HKUST Business Review

17 HKUST Business Review Cover The types of issues that business leaders need to handle today are way more complex, particularly at a senior level. As HKUST Business School marks its 35th anniversary, it stands as one of Asia’s most dynamic academic institutions which has risen in a fashion that is, in the words of School Advisory Council Chairman Andy Tung, “nothing short of stunning” over the past three decades. With leadership experience gained from a career in the shipping industry, Tung speaks from a vantage point that allows for reflection and foresight, offering insights that reveal how far the School has come and what it must do to keep business education relevant in a rapidly evolving economy. Over the years, what has impressed him most is the strength and breadth of the ecosystem that has been created. It is seen in the truly international nature of the faculty and the student body, the extensive alumni network, and the variety of programs and research projects built on academic rigor and all-round excellence. The early decision to develop a large number of international partnerships helped to propel the School to global standing in record time. And that achievement, Tung says, is “a real testimony to the leadership and all the effort and dedication” that has been put in by so many individuals. There is, of course, nothing accidental about all this. It is the product of openness, ambition, and a willingness to evolve, traits which Tung believes the School must continue to cultivate. Transparency as a Cultural Foundation This view has been reinforced during his decade or so on the Advisory Council and, since recently assuming the role of chair, he has been further impressed by these aspects of on-campus culture. “There is just an exceptional level of transparency, which means we have very open access to the leadership, to the professors. It is a true dialogue,” he says. So, rather than being a forum to rubber stamp decisions, the Council operates as an active partnership, where ideas are exchanged and feedback genuinely welcomed. Along the way, the process also encourages qualities such as receptiveness and humility. “Being humble opens your mind to seeing different points of view and learning from others,” Tung says, adding that this is not merely procedural, but signals the University’s willingness to keep learning, adapting, and improving. A Changing World and Wider Horizons In his opinion, the School’s past has been defined by growth, but its future will be about dealing with complexity. Today’s leaders confront challenges far different from those of previous generations, and that pattern will continue, though almost certainly with greater speed and intensity. “We live in a fast-changing world,” Tung says. “The types of issues that business leaders need to handle today are way more complex.” For instance, geopolitics, once a distant concern for most companies, now shapes daily decision making. Market volatility has intensified. And technology is accelerating the pace of change in ways that few people can really anticipate. In this environment, the true value of business education lies not in teaching fixed answers, but in developing the mental flexibility and different approaches needed to manage any situation.