When Ricky Zhu (HKUST MBA Part-Time Weekly MBA Class of 2021) moved from Shenzhen to Hong Kong in 2011, he has already built a strong technical career across telecom and global firms including Oracle and Accenture. With growing exposure to business decisions, he pursued the HKUST MBA to strengthen his commercial acumen, expand his local network, and transition beyond a purely technical path.
A Career Built on Depth
With a background in computer science, he began his career as a technology consultant, building a strong track record delivering complex, large-scale projects for major organizations, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
As projects grew in scale and strategic importance, he became increasingly involved in business decision-making, stakeholder alignment, and navigating competing priorities. More critically, as he found himself in discussions with senior management, he became aware of a gap.
I could communicate technically,” Ricky recalls, “but when discussions moved to business decisions, I realised my perspective wasn’t enough.
Never Settling — Even at a Senior Stage
Rather than relying on experience alone, Ricky decided to invest deliberately in his next stage of growth.
After extensive research, he chose the HKUST MBA for its world‑class faculty, professors who combined academic depth with real industry experience. The diverse cohort and close‑knit community further stood out, offering both structured learning and a trusted environment for exchange.
The shift did not happen overnight, but the MBA accelerated the process.” Ricky reflected. Through courses in finance, communication, and strategy, Ricky began to move beyond execution, learning to evaluate issues through financial, organisational, and strategic lenses.
It changed how I look at problems,” he says. “Not just from my own perspective, but from the company’s.
That change came at the right time. During his studies, Ricky stepped into a management role, applying what he learned almost immediately in real business situations.
Where Peer Support Made the Difference
One of the most enduring aspects of the MBA was the community. Ricky’s study group formed a close bond that extended well beyond assignments. They challenged one another’s thinking, shared perspectives across industries, and supported each other through career decisions.
At one point, a teammate even walked Ricky through a detailed SWOT analysis during a job transition, offering candid advice and supporting him to pursue a corporate role at Bank of China. Years on, those relationships remain active, evolving into long‑term, mutually beneficial connections.
Value That Reveals Itself Over Time
Yet the full value of the MBA, Ricky reflects, unfolded gradually.
In the first few years, you may not feel it strongly,” he says. “But over time, you realise how deeply it shapes how you think and work.
Today, as Deputy General Manager at a Bank of China Group Insurance, that influence remains embedded in his daily decisions, from communication and negotiation to evaluating opportunities at an organisational level.
Leading with Judgment in an AI‑Driven Future
As AI continues to transform industries, Ricky recognizes that a strong human foundation is more essential than ever. While technology can accelerate processes and improve efficiency, it cannot replace the judgment, communication skills, and perspective needed for effective leadership.
The role of AI is to support, not decide.
For Ricky, the HKUST MBA was not an immediate leap, but value that compounds over time, supporting him across roles, markets, and every stage of his leadership journey.