Vernon Tam used an MBA at CUHK Business School to change career track and land a leadership role at Deutsche Bank
Vernon Tam was a pure science graduate before he undertook an MBA at Hong Kong’s CUHK Business School. He had a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, a Master’s degree in Reproductive Endocrinology , and worked for a multinational pharmaceutical company.He found however, that every decision made was focused around business, and so he decided to study an MBA. On joining CUHK, he entered a program with a 50-year history - the longest-established MBA program in Asia, ranked 36th globally by the Financial Times and first for salary increase in Hong Kong.
Vernon completed his two-year MBA in 2011, with an international exchange at Duke University in the US. Since graduating, he's transitioned from the pharmaceutical industry into finance and, in 2014, he took up a leadership role as vice president at Deutsche Bank in Hong Kong.
The CUHK MBA was vital in helping him make this transition, with access to the school's 32,000-strong alumni network critical to his career success.
How did your MBA help you transition from pharma into finance?
Back in 2011, there were quite a number of healthcare-related Chinese companies looking to list in Hong Kong. Investment banks needed people who could understand the science well, but at the same time know the business side too. My medical science degrees together with my MBA made me a perfect candidate to fill this need.
The CUHK MBA alumni program was useful as I got to know my mentor Antony Hung, the ex-head of fixed income and private wealth management at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch, who helped me learn more about investment banking and how to prepare myself to get into it.
How important is the MBA skillset in your leadership position at Deutsche Bank?
In order to climb up to a senior position in the bank, technical knowledge is not enough. You have to be an all-rounder. You have to demonstrate your abilities through building rapport with clients and being able to lead your team to win mandates and execute them beautifully within an aggressive timetable.
The things taught on the CUHK MBA, especially the soft skills such as business negotiation, management and leadership skills, were all crucial in shaping me to have the attributes to be promoted to the leadership position.
What made you choose CUHK?
I chose CUHK MBA because it was the first school to have a MBA program in Hong Kong. It had the largest and most extensive alumni network in Hong Kong and a history of providing a top class education.
Through the alumni network, I got to know the alumni who were the key opinion leaders in different sectors. This access was crucial for me to know the ins and outs of different industries.
What advice would you offer potential MBAs?
Candidates should be clear of what they want to achieve by studying MBA. They should have clear objectives and make sure they can get it during their studies.
Different schools have different strengths. I wanted to expand my network in Hong Kong and therefore chose the CUHK MBA as they have the most extensive alumni network in Hong Kong.
I chose to do my second half of MBA program in Duke University because I know they have one of the best healthcare finance programs in the world. This gave me a very solid background of switching into an investment banker with a focus in healthcare.
Student Reviews
One of a kind
I studied Bioinformatics at CUHK last year. It was the only Master's degree in Hong Kong in this field. This program developed my analytical skills and equipped me to be a Bioinformatician in a very practical way.
I enjoyed my year here and met classmates from different parts of the world. If you are thinking to enhance your profile, this degree program would be a good option.
general education courses, unique college system, large campus
The university facilitates multi-dimension and interdisciplinary learning. In social science faculty, we need to choose courses as our faculty package from other departments (architecture, psychology, sociology, etc.) to learn more than our major required courses. We are also required to finish general education courses, which aid our critical thinking and humanistic sensibilities. I do recommend the social science broad-based program, and the professors I met so far are all responsible and erudite.
LLM
The faculty of law is relatively new. You do not need to have a LLB to pursue a LLM, which is special. The taught programme is great for mature students who want to obtain legal knowledge.
CUHK has good teaching staff too.
Amazing Campus and Great Educational Environment
Not only is CUHK's main campus breathtaking, it provides for a good educational environment for students. The university is well-equipped with modern and up-to-date facilities to help students with their study. We have 8 libraries in total around the campus; one for media, one for architectural studies, the medical library and the law library. The Professors are always helpful and are happy to talk to students when needed.
Moreover, the college system within the university brings forth the uniqueness of CUHK. Each student belongs to a different college, and in that students are able to meet different peoples from different countries and students from different faculties.
I think CUHK provides for a well-rounded university life for all students.
exthrillating
One of the most down to earth places in HK. A great opportunity to learn and embody the local culture. Also had one the most beautiful campus in Hong Kong up on the hillside. Glad to have graduated here.
Innovative and Supportive
My university provided me with all the support I needed, and encouraged me to be up to date with all the new developments in the world. They also provided me with the incentive to excel at what I do, and they take much pride in my achievements. I have had a very rewarding university experience.
Small, New But Friendly Law School
To being with, I think the campus of CUHK is the best and the biggest in Hong Kong, with fresh air and trees everywhere.
I am an undergraduate Law student at CUHK and I think the teaching here is great, with very friendly and nice professors and the new Lee Shau Kee Building.
In terms of the courses offered by CUHK, as one of the largest universities in Hong Kong, CUHK is an all-rounded university, offering a wide range of courses to students. Students may take the introductory courses of discipline other than their own major, or even declare a minor.
For law electives, due to the small amount of intake, the variety of law electives are not that huge. However, the Faculty is offering some international programmes, which can be treated as law electives, but at the same time, provide us with an opportunity to travel and know more about the legal system of another country.
The career support from the Faculty of Law is also amazing. The Faculty will organise CV Sessions and talks on how to get an internship from law firms or mini-pupillage from barrister's chambers. Each student will also have a Distinguished Professional Mentor, which is a current legal profession, providing us with practical advices and updates of the legal field.
Finally, from my personal experience, I think the students in CUHK are friendly and genuine. As Law students, competition is inevitable for grades, GPAs, vacation schemes and training contract. However, I think the competition in CUHK Law School is a positive one, in a sense that help us grow together, instead of fighting with each other no matter what. That is the biggest reason why I am having a very good time here in CUHK Law School.
A place to explore your interests
As a law graduate from CUHK (both undergrad and post-grad), I realise that I had many opportunities to explore my areas of interests (legal and non-legal both). The faculty/university requires us to take a certain number of non-law electives, and offers a plethora of courses to choose from. Personally, I took 3 modules in Korean --I can't say it's made me highly proficient, but it's definitely given me a good foundation (I can walk into a Korean restaurant and confidently order food, at the very least). The fact that language courses are offered also provides students who are more financially constrained an opportunity to learn a language without having to shell out a premium for a decent language course. On top of that, we have a range of law electives as well. I know of classmates who have developed lasting interest in different areas of law because of the electives they took in school. The two electives that I would say have changed me is (i) mooting and (ii) family law. I think my experience in an international commercial arbitration moot competition has helped tremendously in formulating legal arguments and legal writing. On the other hand, taking a family law elective has made me very interested in the family law practice, especially in terms of child rights. For these experiences which I have gained, I'm grateful for the opportunities provided by the school.
One main issue most students I know have is with the way our GPA is calculated and the lack of transparency in terms of how the honours system works. As our GPA is marked on a curve. it's highly unrepresentative of what we have achieved as individuals. Given that our GPA is the only criteria that is looked at when we apply for the compulsory post-graduate law course (mandatory should we want to practise law and/or be trainees in Hong Kong), it will put our own students at a distinct disadvantage when we compete for limited spaces with students from schools where GPA is not on a bell curve.
Valuable time in CUHK
I like the learning environment and people at CUHK. Surrounded by hills and Tolo Harbour, CUHK provides a balance between nature and hustle. You can always escape from the busy study life and meet your friend around the big campus for different activities.
