Full-time MBA

Jaipuria Raghavendra

Jaipuria Raghavendra
Class of 2019
India

When deciding where to study for my MBA there were a few factors that influenced my decision. Firstly, I was looking for a one year programme, which HKU offers. Secondly, HKU Business School provides a curriculum that concentrates on China and Hong Kong, plus it has a good global reputation. Finally, I believed Hong Kong to be an attractive place to study due to its status as a global financial hub. Currently, I work at Duff & Phelps, a global consulting and advisory firm, where I’m responsible for 3rd party portfolio valuation work for Private Equity and Venture Capital clients. Prior to the MBA, I worked in the IR function. I decided to change my career in the financial industry through the MBA programme.

I had a very good overall MBA experience. The programme provided us with a diverse study environment and professional faculty service. Academically, I was able to choose the subjects I wanted to focus on, and the curriculum pace allowed me to meet new people through networking when I was not in the classroom or working on group projects. Furthermore, HKU’s location on Hong Kong island was ideal, as you are just a stone’s throw away from most places.

What I found most useful about the programme was learning about – and gaining insight on – the Chinese and Hong Kong markets. In addition to that, courses such as Business Lab, Leadership, and The Capstone Project really helped me understand how to better position myself and my capacities in order to embrace and develop my future career.

To aspiring MBA applicants: whilst the one-year programme is tough, due to the need to study and network simultaneously, Hong Kong is all about networking – and you should make the most of it whilst you are there. The more you go out and meet people, the more you will find this helps you in the long run. You should attend HKU with an open mind, however, you should know what you are looking for and what you want to get out of the programme, as the year will go by quickly.

Finally, even after you get a full-time position, never stop networking. If you have the right skill set you can expand your capacity and find other opportunities through your own network.

Industry: Consulting
Company: Duff & Phelps
Job Title: Senior Associate