Jay Yoo applied for an MBA at CUHK to expand his knowledge of Asian markets and learn new managerial skills. He told MBAGRADSCHOOLS how his studies helped him launch his own business in Indonesia and thrive in the corporate world.
With a background in biomedical engineering, Jay Yoo wanted to enhance his career with managerial know-how and experience in Asian markets. Pursuing an MBA was the obvious choice to upgrade his skills. But deciding where to pursue his studies wasn’t an easy choice.
Originally from South Korea, Jay considered schools in Singapore and the United States. However, an MBA in Hong Kong was always high on his list. He ultimately decided to study at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
Jay sees Asia as a thriving business hub, with Hong Kong at the center of the action. Hong Kong presented Jay with the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of market dynamics. (02:16)
Hong Kong isn’t just a key player in Asian markets, it is also a global financial hub. Hong Kong has strong links to local and international markets stretching back centuries. It is uniquely positioned for global business education. Jay describes the location as “one of the best places to connect the Western and Eastern [business worlds].” (01:09)
Aside from its prime geographical location, part of the rationale behind Jay’s decision to study at CUHK lay in the University’s history. “CUHK was the first MBA course in the entire Asia territory,” he shares. “So there are so many alumni wherever you go.” (13:40)
CUHK’s list of past students is a testament to the MBA’s success since its inception in 1966. It has produced 7,000 graduates across 40 countries.
But more than a marker of prestige, CUHK alumni represent a ready-made network of ambitious leaders. Alumni continue to benefit from CUHK through initiatives like the Elite Mentorship Program and the Alumni Career Advisor Scheme.
The CUHK MBA program offers many learning experiences through the curriculum and extracurricular activities, such as the Chinese Culture Club and Graduate Business Conference. The annual conference is the only global Business School and MBA student leadership conference in the world.
While studying in Hong Kong brought undeniable benefits for Jay, the CUHK MBA learning experience was far more wide-reaching. CUHK prides itself on delivering a curriculum that blends insights from Chinese business practices and global business perspectives. The school also imparts forward-thinking elective classes on AI, big data, digital transformation, and fintech. Which all played a part in Jay starting his own fintech company.
Jay identifies Money and Capital Markets and Business Negotiation as his favorite courses. He feels that the latter has completely transformed how he views business. He recalls, “From those classes, I could understand what is the balanced position and how to deal with those, let’s say, strong clients. So now I feel much more confident than before.” (04:47)
With so much emphasis on learning hard skills, it’s easy to overlook confidence as a key benefit of an MBA. CUHK knows that students can only gain that confidence through real-world experience. Therefore, field trips to other parts of China, Asia, Europe, and North America are part of the CUHK MBA curriculum. These trips are an opportunity to capitalize on the theory of international business taught in the classroom. The visits blend interactions with local enterprises, business professionals, government officials, and alumni with on-site lectures and seminars.
After completing his MBA at CUHK, Jay found himself on a plane to Indonesia, ready to embrace a new professional challenge. This move was more than just a change in geographical location. It was a radical shift in his career journey that was influenced and facilitated by his MBA experience.
Jay knew that Indonesian consumers have lower purchasing power than their neighbors. This creates a thriving second-hand products market. While second-hand purchasing is popular in Indonesia, Jay recognized a need for improvement in the market. “In second-hand transactions, we believe that trustworthiness is the most important factor. However, we cannot evaluate trust efficiently.” (08:44)
To provide a solution, Jay and his friend developed a relatively simple but well-structured second-hand seller rating system. Using a range of data, Jay’s fintech startup rates the trustworthiness of sellers, increasing confidence in the second-hand market.
Jay also made progress in achieving his goal of understanding different Asian markets. The team started out in Bali before growing into Java.
With his biomedical background, changing tack to fintech was no easy feat for Jay. The adaptability he developed during his MBA was a key factor in his success. “That was one of my challenging points, but I was really glad to explore the IT and the finance areas,” he says. (10:18)
As a generalist program, an MBA usually deals with foundational theory and leadership skills. But with the range of electives and concentrations at CUHK, students open doors to more specialist areas like fintech.
Additionally,CUHK gave Jay the skill set and the confidence to take a leap of faith and start a business. CUHK’s Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) was founded in 2005 to inspire entrepreneurship in Hong Kong and around the world.
Jay’s new knowledge of Asian markets and the experience of launching his own business have given Jay valuable transferable skills. Jay has seen a tangible boost in his career prospects because of the proficiency he gained during his MBA.
Jay has since returned to biomedical engineering as Deputy General Manager of DRTECH Corporation, running overseas business development. But even in this corporate environment, he applies his entrepreneurial mindset. Jay states he isn’t afraid to go anywhere, “whenever there is some issue to figure out, yeah, I can go there.” (11:30)
Jay’s story is a testament to the transformative impact of the CUHK MBA program. It’s not just about acquiring a degree. It’s about embarking on a journey that equips you with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to navigate your career path.
One of Jay’s key takeaways from the CUHK MBA was a new perspective. “I learned from [my] MBA that there is no correct answer, but I can make it correct with lots of knowledge and experience and communication.” (06:17)
For Jay, this shift in mindset has been crucial in tackling the joint challenges of relocation, moving into new sectors, and opening new overseas branches.
If you’d like to speak to other students and alumni from CUHK, you can contact them directly via the MBAGRADSCHOOLS Ambassador’s page.
