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This MBA Quit A Job At The World Bank To Start A New Career In Asia—Here’s Why

Tomas Kucera changed careers and relocated from the US to China with an MBA at HKUST Business School in Hong Kong. He tells us why more people should do the same

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Wed Jul 10 2019

BusinessBecause
When Tomas Kucera first quit his job as a web consultant at the World Bank in Washington DC to travel to China, it was only supposed to be for a few months—just long enough to learn Mandarin in Beijing.

Tomas had worked in DC for several years. His interest in Asia had been piqued after travelling there on vacation, and his trip to Beijing was intended to indulge that.

However, it just made him hungrier for more.

The experience made him realize how few people outside of China could actually speak the language or understand the complex business climate in the region, and he knew there were opportunities there for someone with his skillset and business experience.

When he came back to the US, his mind was made up: he was going to move to Asia, and he chose the MBA at HKUST Business School in Hong Kong to help him do it.

Now, 10 years on from first resigning his post at World Bank, Tomas is working for a Chinese industry leader in Shanghai as a senior branding and business development manager, joining the 80% of HKUST graduates who go on to find a placement in Asia.

In fact, Tomas’s MBA experience allowed him to land the coveted MBA triple-jump—switching industry, job function, and location in one fell swoop.

From pursuing projects on the MBA’s Consulting and Strategic Management Career Track, to visiting as many as 25 companies around China—Tencent, Baidu, Lenovo, and Huawei, to name a few—the MBA at HKUST gave Tomas the tools and connections to make a successful transition.

He even got to experience life at Tsinghua University in Beijing through the school’s extensive exchange program, an opportunity that gave Tomas an important insight into life in mainland China.

We caught up with him to find out about life in China, and how the MBA at HKUST helped him craft his desired career.



How did studying in Asia live up to your expectations? Did anything surprise you?

The sheer speed at which the MBA moved was a something I had to get used to, but I was pleased with the high quality of my professors and classmates. HKUST’s MBA program was very international, similar to the World Bank, and I really enjoyed learning more about the region and experiencing it first-hand.

By the time I landed at HKUST I knew a lot about China and Asia and could speak basic Mandarin, which helped me get around the city.

What was the most useful part of the MBA for your career?

I think the most useful part is the HKUST brand—it’s a top Asian MBA that one gets to put on a CV. That has opened doors and I think helped me get jobs and better salary.

In addition, it’s the contacts—both among MBA classmates and EMBA alumni, you get contacts that you can utilize even in Shanghai. It’s the community that one gets thanks to the MBA.

What's the best thing about living and working in Asia? Would you recommend it to others?

The best thing about working in Asia and, in my case, China is seeing new trends and new technologies become reality before they come to other places.

China has come to the forefront in many technologies, such as mobile payments, the sharing economy, and new energy vehicles—it’s exciting to experience that before others, and it is special to live in a society that is used to change and is still fast-improving.

I also enjoy traveling and exploring the different cultural aspects that China and Asia [in general] have to offer.

Over the years I have traveled to 20 provinces. China is very diverse and has lots of amazing things to discover, from the big cities to historical villages and natural landscapes, and the only way to truly experience it is to know the language and to live here.

So yes, I definitely would recommend it to everyone.

Student Reviews

HKUST Business School

Mohammed

Verified

28/07/2023

On Campus

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.

Student

Verified

10/06/2022

On Campus

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

Student

Verified

29/04/2023

On Campus

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.

Student

Verified

2/05/2022

Blended

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.

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