15 And Going Strong

In the 1990s, senior executives in Hong Kong who wanted to improve their management and knowledge skills were jetting to business schools in the US and Europe while juggling careers here. Now the route has reversed and executives are coming to Hong Kong. The difference has been the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA program, which was set up to fill a void and has succeeded beyond the wildest ambitions of its founders.

The program was launched in 1998 to combine the strengths of two business schools – Kellogg and HKUST – to provide high-quality international-level training to senior managers in Asia. As it celebrates its 15th anniversary in June, the evidence shows that the program has not only succeeded in its goal, it has done so to world-beating standards.

The KH-EMBA has consistently been ranked the best EMBA in the world by the Financial Times and it consistently receives very positive feedback from students, who appreciate such benefits as outstanding teaching, international recognition of the program, an international mix of students and staff, and a strong alumni network.

Mario Ruberto, Chief Financial Officer of Ferrero Asia Ltd and a KH-EMBA graduate, said the program enabled him to become a more effective global leader.

“I was looking for a truly international environment where I could learn from my peers as well as from the lectures and this program really met my expectations. I had dynamic and challenging classmates, and we were taught by excellent staff who gave outstanding lectures,” he said.

Even years after graduation the benefits are still felt, according to Alice Mong who was part of the first graduating class. She switched industries a few years ago, to go into the non-profit sector, and found herself drawing on her EMBA learning. “It helped me to look at things more holistically – to look at finance as well as personnel management and marketing and the other factors involved in running a business. You learn to see things from multiple perspectives,” she said.

The secret of the program’s success has been an unbending focus on excellence. Admission is highly selective and growth has been deliberately slow so as to focus on quality over quantity. There is also a willingness to respond to students’ needs so that while the program started out with a China focus, that quickly evolved into a global outlook because that was what students wanted. Exchange programs were introduced to support that goal.

Prof. Vidhan Goyal, Academic Director of the KH-EMBA, said they would continue to work hard to stay ahead of the curve and ensure business leaders are prepared to thrive and prosper in a more globalized, networked world.

“We are constantly evolving and leveraging on the opportunities and resources that are available to use. We want to make sure that we maintain the quality of education we are known for, and continue to set the global standard for EMBA education,” he said.

In celebration of the program’s 15th anniversary, a gala dinner was held in June at The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, featuring Professor Janice Eberly, James R. and Helen D. Russell Professor of Finance at Kellogg and former Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy and Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as keynote speaker.