The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Acknowledgement The School wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to the following individuals for their kind support: Prof. Prasanna P Karhade, Prof. Veronique Lafon- successVinais, Ms. Jojo Leung (Casalingo), Mr. Raymond Sze (Freeing HK), Ms. Carmen Tsang (QIPAO Central) and Mr. Anderson Woo (Sonivy Technology). 21 Our Student Editorial Board, current students have Inside Projects spent numerous hours on this issue. We owe a great debt of gratitude to them for their dedication and 19 support. Academic Advising 17 Business Cohort Content 05 Community Faculty Spotlight: Prof. Veronique Lafon-Vinais 13 Dorm Essentials: 03 th th Faculty Spotlight: the 8 & 9 15 My Life Prof. Prasanna 07 Beyond UST P Karhade Cover Story – The Entrepreneurs: No Cakewalks! Issue Highlight: A 9-5 job does not excite everybody Published by the you know! Entrepreneurship is a dream that a lot of people want, but few are Student bold enough to do what it takes to Undergraduate Programs Office Year 1, BBA make that dream a reality. Check out Becky AU Year 1, Business & Management Editorial Board HKUST Business School cover story of the issue. Rebecca CHU Tintin CHUNG Year 2, BBA (Management & Information Systems) Issue of August 2013 HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF Collin FU Year 1, BBA (Global Business) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Horlick HO Year 1, BBA CLEAR WateR Bay, KOWLOON, HONG KONG Christabel LAM Year 1, BBA Tel: (852) 2358 6005 Website: undergrad.bm.ust.hk/ Kelvin LAU Year 1, Business & Management Fax: (852) 2358 3805 Facebook: www.facebook.com/sbmug.hkust Jason LEUNG Year 1, BBA (Professional Accounting) Email: [email protected] Fiona NG Year 1, Business & Management Elainey SHI Year 1, Business & Management 1 HKUST Business School Buzz - Aug 2013 2 I simply love HKUST! I didn’t have a haircut for a few years! Born in India and received a PhD degree in Information work. I just went where the job took me.” “When I was in India, I used to be the lead my biggest influences. We composed our Systems in the US, Prasanna is a cultured and multi- This sentiment brought Prasanna to HKUST vocalist for a heavy metal band. Bands like own songs and even recorded in studio. talented person who strives for excellence in research and three years ago. “I simply love HKUST. Our Pink Floyd and Metallica were Those were the sweet nostalgic days with teaching. Learn more about the versatile Prasanna whose campus is situated in a small and tranquil long hair – I didn’t get a haircut Prof. Prasanna Karhade presence manifests the philosophy of HKUST in which area that is close to a much bigger for four years!” diversity is both embraced and encouraged. and noisier city. While I was in the Department of Information Systems, Prasanna’s passion for music US, I heard about HKUST from my did not diminish even after Business Statistics and Operations Management friends and what I have experienced Flowers of the sun graduation. “These days I here so far already exceeded my BY PRASANNA KARHADE am back to the music world! expectations! The balance between Trying to play the guitar and social and professional life has blessed with a new dawn sing at the same time is no is not only about attaining knowledge; another 3 years in Hong Kong, and still made my living here a bliss. It takes bundle of sunshine at the door TECHNOLOGY X BUSINESS & easy job. I hope one day I can it is also about understanding yourself counting, Prasanna’s life path attests to only 5 minutes to walk to office from she moves across the lawn ENGINEER X PROFESSOR host a small performance on and respecting others. It is important the influence of globalization in which home and almost the same amount darkness now exists no more my own – I am working hard After attaining an engineering degree, for students to develop good habits like international integration of many cultures is of time to visit friends who also live seeds have been planted for that!” Prasanna worked as a programmer in punctuality and respect for others when more of a norm than exception. on campus. We often play squash the patient wait has begun the US and decided to pursue a PhD in they are young and I try to instill these and other sports together and there “I call myself a fake Indian. Curry is in my she completes the quartet business when his employer’s firm was tenets into my classes.” He regularly is no excuse for skipping a game!” blood. Images of Ganesh, the elephant- of the earth, water, and the sun acquired by a bank. “The acquisition receives students’ thank-you emails and his head god of wisdom in Indian culture, led me to realize that, technology never office is adorned with class photos. “I am BEYOND TECHNOLOGY and for them she cares adorn my room. But I have not been works in a vacuum and ever since then, I very pleased to hear that my class has made each n’ every passing day keeping abreast of India’s current affairs AND PROGRAM CODES have started to get passionate about how an impact on students’ life! I even received her nurturing gaze since I left in 1999. My time in the US, technology and business can link together.” a cowboy hat as a gift from a student in my In addition to work and sports, wards off all demons away interacting with many people with diverse class!” poetry and song composition are “I like being a professor as I love both backgrounds and cultures has made me also undertakings for Prasanna she kisses them with her hand conducting research and interacting with roots will spread deeper “FAKe” INDIAN IN HONG appreciate individual uniqueness and whose artistic inclination belies students while making contribution to led me to believe that we should be his technical background. Just taller tomorrow they will stand KONG Reported by Collin Fu & Horlick Ho society”, said Prasanna with a smile that comfortable with who we are and readily a quick showcase, the following the bonds will get stronger exuded satisfaction. He treasures his accept others.” Pigeonholing Prasanna’s cultural identity “Flowers of the Sun” is a piece by but the wait is not lonely interactions with students and tries to is difficult. Growing up in India and having “Geographical location is not a major Prasanna last year. flowing time a gentle river remember every student’s name. “Learning resided in the US for more than 10 years, concern when choosing places to study or one day soon she will see sunflowers smiling back at her. 3 HKUST Business School Buzz - Aug 2013 4 ““Know who you are, Faculty follow your heart, and Formula of know the people!” Spotlight happiness Prof. Veronique Lafon-Vinais Department of Finance EYES ON HONG KONG THE NOT-SO-SECRET The decision of coming to Hong Kong can FORMULA OF HAPPINESS be traced back to shortly after Veronique’s For students who are interested in finance, marriage in France. She was supposed Veronique advises them to go for the to settle down in France after her buy side, like insurance companies, asset nomadic working life, but she management, etc. “I know there are many changed her mind when her students clamoring for investment bank FROM A FINANCIAL PRACTITIONER husband got an investment jobs, but the enactment of the draconian TO A PROFESSOR banking job in Hong Kong. financial regulations as a response to the financial crisis has made the industry vastly With more than 20 years of banking and capital market “I think Hong Kong is a very unique place. different from what it was a decade ago.” experience, Veronique Lafon-Vinais is a seasoned I would describe it as a transitional city financial market professional who has worked in where people ‘come and go’ and not a “Know who you are, follow your heart, and major financial markets in Europe, North America place to retire – although this is changing,” know the people!” Veronique generously and Asia in debt and credit markets. said Veronique. As we know, Hong Kong shared three golden rules on job hunting. is an international financial hub and many “You will probably gain some insights into expats come here mainly for work and the company culture during the interview will pack their bags and go back home process. It is crucial to go for a job in a THOSE BYGONE YEARS LEAVING WAS JUST A NEW In the fall of 2005, she started to teach an once they finished their tour of duty. “I am company where the culture matches your IN THE FINANCE FIELD BEGINNING undergraduate course in the Quantitative always amazed by how small Hong Kong is. values. It is pointless to go to the office Finance program. The small class Whenever I go to Central, I regularly bump and complain about your job every day Veronique knew little about finance when Veronique left banking in 2001 because she environment allows more interaction and into friends and former colleagues in the because it only brings misery to your life she was young. Her parents are both felt like “the wrong person in the wrong generates much discussion on financial banking industry! This is so unlike other and everybody else’s. If you feel something pharmacists and at one point she thought place at the wrong time” in the firm she topics. She really enjoys teaching the bright cities such as Chicago and London where I is not right, then probably it is not right.