Eliza Swedberg met her husband during her CUHK MBA. In more ways than one, she doesn’t think she’d be where she is today without it
Eliza Swedberg’s MBA experience at Hong Kong’s CUHK Business School changed her life in more ways than one.After several years working in retail in San Diego, she snubbed top-ranked US business schools and decided to relocate thousands of miles for an MBA in Asia.
The CUHK MBA - Asia’s longest-established MBA program - is ranked among the top 40 best MBA programs in the world by the Financial Times. It offers 12-month and 16-month flexible formats with the opportunity for international exchange.
Eliza chose Melbourne, Australia for her MBA exchange. There, she interned at a leading retail services group, and met her future husband.
After graduation, Eliza returned stateside and landed a top job at Gap in San Francisco. Now, she’s driving customer experience strategy at Amazon.
Would she be where she is today without the CUHK MBA? “No!”
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA at CUHK?
I wanted to move to Hong Kong. I'd explored the area a few years earlier and wanted to spend time calling it home. I received an offer from another school in Hong Kong as well, but ultimately went with CUHK because I liked their open application process for international exchange programs.
CUHK is a great school in the Asia-Pacific. It offers a curriculum that I was interested in and an interesting involvement with social responsibility. The school gave me a scholarship and accepted the US financial aid which I needed to fund my education.
Why did you decide against pursuing an MBA program in the US?
I wanted to live abroad. I felt the impact of a fully global experience via study, internships, network and travel would serve me better for my career and personal growth. I would absolutely recommend this approach to anyone interested in an MBA. Living abroad and earning a degree abroad changes your perspective.
How have you profited from the CUHK MBA?
The MBA definitely helped my application for my post-MBA job at Gap, as well as my performance while actually on the job. The leadership, critical thinking and strategic perspective skills I learned continue to impact my personal and professional life. I've been able to take on roles where I lead teams and build strategies that impact the company and ultimately our customers.
Now, I’m a manager on a global team for a company that has a vision to change the world. The MBA created a great platform for continued growth.
Would you be where you are today without it?
No! In so many aspects of my life, no! I wouldn't have had the same career path. I likely wouldn't have lived in the same cities since then. I wouldn't have travelled to over 40 counties - or have made so many friends from around the world. I wouldn't have met my now husband while on my MBA exchange.
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.
