After a Wall Street investment bank internship, Job Watcharaumnuay slid into the entertainment sector and starred in a Super Bowl advert for Unilever brand AXE, known for its Lynx deodorant.The switch illustrates an unconventional path that has led him to CUHK Business School, and onto one of Hong Kong’s top MBA programs.
After a summer internship developing regional Hong Kong strategy at G4S, he landed a spot on the security company’s management trainee scheme, based in Hong Kong and Dubai.
Previously, he served for a year as president of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee made up of 25 MBA students, also in Hong Kong, collaborating with companies including KPMG.
Before that, he was an assistant project director for the New York Film Academy — a position he held whilst simultaneously working as a personal trainer — after spending four months at Kerburn Rose, the investment bank.
The Thai national hopes to eventually pursue an entrepreneurial venture.
Why did you decide to begin an MBA, and why at CUHK business school?
Because I was hoping to start my own business post meeting entrepreneurial classmates with work experience like myself. My background might be quite different from most of my classmates as my family is quite open to me doing what I want, as opposed to most Asian families, but they also help provide critical feedback that has led to my success thus far.
I chose CUHK because prior to beginning my MBA, I was located in New York City. I initially went to NYC for an investment banking internship before changing to the entertainment scene. I had challenged myself to reach the top of that route by starring in a Super Bowl ad for AXE in 2014.
This however did not satisfy my thirst for knowledge and growth, so I went to the best geographically situated school in Asia for finance, which happens to be CUHK.
CUHK has the biggest range of alumni of all the schools in Hong Kong and that gives me a huge advantage when it comes to entrepreneurship, which I eventually want to pursue.
What makes Hong Kong a great place to attend business school?
Not only is Hong Kong the center of finance, but it is also the gateway to Greater China and several other countries. Ten years ago investment bankers used to say that if you made it to Hong Kong, you were set for life.
As a Thai person, Hong Kong is almost as unique as it is hard to penetrate — it drove me to challenge myself to succeed in this highly competitive yet prosperous and educational landscape. CUHK is a grand platform.
You participated in the Singapore Career Trek. Did you value the opportunity to build potential career networks with corporations?
The trek definitely presented opportunities as I was the only Thai national on the trip and Thai national MBAs are in limited supply for international MNCs [multinational corporations].
You pitched a business plan at IE Venture Day. What’s your advice for getting investors to back an idea?
They will only invest in the people, which means that you need to fully convince them that you are willing to give up everything, and I mean everything, for that business plan.
For me, I did want to do it, but it is a business that can only yield monetary benefits — something I came to realize during the MBA is not enough for me. I wanted to give back to society and to people who are not as lucky as me.
Why is it important for companies to take a closer look at their social responsibility?
CSR can only yield benefits if done truly from the heart. Many companies are realizing this and trying to make sure that everyone along the value chain knows what they are working for and what the ultimate goal is.
Why they should do it is to ensure a healthy, sustainable future for the company. Success may be instant, but maintaining success and stability is what keeps a company going.
From my experience, keeping your employees happy will lead to better services and products, resulting is happy clients; it’s all a chain effect. If you skip your stakeholder, you’ll regret it.
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.
