Asia’s Economic Rise Requires Responsible Leadership

Professor Victoria Wang from the Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School (CUHK) in China brings global experience from IBM, DuPont, and HAVI to her classroom. She holds a Ph.D. in cross-cultural leadership and has over 30 years of international business experience. 

More importantly, Professor Wang designs CUHK’s immersive MBA experiences that combine sustainable leadership, and business practices in Asia. She also serves as a certified coach with ICF, mentoring future leaders toward reflective and value-driven growth. 

At CUHK, faculty embed sustainability deeply into leadership education and day-to-day MBA learning. In parallel, CUHK MBA graduates gain confidence to pursue business in other Asian markets, to embark on career shifts, and excel as global business leaders.

To begin our interview, Professor Wang says, “We are witnessing the rise of the Asia Century.” (00:43) According to the Asian Development Bank, Asia will generate 50% of global GDP by the year 2050. As a result, this economic rise demands leaders rooted in environmental and social responsibility. 

CUHK’s MBA trains students to lead Asia’s burgeoning growth using real-world, sustainability-focused thinking. The proliferation of sustainable leadership in Asia will ultimately define success in this pivotal era, with the climate crisis intensifying.

Why Guilin Is the Ideal Study Lab for Sustainable Leadership

The MBA program at CUHK includes an immersive study trip to Esquel Integral in Guilin. An immersive and enriching 2.5-day program equips students with the essential knowledge and tools to navigate the evolving landscape of sustainability in business.  

Esquel Integral is a pioneering company that has transitioned from a traditional OEM business and manufacturing model to a sustainable development business model. Students directly explore how Esquel integrates sustainable architecture, innovation labs, and ethical production. 

Guilin is a city renowned for its commitment to environmental preservation and cultural heritage, supported by China’s commitment to sustainable development as a country. This setting allows students to apply sustainable theory to complex real-world businesses. Subsequently, China’s rapid industrialisation and Guilin’s preserved ecology push students to think critically about sustainability in context.

From Harvard Case to Dialogue With Executives

This MBA course goes beyond typical cases by connecting students with the Esquel Group, also previously featured in a Harvard Business School case study. Moreover, Professor Wang contemplates, “We walk into the company and really interact with their leaders… [and] learn [about] their operations in a real-life sense.” (07:42)

Students actively examine how Esquel reshaped its culture, model, and operations for long-term sustainability goals. The response from students was proof of the inherent value in the trip, Professor Wang shares, “The top C-suite leaders from the Esquel Group spend two days with us…the engagement in the group was amazing.” (08:54)

Through this direct dialogue, students apply classroom theory to actual operations inside a global sustainability pioneer. 

Learning the Triple Bottom Line With Real Impact

This course focuses on teaching the Triple Bottom Line, balancing people, planet, and profit. Professor Wang emphasises, “Sustainable business transformation is not just about going green…it’s actually a holistic, systematic transformation.” (04:27)

Students experience the whole change lifecycle through workshops and Esquel’s real-time decision analysis. Ultimately, they walk away ready to apply this framework across sectors, from fashion to fintech. Hence, they also explore ISO 14000 standards and China’s carbon neutrality goals for cross-industry, global sustainability impact.

Shifting Mindsets Through Personal Discovery

Not all students begin this course with strong beliefs in sustainability or its relevance. Moreover, Professor Wang recalls, “I had students at the beginning of the trip…told me, ‘teacher, professor, I don’t believe in sustainability…I want to find out if my belief [is] correct.’” (10:18) However, by the end, the same students actively explored leadership roles in sustainability. Professor Wang adds, “I have to say that the impact of this program I’m seeing makes me feel very [fulfilled].” (10:53)

Reflection exercises, meanwhile, run throughout the course and help shift scepticism for meaningful transformation. Furthermore, Professor Wang adds, “We ask a lot of questions for the students to think about…do you have a choice now to act differently?” (12:11)

Therefore, this reflective pedagogy empowers students to view sustainability as a personal responsibility, not just a business strategy.

Turning Climate Risk Into Career Growth 

Sustainability holds both ethical and strategic value in today’s fast-changing business world.

Professor Wang stresses, “Sustainability is not a burden; rather, sustainability is something they can take forward as a competitive advantage.” (10:04) 

CUHK graduates actively learn how companies reduce risk and increase long-term value through ESG strategies. Students use sustainability skills to build impactful careers in consulting, sustainability, and technology. Hence, faculty teach students to turn environmental and social obligations into economic opportunities.

Practical Frameworks Meet Global Policy

Students actively engage with ESG metrics, systems thinking, and stakeholder mapping frameworks.

Moreover, Professor Wang highlights, “We took the students through, in terms of the coupled human-environmental systems and the adaptive development between human and the environment.” (05:39) They also explore China’s 14th Five-Year Plan and the UN Sustainable Development Goals to understand global sustainability drivers.

Furthermore, students study adaptive development and coupled human-environmental systems through an ecological-economic lens. Hence, this perspective equips them with critical insights for modern, cross-sector sustainability leadership.

Additionally, students present group solutions to Esquel’s executive panel, applying change across entire value chains.

A Global Benchmark for Experiential Business Education

Esquel Integral serves as a real-world benchmark for sustainable manufacturing and innovation.

Moreover, “Students experienced almost 360 degrees of sustainable experience,” (07:57) Professor Wang reflects. Students live in Dorm 2.0, eat in sustainable cafeterias, and join a natural dye workshop.

Professor Wang elaborates, “There was a very enjoyable moment when students were showing off about their artwork.” (08:34) Overall, this immersive program uniquely shows how business, culture, and community can connect for long-term sustainable impact.

Lead Asia’s Sustainable Future with a CUHK MBA

CUHK’s MBA empowers students to lead Asia’s sustainable future through hands-on, real-world teaching and learning. Moreover, the Guilin study trip lets them witness how ethical business and environmental innovation coexist. 

Under Professor Wang’s guidance, they apply global frameworks to solve pressing sustainability strategy challenges. As a result, this course transforms sustainability from a concept into a strategic leadership advantage.

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