Rashmi Khedkar's MBA at CUHK Business School sparked her passion for marketing. After graduating, she landed a top job in luxury in Hong Kong
Rashmi Khedkar completed a career triple jump, changing sector, country, and role, after her MBA at . She switched working in business development at a healthcare startup in India, for marketing in the luxury industry in Hong Kong at Fossil Group—a global lifestyle accessories company.Rashmi pursued her MBA hoping to develop a holistic business perspective. Unsure of what career path she wanted to take when she joined, CUHK Business School enabled her to explore opportunities in marketing through course modules, an internship, and the CUHK Marketing Club.
Drawn to the Asia-Pacific region for its internationality and dynamicity, Rashmi was able to follow her newly developed interest through industry connections and the network she established at CUHK—Asia’s longest-running MBA program. On completing her MBA internship with Fossil Group, she was offered a full-time role with the company.
BusinessBecause caught up with Rashmi to find out more.
How did your CUHK MBA help you land a role with Fossil Group?
The CUHK MBA curriculum is designed to encourage students to explore new avenues in business and technology. Through the course, I realized how much marketing has evolved. It’s undergone various changes and new areas are constantly emerging such as social media marketing, influencer marketing, and content marketing.
I was inclined towards marketing and followed developments in the field throughout my MBA. I was excited to have the opportunity to intern at Fossil. It provided the chance to apply and test the theoretical knowledge I had gained with good support from my colleagues and seniors—the work culture at Fossil was amazing. It turned out to be a fruitful experience and I was offered a full-time role.
How did your MBA help you transition from healthcare in India to the luxury industry in Hong Kong?
In India, working at a startup in the healthcare industry involved complying with regulations, liaising with authorities, getting approvals, and focusing on expanding the business. Startup culture requires the ability to manage uncertainties.
The luxury industry needs different skills. The pace of work is fast, and that is a challenge initially. The work involves creating an aura around the brand, and making sure that people remember it throughout the customer decision making process. It involves looking at the finer aspects of consumer behavior.
At CUHK, I was able to develop my overall business perspective and gain experience of multicultural, diversified markets. This provided an education important for any future business roles.
What did you learn as vice president of CUHK's Marketing Club?
When I joined CUHK, I wasn’t sure how my career would develop, but I had an interest in marketing. This led me to join the marketing club. It helped me become more informed about where marketing was heading through various assignments, projects, and case studies.
The networking activities and constant interaction with industry representatives helped me gain further insights. It shaped my career choices and enabled me to explore the industry.
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA at CUHK?
I realized the importance of international exposure when it came to understanding how businesses operate in different parts of the world. The Asia-Pacific region is an area of business growth, home to numerous emerging markets undergoing disruptions of business models and technologies on a regular basis. This convinced me to pursue my MBA in Asia.
The MBA at is the oldest in the region, consistently ranked among the best in the world. Located in Hong Kong—the gateway to China, one of the fastest growing global economies—it was an ideal choice. The school's diversity and interesting curriculum also played a role in my decision.
What advice do you have for anyone considering an MBA?
You should have a strong reason for attending business school. This should mean you are selective about the location of the school, the specialization, and the industry you want to join after the MBA.
Apart from this, you should be passionate to get the most from the degree. Remember that an MBA does not entitle you to anything. It creates a platform to display your effort and hard work. Every applicant must build their own career.
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.
