We spoke to Jessy Tam, part of the winning team of HKUST MBAs at USC Marshall’s GCC, to find out more
In April this year, a team of five MBA students from Hong Kong’s HKUST Business School – Jessy Tam, Jennifer Zhang, Harry Li, Mandakini Ghai, and Fran Lucena – won USC Marshall’s Global Consulting Challenge (GCC), an annual business case competition organized by the University of Southern California.HKUST has a strong focus on experiential learning through participation in case competitions. MBA students form their own teams and compete internationally, using their consulting skills to identify key trends in a chosen industry and solve a real-life issue faced by a real firm.
USC Marshall’s GCC consists of five weeks of preparation culminating in a two-day pitching competition, where MBA students pitch ideas to a panel of experts; seasoned investors and employers interested in hiring top MBA talent. This year’s sponsor company was Amazon.
The winning HKUST MBA team presented a B2B solution which would allow Amazon to tap into a new source of revenue while supporting its vision to become the most customer-centric company on earth. They beat off competition from global business schools like Johnson at Cornell, McGill, and MIT Sloan.
BusinessBecause caught up with winning team member Jessy Tam to find out more. Jessy, who relocated from Canada to join HKUST, chose the school for its diversity and intimate MBA class size – the HKUST MBA class typically consists of around 120 students, representing 30 nationalities. Jessy wants to leverage her knowledge of Asia in a healthcare consulting role after graduation.
How have you profited from your experience at the Global Consulting Challenge?
The most valuable thing I gained from the case competition was the bond with my teammates, who are all from different parts of the world. Although there was a lot of conflict and disagreement when we were cracking the case, in the end, we managed to incorporate everyone’s opinion in our final solution. We also leveraged on each member’s expertise and, on competition day, everyone performed their role. This takes a huge degree of maturity to achieve – on compromising and communicating – and I’m grateful to have gone on this journey.
Why are case competitions important?
Case competitions provide an opportunity for MBA students to link all the subjects they’ve learned – accounting, finance, marketing, and strategy – together, and apply their knowledge to a real-life business case. The practical application of business theory will help solidify the understandings of many business concepts and help students gain an edge in a real-life business environment.
Case competitions are also perfect platforms for MBA students to better understand team dynamics and hone their leadership skills – all crucial skillsets for cross-cultural leaders.
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA at HKUST?
‘Fit’ was a crucial part of my decision process. I wanted a program with an Asian focus. I’d heard that MBA programs are extremely intense and hectic, and in a large cohort setting you unfortunately don’t have the time to get to know everyone. So, I wanted a small, intimate program where I could forge close bonds with my classmates.
Diversity was another important factor, my classmates all come from different cultures and backgrounds, and the exchange in people's insights and perspectives is what makes HKUST stand out.
What are your career ambitions for the future?
I see incredible potential in the Asian healthcare market in the next decade. I am interested in a career in management consulting in the healthcare industry. My long-term goal is to do business development for healthcare startups based in the West and provide them with an Asian market insight. HKUST’s brand and reputation in Asia will allow me to have access to a professional network and industry in the region.
Student Reviews
Excellent Supporting Staff
HKUST campus is a very scenic place. However, the best part of the university is the professors and administrators. I have had numerous instances where I have approached them outside their office hours and asked them for help. I have always received full support, and they have helped me escape some very tricky situations. I will miss the faculty and especially the UG Hall 5 Residence Master. I am grateful for his help during my undergraduate program. I will recommend people choose HKUST for their bachelor, master, or Ph.D. studies. Do experience the hall life and you will never regret it.
Stressful university
Vibe
Students in HKUST is really competitive, they study really hard.
Environment
Nice sea view and modern campus
Teaching
Many professors are from mainland, whose accent are difficult to understand sometimes.
Harsh grading from most of the professors from my department
Opportunities
HKUST provides many opportunities and guidance for students on careers and extracurricular activities
Hard working and motivational
Major selection activities are very competitive. 1st/2nd year students work hard to get into popular majors they want. If you enjoy working in a competitive environment, this is a great place. Great ocean view with sports facilities and activities ready for you. Many programmes and social clubs available to boost your cv, learn practical skills for future jobs and interviews.
Good for academics but not that good for student life
Professors and teaching staffs definitely know what they are teaching and have strong knowledge in their discipline; Academics can be quite tough and stressful for students as everyone works very hard and course grades are rather competitive; Student societies exist but are not extensive. Activities are also mostly non-existent.
The nice schoolmates
I like the canteen in my school. Friends are sitting together and chat with each other freely, making it a harmonious place to have lunch. Sometimes the professors will also come here to have lunch, some talented schoolmates will talk about academic knowledge with them.
Students take precedence over everything else
I started out as an undergrad in September 2015, and jumped right into their PhD program after finishing up my first degree. I think that itself is a testament to how special a place HKUST holds in my heart. While the stunning beauty offered by its campus, lined by the sea and mountains, was the first to capture my heart, I have grown to love pretty much everything about it with time. What I appreciate the most about it is that the needs, strengths and shortcomings of each student are carefully evaluated to help him/her customize the coursework while ensuring that the degree requirements are met. The student mentors, advisors, instructors and professors are more than willing to give it their all to help out the students. While the atmosphere can certainly get a little competitive, I never saw it take an unhealthy turn; I believe a certain degree of competition, competitiveness and stress might be necessary to drive us towards our goals. If you want to receive the best care and advice and grow into an independent and confident individual, HKUST is the right choice for you! I can guarantee that you won’t regret becoming a part of the family!
