My journey toward pursuing an EMBA at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) began in the early 2000s, during a pivotal moment in my career. I graduated from the Hong Kong Polytechnic in 1986 with a Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. And by the beginning of the new millennium, I was serving as an Executive Director at a newly listed public company in the electronic manufacturing sector. As the company continued to grow, I recognised the need to go back to school and equip myself with the knowledge and skills required to meet the challenges of leading a rapidly expanding business. In 2000, I made the decision to join the CityUHK EMBA programme – a choice that would prove to be transformative for both my career and personal growth.

When I started the EMBA programme, my aim was clear: I wanted a structured education in business administration, with a specific focus on financial and strategic management. Coming from an engineering background, I wanted to broaden my understanding of these areas.

The CityUHK EMBA programme turned out to be much more than I had expected. It not only helped me achieve my original goals, but also introduced me to new perspectives that I had not anticipated. While I gained valuable knowledge in financial and strategic management, I was especially inspired by the courses on Service Management and Leadership. These topics, which were relatively new to me, opened my eyes to the importance of managing people, processes, and customer experiences – skills that are crucial for leading a business.

One of the highlights of the programme was the opportunity to learn from my 30 learning partners, who came from diverse business disciplines and backgrounds. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and insights among us was invaluable. Beyond academics, the friendships and professional relationships I built during the programme remain some of the most treasured aspects of my CityUHK experience.

If I were to pick the single most memorable moment of my EMBA journey, it would undoubtedly be the Residential Trip. We traveled to Dalian City for nine days to provide consultancy services to a well-known retail chain at the time. It was an intense and challenging experience that required our team members – each with differing opinions and approaches – to work together to deliver results. The process involved countless arguments, compromises, and moments of tolerance and acceptance. Looking back, it was not just a test of our skills but also a powerful lesson in teamwork and collaboration.

For anyone considering pursuing an EMBA, my advice is simple: do it now. Don’t let your busy schedule hold you back, because time management is a skill every senior executive must master. Once you commit to the programme, you won’t regret it. The knowledge, experiences, and networks you gain will be invaluable for your personal and professional growth. The EMBA was not just an academic programme—it was a transformative experience that equipped me with the tools to navigate the complexities of business leadership and gave me a broader perspective on how to create value in a competitive world.