Leo chose the HKU-Fudan IMBA; a two-year, part-time MBA program for more experienced professionals with links to China. The reputation of HKU and Fudan, and the international dimension of the program, stood out.
Both HKU and Fudan are ranked among the top 40 universities in the world by QS. In 2018, the HKU-Fudan IMBA came 35th in the Financial Times Global EMBA Ranking.
The program kicks off in September each year. It’s mostly delivered in Shanghai with some modules in Hong Kong, and taught in both in English and Chinese.
The IMBA accepts around 200 students each year divided into three classes. IMBA students have an average of 11 years’ work experience between them and an average age of 34. The admissions process is flexible and tailored for each candidate with a range of test scores accepted, including the GMAT.
Since its launch in 1998, the program has produced 5,000 alumni working in management positions for top organizations globally.
“From the program, I learned how to do management in a systematic way,” Leo explains. “I learned management theories in marketing; finance; how to compete; how to manage teams. I learned from the courses and professors as well as my classmates who came from different industries and backgrounds.”
How can an MBA change your career?
After completing his MBA in 2008, Leo left The9 and landed a new job at PopCap. Mobile gaming was on the up and Leo’s switch in focus from hardcore gaming to casual gaming coincided with the birth of his daughter.
As general manager for PopCap in China, Leo managed communication with the firm’s Seattle headquarters as well as global offices around the world, adapting Plants vs. Zombies for the Chinese market and making it a success.
After PopCap was acquired by Electronic Arts (EA), a global leader in the gaming industry, Leo was chosen to head up EA Mobile in China.
The gaming industry needs more MBA talent, he says.
“How do you communicate with different cultures? How do you manage projects with multicultural teams? How do you establish common goals? How do you evaluate competition in the market? All this I learned from my MBA!
