I take the train every other Friday at 8pm from Shanghai, enduring the 11-hour overnight journey to arrive in Hong Kong by 7am Saturday for the 9am class—and I enjoy every minute of it. That rhythmic rattle of the tracks gives me time to reset, regulating my sleep while shifting my mindset from high-pressure workweek to eager student. Back on Sunday night, I board again, arriving in Shanghai early Monday, ready to dive into peak season at my job.

The first half-year of HKUST's MBA has been exhilarating yet intense. Far from my daily grind, the program's energy comes alive through classmates from diverse backgrounds and mindsets—vibes I instantly loved during orientation. The PDP workshop was a standout, helping me spot the perfect study groups by revealing true personalities: one "peacock" from immersion week turned into a focused "tiger" during projects, while industry backgrounds shaped wildly different attitudes toward the same courses.

What I treasure most is the world-class education from professors who don't just teach—they rewire how I see everything. Take the Uniqlo case: I once viewed it purely as a customer; now, after exploring talent, marketing, and operations angles, I analyze it holistically, applying those insights directly to my role. Exams overlapping with my busiest seasons pile on the pressure, but it's worth it.
 

Immersion week clinched my elective plans around future C-level needs: negotiation, business law—skills beyond my media and marketing world. Why HKUST? The admissions team's in-depth guidance, even after just one pre-program event, sealed it. This journey isn't just classes; it's career acceleration.