelong friendships. Thank you, HKUST! With only six pits at the HKUST BBQ site, students from all years had outside our own class. Most part-timers work in Hong Kong to mingle! Julia Goessler (FT Yr 1) MBA colleagues, MBA office staff and faculty. so they were able to give us new perspectives on life in the city, how to cope with the workload (we full-timers always think we are busy ... and we don't even work), different industries and even career opportunities. We are looking forward to more joint events with part-timers, exchange students and alumni in the future. !w I Capital, people and intelligence move financial markets. 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