Paid Program: Learning to Sailing Through Covid-19 Paid Program: Learning to Sailing Through Covid-19

LEARNING TO

SAIL THROUGH

The Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program empowers business leaders in times of change, preparing them for a post-pandemic future.

KELLOGG-HKUST EMBA

PAID PROGRAM - WHAT’S THIS?

CLASS OF 2022

SPONSORS

Learn more about the Kellogg-HKUST Class of 2022 in numbers

Learn more about the sponsors of the program

Sandor van Kesteren has built a strong supply chain career over nearly two decades, working across multiple industries and geographies. But in the aftermath of Covid-19 and its disruptions to the global economy, he realized that continuous learning was the only way to prepare himself for what may be a roller-coaster ride into a post-pandemic future. “Covid-19 has accelerated many trends that were already emerging, meaning that businesses, governments and consumers are changing their default behaviors,” says Mr. van Kesteren, who heads the supply chain and logistics function at Midea International Business. These shifts point to perceptions around public health and climate change, as well as risks around global supply chains and world trade. “An important part of my responsibility is to help define the supply chain blueprint and capabilities that allow us to continue to be successful, even with the world going through some major changes over the next five to 10 years,” the 46-year-old says. “What got us here will not get us there, so I am eager to learn how to most effectively adapt to these developments.” To help him understand such changes, Mr. van Kesteren applied for the May 2021 Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program, where he hopes to learn how asking the right questions can help unlock the creativity of an entire organization. “My expectation is that the world-class faculty of Kellogg-HKUST can provide new insights on the major trends in global affairs and give me the analytical tools and the leadership skills to help me, my company and my department to navigate these changes in the best possible way,” Mr. van Kesteren says.

Sandor van Kesteren

Head of Supply Chain & Logistics

Midea International Business

My expectation is that the world-class faculty of Kellogg-HKUST can provide new insights on the major trends in global affairs”

The James L. Allen Center at the Kellogg School of Management is the home of the US-based institute’s renowned executive MBA programme, offering 150 guest rooms, a 220-seat auditorium, tiered and flat classrooms, and multiple dining spaces.

A world-class approach to post-Covid recovery

The disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will need different kinds of business leaders in the recovery period, according to Francesca Cornelli, dean of Kellogg School of Management. This is an unprecedented period in our life and we don't know what the future will hold. The world needs leaders who are understanding, empathetic, and can break down barriers while also be creative, nimble and resilient," says Prof. Cornelli.

Tam Kar Yan

Dean

HKUST Business School

The thoughtfully curated program includes advanced modules that hone students’ management techniques and implementation of strategies in face of new challenges”

Fostering a ‘high-impact, low-ego’ leadership culture

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Campus

A flexible learning model that brings the world together

Pandemic-related international travel restrictions have had a major impact on the program, which has long been known for bringing cohorts together from all over the world. But the program’s quick pivot to online classrooms and hybrid learning have allowed it not only to continue but to bring new educational insights amid the disruption. While students were previously required to attend classes in Hong Kong, the program last year adopted a flexible remote-learning model. It has staged more than 130 online networking events with a recent expansion across its campuses, including ones that connected alumni with current participants from different industries.

Redefining success in a post-pandemic future

Like Sandor van Kesteren, Clara Kwan has enrolled in the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program commencing in May 2021. Ms. Kwan, 41, has gone through several career transitions, from being a private-practice lawyer to taking up the role as chief operating officer at NEFIN Group, a renowned carbon-neutrality solutions provider in Asia Pacific. While looking to deepen her knowledge to further develop her professional prospects, Ms. Kwan says the pandemic also reawakened her passion for social responsibility and good governance— which she believes are necessary for any business’s success post-Covid. “Robustness, flexibility and the ability to adapt have become key aspects of the world we live in today,” Ms. Kwan says. “There is also a greater awareness of the social and environmental impact of businesses to the community.” “Covid has stress-tested businesses globally, and the ones that have thrived are those that are nimble, proactively reacting to change, armed with sound business fundamentals and a vision that embraces sustainability,” she adds. “The ability of management to instill and embed such values is critical to the success of a company.” Ms. Kwan has given the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program her vote of confidence. She believes that it will sharpen her leadership skills, deepen her understanding of business strategies and empower her to realize her ambitions and lead her team more effectively. In times of disruptions and uncertainties, those holding senior positions in the business world must have access to high-level education to prepare them for the next wave of challenges, according to Ms. Au. “This is the best time for a personal review and enhancement to meet with the new opportunities that may arise when the economy surges in the post-pandemic time,” Ms. Au says. “A program like Kellogg-HKUST brings bright minds together who share a common value that aims for a better world through business innovation and collaboration. This is exactly what is needed to bring hope and recovery to the disruptions.”

The Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA programme draws a diverse group of international students across a range of industries.

The Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA program is a world class program that brings together senior executives across the globe on a new level. The program transforms leaders to think differently, connect with likeminded individuals and discover new opportunities.

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Francesca Cornelli

Dean

Kellogg School of Management

The global nature of the program is its cornerstone. Having a global mindset is critical for today’s leaders, especially during this time of significant disruption”

Jaideep Sengupta

Academic Director

Kellogg-HKUST EMBA Programme

Students are actively encouraged to share their industry and market knowledge”

Judy Au

Programme Director

Kellogg-HKUST EMBA Programme

A new format for networking and making connections has been made possible, facilitating unimaginable possibilities and the extent of our connections”

Clara Kwan

Chief Operating Officer

NEFIN Group

Ms. Kwan has given the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program her vote of confidence. She believes that it will sharpen her leadership skills, deepen her understanding of business strategies and empower her to realize her ambitions and lead her team more effectively.

COVID-19

The post-Covid era is likely to see a surge in demand for sustainability as well as for interdisciplinary studies that bring together talents from the fields of environmental science, information technology, business and finance, says Kar Yan Tam, dean of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology School of Business and Management. Education for senior executives must respond to these trends to bridge the knowledge and talent gap, he adds. “Amid the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape and evolving global trade relationships during the post-pandemic economic recovery, the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program offers senior business executives a deeper understanding of emerging trends and new disruptions in response to the demand for cutting-edge business ideas,” Prof. Tam says. Aside from foundation modules designed to strengthen students’ organization and leadership skills, the thoughtfully curated program includes advanced modules that hone students’ management techniques and implementation of strategies in the face of new challenges, Prof. Tam explains. First established in 1998 by Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in the United States and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program has gained widespread recognition and topped the Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking a record-breaking 10 times. With its unique placement in Hong Kong, the international financial center and heartland of Asia, the program targets the region’s business environment, which has demonstrated strong and robust economic growth in recent years. Asia is set to play an even more significant role in the post-Covid era’s economic recovery. According to a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report published in February 2021, trade in goods originating from East Asia went up by about 12% in the fourth quarter of 2020, representing a major driver in the global economic rebound. While being Asia-oriented gives it a competitive edge, the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program is at its heart global. It partners with five schools across not only Asia but also the Middle East, Europe and North America. “The global nature of the program is its cornerstone. Having a global mindset is critical for today’s leaders, especially during this time of significant disruption,” Prof. Cornelli says. “This is a time for self-reflection and acknowledgement that each of us has the opportunity to grow as individuals and global citizens.” Students are expected to engage in cross-cultural collaboration with business leaders to gain a deeper understanding of market dynamics, customers’ needs and cross-sector interdependence, Prof. Cornelli explains. The bonds formed with peers from around the globe are priceless, with benefits that extend far beyond the classroom, she says.

Responding to disruptions brought on by the pandemic is among the highlights in the program’s latest edition, according to its academic director, Jaideep Sengupta. Five out of the 10 required modules focus on boosting students’ management techniques and ability to apply effective strategies to new challenges, he explains. Courses such as Operations Management or Frameworks for Strategic Analysis, for example, weave in relevant case studies from the pandemic to facilitate class discussion. In addition, new elective courses have been introduced on topics that are increasingly in demand, such as Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage. Throughout the program, the curriculum and teaching methodology are designed to advocate the “high-impact, low-ego” leadership style that Prof. Sengupta describes as a key requirement for both admission and graduation. That’s why the final course involves a simulation that requires students to not only apply the knowledge they’ve acquired throughout the program, but to act like a company that solves problems and faces challenges together. “Students are actively encouraged to share their industry and market knowledge,” Prof. Sengupta says, adding that the program has a non-competitive, collegiate ethos with no graduation grading or announcement of scores. “The beauty of this program is that our students do not solely learn from our faculty but also from their peers, who are all senior and seasoned executives.”

“A new format for networking and making connections has been made possible, facilitating unimaginable possibilities and the extent of our connections,” says Judy Au, program director of the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program. The successful implementation of online learning has also given rise to many new possibilities for both teachers and students. Some teachers have found inspiration from the interactiveness embedded in new technologies, while usually less-responsive participants have become more active in online environments. For this May’s cohort, students from outside of Hong Kong who wish to participate in offline aspects of the program have a five-year window to retake any of the classes offered by the Hong Kong campus, Ms. Au explains. “They are also allowed to take a break and resume at a later time while still being able to complete the program within five years,” she says.

The 18-month program is designed to meet the needs and schedules of senior business executives. Students are expected to join a uniquely designed class schedule that includes 18 weekends, two immersive study weeks, a seven- to 14-day global network week and global elective weeks with participants from seven campuses around the world. The well-rounded curriculum aims to empower senior business executives to become strategic thinkers and visionary leaders in the 21st century. The core program covers a range of topics that address the needs of top managers, including leadership and decision-making, statistical analysis, operations and technology management, strategy, marketing, accounting, finance and the study of geopolitics and macroeconomics in Asia and beyond. Responding to disruptions brought on by the pandemic is among the highlights in the program’s latest edition, according to its academic director, Jaideep Sengupta. Five out of the 10 required modules focus on boosting students’ management techniques and ability to apply effective strategies to new challenges, he explains. Courses such as Operations Management or Frameworks for Strategic Analysis, for example, weave in relevant case studies from the pandemic to facilitate class discussion. In addition, new elective courses have been introduced on topics that are increasingly in demand, such as Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage. Throughout the program, the curriculum and teaching methodology are designed to advocate the “high-impact, low-ego” leadership style that Prof. Sengupta describes as a key requirement for both admission and graduation. That’s why the final course involves a simulation that requires students to not only apply the knowledge they’ve acquired throughout the program, but to act like a company that solves problems and faces challenges together. “Students are actively encouraged to share their industry and market knowledge,” Prof. Sengupta says, adding that the program has a non-competitive, collegiate ethos with no graduation grading or announcement of scores. “The beauty of this program is that our students do not solely learn from our faculty but also from their peers, who are all senior and seasoned executives.”