HKUST Business Review

45 HKUST Business Review East Meets West – Also in His Own Story Born in the Netherlands to parents from Zhejiang, Tung embodies the program’s East meets West identity. “I’m Chinese, but I’m the first generation born in the Netherlands—very Western education, but with Chinese culture and respect instilled,” he says. Hong Kong allowed him to bring those identities together. He calls the city a “super connector and global gateway,” a place where ambition meets opportunity. Sometimes, he adds, “I feel I’m able to appreciate Hong Kong more than people who were actually born here.” A New Career Lane: From Motorsport to Property After graduation, the strength of the Kellogg HKUST network became tangible. Through a classmate, he was approached by a headhunter for his current role as Director and Head of Private Office Hong Kong at Knight Frank, one of the world’s leading property consultancies. “People always rave about the network in executive education, and I can really confirm that,” he says. The transition from motorsport to property may sound unconventional, but to Tung, the parallels are clear. Running a racing team—managing sponsorships, operations, and long term strategy—gave him tools directly transferable to corporate leadership. “In the end, whether it’s business or sport, I truly believe in creating value and adding value to people’s lives.” Redefining Leadership, Embracing Lifelong Learning Tung insists the EMBA changed not only his CV, but his way of thinking. “I’ve always been very structured, but after the program I’m much more structured in the way I operate at work.” It broadened his worldview, strengthened his confidence, and deepened his belief in resilience, adaptability, and lifelong learning—values that have guided him from racetracks to boardrooms. As HKUST celebrates its 35th anniversary, Tung’s message to the next generation is simple: stay curious. “Don’t take things for granted. Stay curious and engage in lifelong learning, especially in this rapidly changing environment.” After all, as he puts it, “No one can predict the future, but the University equips us with tools to make a much better guess.” Celebrating graduation with fellow Kellogg- HKUST EMBA classmates Triumph at Le Mans, the world’s biggest and most famous endurance race