Through a full-time MBA at CUHK Business School, Ellen Wang travelled the world, interned at a top finance firm, and started a new career
International exposure, skill development and shaping a path of socially responsible business were Ellen Wang’s goals when she decided to pursue her MBA at . What she’s learned since has helped further her career and now her aspirations are to use these skills to give back to society through meaningful business.CUHK runs international exchange programs with partners in the US, Canada, Europe and the Asia-Pacific to give students the chance to expand their global networks and demonstrate their ability as global leaders.
For Ellen, it was the diversity of the CUHK MBA network— comprising of over 6,600 grads in 40 different countries—and the chance to spend a semester in the US—at the University of California, San Diego—which really stood out.
During her MBA, she also completed an internship with the American Global Fund, focused on Hong Kong and mainland China investment. Hong Kong hosts the global and regional headquarters of over 3,800 international companies. And the internship helped give Ellen the edge when securing a job in Hong Kong after completing her degree, as she became a vice president at financial advisory firm Kingsgold Capital.
Having previously worked as a regional finance controller in Shanghai, Ellen was able to gain knowledge of international markets and land a new job in a new location thanks to the CUHK MBA.
BusinessBecause caught up with Ellen to find out more.
How did the CUHK MBA help you launch a new career Hong Kong?
I worked for Carrier Corporation—a world leader in high-technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration—while securing my visa for Hong Kong. They knew the value of the CUHK MBA program and gave me a platform to use it and benefit the company. I took on more responsibilities and challenges and had a chance to work directly with the executive management in mainland China.
Now, I’m the vice president at Kingsgold Capital, and use my MBA skills to evaluate different projects, meet with more business people from various industries and make investment suggestions and decisions.
I want to use my MBA to contribute back to my school and my country through socially responsible business. After building my network and gaining fresh perspectives, I’m keen to create a meaningful business models that provides people a better life experience.
How did you profit from your internship with the American Global Fund?
The internship was recommended by one of the best professors at , Professor Wilton Chan. It was my first time working for a US fund and I gained a lot of technical skills and learned about project valuation.
This experience enhanced my understanding of capital markets and industry potential. I spent time on Hong Kong capital market research and evaluated industry potential from the perspective of electronic vehicles, e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods, and others. This made me more competitive when pursuing a financial advisory job in Hong Kong.
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA at CUHK?
I wanted to expand my horizons, gain a global perspective, and explore new career opportunities. The MBA program at provides students with the opportunity to collaborate with multinational teams. This is excellent business training. I also felt the exchange programs would be a great chance to get inspiration about best business practices around the world.
What advice do you have for anyone considering an MBA?
Ask yourself if you’re losing passion for your current role, or if you desire to change your living environment or meet different kinds of people.
You also need to consider the location and the school campus. I strongly suggest not to follow other people or even the rankings too much. Instead, make sure you choose the MBA program which best matches your needs.
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.
