His pre-MBA role mostly involved managing hotels in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
While working on a large-scale project with Island Shangri-La—a five-star hotel in Hong Kong—he discovered that 50% of the hotel’s business assets were based in Chinese Mainland.
At this point, his interest in pursuing an MBA in China grew as he recognized his company’s strong ties to Chinese Mainland. Abbas realized that if he wanted to be successful in his career, he needed to understand its business environment and culture.
Learning 1: Understanding the Chinese economy is essential
As an ambitious professional, Abbas sought a business school that matched his thirst for knowledge.
He said this led him to the Tsinghua Global MBA program. Naturally, its ranking as the best MBA program in Chinese Mainland—according to QS Global MBA Rankings 2025—was a strong appeal.
“There are some very unique courses at Tsinghua MBA, which international students can learn a lot from,” he says.
Stand-out courses for Abbas included The Chinese Economy in the World and Macroeconomics: The Chinese Economy Frontiers of Chinese Contemporary Issues Research.
“Professors take you through the critical history and policies that were historically rolled out by the Chinese government and its leaders.
“What really surprised me was that the professors were very upfront about the challenges that [the Chinese government] faced, as well as sharing success stories.
He added that learning about case studies of real-world companies was fundamental to his understanding of global business.
Learning 2: Visiting companies in China helps you understand the business model of the second largest economy
There is only so much learning that can happen in a classroom—experiencing how businesses operate first-hand is essential for advancing in business.
Abbas said the company visits during the Tsinghua Global MBA significantly enhanced his business school experience. During one such visit, he met the owner and senior management of Junlebao Dairy Group, one of China’s leading dairy manufacturers. MBA students learned how the company rebuilt consumer trust in domestic products after the 2008 Chinese milk scandal, in which six infants died following deliberate food contamination at Sanlu Group, another Chinese dairy product company.
“If you live outside of China, you might not realize how much China has transformed its domestic products,” he said.
“They [Junlebao] welcomed us, gave us a tour of the factory, and explained their assets, the origins of their cows, and the technology they use, including research and development (R&D),” Abbas added.
Abbas adds that another impressive experience in the Tsinghua Global MBA was the 'Insight of China' practice course he took in January 2024, where Abbas traveled to Macao and the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, Guangdong province—a unique area of China.
During this course, he took part in immersive research and visits to prominent local institutions such as Da Heng Qin Group, University of Macau, Micro Connect (Macao) Financial Assets Exchange (MCEX), and Wynn Macau Ltd.
"This course helped me understand the regional developments emerging under the Chinese practice of the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle, developing a deeper understanding of the vibrant and dynamic Chinese market.
"I learned and became particularly interested in opportunities for future growth in Macao's global tourism and entertainment sectors. I learned that during any crisis, you shouldn’t panic. Instead, focus on creating new initiatives to boost cash flow and diversify business segments,” he said.
Learning 3: The value of well-being
Beyond business lessons, Abbas said that Tsinghua’s emphasis on exercise and well-being positively influenced both his personal and professional life.
“You need to know how to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally,” he explained.
“At Tsinghua, there is a strong culture of exercise. Following the motto - 'No sports, no Tsinghua' - we believe [exercise] provides strength and endurance—whether for academic study, business, or our careers.”
Although now based in Hong Kong, Abbas said he has maintained his daily exercise habit.
He added that studying and living in Chinese Mainland taught him it’s not just about self-care.
"Chinese culture values collective action and respecting the elderly. It’s equally important to care for and respect older people," he says.
“I found this very valuable," Abbas said. "For instance, when you start a business, there’s so much you don’t know. You can learn a great deal from older or more experienced individuals.”
Learning 4: The career potential of an MBA in China
Abbas is now in the second year of the Tsinghua Global MBA program. The first year focuses on academics, while the second year emphasizes exchanges, internships, or developing business ideas.
He launched a startup in Hong Kong and hopes to put into practice the strategic management skills he acquired from the 'Innovation-Based Entrepreneurship' course, which was jointly taught by professors from Tsinghua SEM and MIT Sloan School of Management.
In these classes, Abbas learned how to identify a competitive advantage in a crowded market, which has helped him refine his business strategy.
He also added that the renowned reputation of Tsinghua University is likely to help him in his business pursuits since it is one of most prestigious universities in Asia and China.
