HKU’s Part‑Time MBA Aids a Healthcare Career Transition

Belinda Lo was already a successful woman in STEM. With a PhD from the University of Oxford, she was conducting lab research on fertility. But she was ready for a change. The HKU Part-time MBA program offered her the opportunity to make the bold leap to an exciting career in medical technology.

The Perfect Pairing: Choosing the HKU Part-time MBA

Ultimately, Belinda sought business acumen to complement her scientific knowledge. The Part-time MBA program at HKU (the University of Hong Kong) offered the right opportunity. It allowed her to complete her MBA program while working. Likewise, the MBA learnings were directly applicable in her work.

“Sometimes a part-time MBA is better so you can work at the same time – have the experience, while also learning from your classmates and learning from professors, and talking about issues you may have at work at the same time,” Belinda says. (01:34)

Belinda was able to continue her biomedical research work while gaining new business skills at HKU, ranked #1 in Hong Kong and # 11 in the World by QS World University Rankings for 2026. 

Inclusive Learning and Engagement at HKU

HKU Business School fostered an inclusive environment for the Australian-Chinese researcher. She highlights the diversity of the cohort and the open and inclusive atmosphere in the classroom.

Belinda says, “I felt it was a very safe space for me to come out and talk about my experiences and learn from other students.” (01:59) Engaging with the diverse faculty and student body enriched Belinda’s MBA experience. 

Similarly, fellow HKU MBA alumna Bhavya Siddappa found success in technology and business leadership.

Female Insight in MedTech: The Value Women Bring

The business world needs more female founders in MedTech. Belinda says this is especially true in the emerging field of FemTech. FemTech refers to medical technology specifically targeting female healthcare. 

“I feel like there are not enough female entrepreneurs to represent the environment and the potential input we could give,” Belinda states, adding, “Women would be fabulous at supporting, or starting, or running startups in this space.” (03:29)

An MBA gives aspiring professionals – both women and men – the language, skills, and confidence they need to take on leadership roles at the nexus of science and business.

Women’s lived experiences uniquely qualify them to contribute to these kinds of innovations, she concludes. For example, they can give significant insights as they themselves are users of FemTech and can better anticipate user needs, consumer language, and market concerns.

Beyond the Lab: Leadership Lessons from the HKU MBA

The HKU Part-time MBA program helped Belinda translate excitement about a new technology to thinking about turning it into a business. Consequently, asking the right questions was a critical new skill she developed.

“Is it actually commercially viable? Is there a go-to-market strategy? Is there even a market for it?” Belinda began to ask. “The HKU MBA was a very well-rounded way for me to learn about… what else needs to be considered in order for a company to be successful in the science space.” (06:00) 

This ensured she was fully prepared to join the realm of women in science and to step into a business leadership role with confidence.

Hong Kong: A Hub of Innovation

Hong Kong’s thriving business ecosystem makes it a great place to study for an MBA. HKU Business School is based in the financial center but also has facilities at Cyberport, Hong Kong’s digital tech hub. 

Known as a global leader in financial services, Hong Kong is rapidly making its mark in innovation and technology. At HKU Business School, graduates frequently find roles at major banks and investment and consulting firms. However, students benefit from HKU’s vast network of corporate partnerships, offering events and internship opportunities that can lead to roles in a variety of fields. 

Belinda found Hong Kong to be a hub of innovation in her field of healthcare, which motivated and enabled her to join Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), a center of entrepreneurship. 

Valuable Experiences: Capstone Collaboration

The Capstone Project, in which student teams apply their new knowledge to a real-world business issue, was a challenge. However, it was also one of Belinda’s biggest highlights from the program. Belinda’s group included professionals from various backgrounds. Her group included professionals from a fund, a family business, finance, and even a pilot.

“Being in a group with people with very different experiences [and at] very different stages in their careers, as well, allows you to feel what considerations are made, maybe what strategies they might be thinking of which may not have passed your mind, or you might not have considered,” Belinda found. (07:06)

As a result, the experience helped Belinda to discover new business insights and expand her professional scope.

Advice for Women Scientists: Define Your Why

What’s your goal? That’s what Belinda recommends women in science ask themselves before considering an MBA.

“Think about why you want to do the MBA. What are you trying to target?” she says. “For me, it was very clear that I wanted to leave the lab and therefore the MBA was to round my experiences out, have more commercial exposure, meet more people, [and] get more insight out of science. That for me was a very major plus going into the MBA.” (07:50)

If your goal is clear, you can tailor your MBA experience accordingly, she says. 

A Gateway to a Career Transition: HKU’s Network Advantage

The HKU Part-time MBA program opened doors to new opportunities, even before graduation.  Various career resources, such as executive coaching, learning & development workshops, industry and leadership talks, are made available for part-time MBA students. Initiative such as these supports them in defining and realizing their career goals.

Belinda benefited from HKU’s strong peer and alumni network in the health technology and pharmaceutical sectors in Hong Kong. Classmates connected her to professionals at HKSTP and Cyberport.

The MBA that Catalyzed a Healthcare Career Transition

The HKU Part-time MBA in Hong Kong offered the business fluency, leadership confidence, and the network to help Belinda make a big career shift. HKU’s Part-time MBA option was a flexible, inspiring way to make the transition. 

With her impressive background as a woman in STEM, Belinda’s experience in the HKU Part-time MBA program empowered her to move into the impactful world of MedTech entrepreneurship. After all, it put her on a path to success.

Do you want to study for an MBA? Find out more about HKU Business School and connect with an ambassador to find out how the program can guide you in a career shift. 

Want to study at HKU Business School? Take our eligibility quiz to see if you qualify!