Alumni Spotlight

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and that perfectly sums up my Master’s journey at HKUST MScMARK. Coming in as an introvert, I was anxious about language barriers and making close connections. However, group projects pushed me out of my comfort zone. What started with a simple, "Hello, my name is Kaes," quickly bloomed into hours of non-stop yapping and deep friendships with a group of people I became incredibly comfortable with. It was fascinating because we clicked instantly, as if we’d known each other for years. Not only that, our workflows for the projects were seamless, and we always tried to deliver and present our outputs with genuine confidence.

Beyond the amazing community, the academic experience was a perfect bridge to the professional world. The courses mirror exactly what happens in the workplace, challenging us to treat business issues like puzzles. We learned to analyze the pieces, evaluate marketing concepts, and intentionally pick the exact frameworks that best fit to crack the challenge.

This dynamic completely shifted my perspective. Having completed a 12-plus-year academic journey in my home country, stepping into such a globally diverse classroom at HKUST was a wonderful eye-opener that pushed my mindset to grow. Learning became a rewarding two-way street. While I gained immense knowledge from professors, I also gained new perspectives and learnings from my classmates.

The curriculum at HKUST is undoubtedly challenging, but the people you choose to work with are what make the journey smooth. What started as a scary leap turned out to be one of the most memorable and transformative chapters of my life.