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Why HKUST MBA?

Our Japanese student, Takashi Kobayashi, talks about his reasons for doing an MBA at HKUST, what he loves about the program and how the exchange to London Business School complemented his MBA experience at HKUST in Hong Kong. 

Mobirise

Takashi Kobayashi (Japan)
Pre-MBA: Account Manager, NTT Communications (Osaka) 
Current: Exchanged to London Business School

1. Why did you choose HKUST and Hong Kong to do your MBA?

In today’s globalized world, corporate executives must know how to navigate various cultures, so I chose HKUST and Hong Kong knowing that the Asian market has a high potential in the coming decades. I wanted to maximize my career opportunities by gaining a deep understanding of both Eastern and Western business cultures. Being a melting pot of East and West, Hong Kong is the ideal choice for me to achieve my career objective post-MBA as a senior executive in the company.

HKUST MBA is the perfect choice for me with respect to both teaching quality and student diversity. It has consistently been ranked among the top 15 MBA programs in the world apart from being one of the best in Asia. 

Mobirise
Takashi together with his classmates during the Japan Trek—a flagship event organized by the HKUST MBA Japan Club with company visits, networking opportunities, and cultural activities. 
2. What do you like about HKUST MBA?

I greatly value the opportunity to bond with classmates from close to 30 different countries, representing a great mix of professional backgrounds and interests. Since the class size at HKUST is small compared to U.S. MBA programs, we were able to establish strong bonds through frequent interaction with each other.

The program offers various business and cultural treks to foster understanding of international business and to expand our cultural understanding. I was able to network with all kinds of companies through these treks, for example, Tencent, Google, and startups in Shenzhen and the U.S. Silicon Valley.

The active and bustling student organizations are also one exceptional feature of HKUST MBA. Each student club hosts different kinds of events regularly, and as the Vice-President of the Japan club in my year, I did DJing at a Japanese food party, planned the itinerary for the Japan trek, and solicited corporate sponsors for the club. Through these activities, I have come to develop a more profound respect for other cultures while feeling proud of my own. 

Mobirise
Participating in the IESE Case Competition with HKUST MBA classmates in Barcelona, Spain. 
3. How has your HKUST MBA experience contributed to your personal or professional development?

HKUST encourages students to participate in International Case competitions and Business Plan Competitions. I participated in both, learning how to collaborate and leading a team composed of different nationalities and professional backgrounds. These experiences were the highlights of my MBA life, which I believe will help me lead a global team post-MBA.

As suggested by its name, HKUST is also well-known for its science and technology disciplines, so I was able to work and network with quite a lot of capable students not just from the MBA, but also from EMBA, Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship and other postgraduate programs. I appreciated that I was able to learn a lot especially about tech consulting and tech entrepreneurship. As an MBA program in an Asian-financial hub, HKUST offers various programs and trainings on finance which greatly bolstered my professional knowledge as well.
Negotiation skills are also essential to my job. Thanks to the diversity of our class, I learnt a lot about different cultural contexts and ways of thinking through the negotiations course at HKUST. I believe my improved skillset will greatly contribute to my professional career in the future as a senior manager of a big Japanese tech company. 

Mobirise
Play hard, work hard is HKUST MBA's motto. Takashi DJing at the "Takoyaki Night"—a Japanese food party inviting all MBA students to join. . 
4. How was your exchange experience to London Business School?
Compared to HKUST, LBS has more cases regarding European companies. This encouraged me to explore the European business scene at a deeper level. In an economics class, I worked on a case regarding a major U.K. bank which attempted to map the behavior of its clients. Also, as a financial center of Europe, U.K. has a quite a lot of fintech companies like Hong Kong in Asia, so I was able to learn about the similarities and differences of fintech businesses in Europe and Asia.
LBS is one of the highest ranked MBAs in Europe, so it attracts capable business professionals from all around the world. And thanks to its alumni network, I am able to connect with professionals from leading companies, government organizations, and start-ups in Europe. Some of these people are also interested in doing business in Asia, so we are able to support each other by providing information and sharing our insights based on our experience. 
Mobirise
Hiking with MBA classmates in Sai Kung, one of the many country parks in Hong Kong closest to the campus. 

Quick Facts About HKUST MBA

World's Top 20 MBA

Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2008-2020

No.4 in Career Progress 

Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2020, among Top 20 Programs

No.5 in International Course Experience

Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2020, among Top 20 Programs

91% 3-month Employment Rate

HKUST MBA Employment Results 2019

Study in Hong Kong

The Heart of Asia, Gateway to China and a City Like No Other

  • Global Business Hub in Asia - a natural choice for multinational corporations’ regional headquarters and one of the top 3 financial centres in the world, offering an excellent exposure to global business
  • Foreigner Friendly - English is widely used and an open employment policy means that you can explore different career opportunities without worrying about work visa issues
  • A Top Study Destination - One of the safest locations in the world, Hong Kong boasts excellent infrastructure, healthcare and transportation systems and a 24/7 character so you will never be bored

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