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With degrees in commerce and marketing from the University of Alberta in Canada, Garry Deng never imagined that a career in the booming industry of technology was an option for him.
Yet, the 27-year-old Canadian is now a successful IT consultant with the global consultancy firm, FDM Group – all thanks to Hong Kong Baptist University’s master of science in business management (MScBM) programme.
“My current job is not one that I would’ve considered at all a few years ago as nothing in my academic background was related to it,” he says. “But the mindset and principles that I developed from the MScBM programme were key factors in changing that.”
Why students with the ‘right stuff’ – a good mindset rather than skill set – are best placed to find jobs
Born and bred in Edmonton, Alberta, Deng moved to Hong Kong in September 2015, hungry to experience life away from his hometown.
He found out about the MScBM programme during an internship at Baptist University and decided to sign up in 2016 to learn how to “effectively manage a business”.
He says: “At the time, I had a career goal to work in the field of management consulting, but did not necessarily have a preference for any particular industry.
“The broad scope of the MScBM programme, as opposed to another programme that was more specialised, was the one that I felt would give the most breadth, so as to be applicable to any industry that I [would] end up working in.”
Check out five ways the MScBM programme opened doors for Deng and gave him an advantage early in his career.
1. A drive to learn – and keep learning

“Honestly, I had never been as receptive to learning as when I was a student on the MScBM programme,” Deng says.
“I remember I would often wake up feeling extremely motivated to get to the library as soon as I could so that I could invest more time into actually learning the material.”
Deng says this newfound passion to learn has been most valuable to his professional growth, especially in such a constantly and rapidly changing industry.
“In tech, there is a need to continuously upskill myself – there is always more to learn and what was applicable a year ago may not be applicable today,” he says.
2. Openness to new opportunities

“I did not previously have any substantial academic training where IT is involved,” Deng says.
“However, I had always been interested in the tech field and have kept tabs on the developments and trends of this so-called fourth industrial revolution.”
Fortunately, his job application to his current employer was successful.
“I’d like to think that my passion for learning and my open mindset was what helped the interviewers see my potential,” he says.
HKBU’s MScBM programme encouraged Deng to be open to new possibilities.
“The value of experimentation was imparted throughout the programme,” he says. “We were always told to consider different perspectives and ways of looking at things or a phenomenon.”
3. Resilience in face of challenges

The programme teaches students to stay ahead of the curve by anticipating future business challenges from all directions, Deng says.
“This experience helped me understand that no matter the environment and no matter the challenge, with the right mindset, anything is possible,” he says.
“When one believes in one’s self, every obstacle is merely a stepping stone to get to the next phase of their journey.
“Passion, coupled with persistence, is a very effective formula to get you where you want to be.”
4. Effective stress management – and communication

When work starts to feel like a race, it can be easy to become overwhelmed.
Deng says during such times it is important for people to step back, take a deep breath, relax and recharge.
Fortunately, stress management is one of the topics featured on the MScBM programme.
“One of the key concepts I still remember from the programme to this day is the value of effective stress management,” he says.
The “Managing People” module teaches students to recognise the various factors that lead to stress.
Deng says the module is useful as it provides the training the people need to communicate effectively in the workplace.
“The many presentations we have to give in class provide a solid foundation that I find helpful now whenever I have to interact with senior management,” he says.
5. Readiness to join diverse workforce

Meeting – and working with – a diverse group of people on the programme has also helped Deng to prepare for working for a global company such as FDM Group, which comprises more than 4,000 employees from a wide range of backgrounds in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Asia-Pacific.
“Through the programme, I have not only met people I would consider to be lifelong friends,” he says.
“I also learned, through my classmates, how to better understand cultural differences and cooperate with people who come from a diverse range of backgrounds.”
Hong Kong Baptist University's MScBM programme's holistic curriculum helps young business executives and fresh graduates develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a constantly changing business world. Find out more about the programme here. 
 

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5 ways master’s degree  has helped IT consultant ‘click’ in technology industry

Why students with the ‘right stuff’ – a good mindset rather than skill set – are best placed to find jobs

EdTalk: HKBU

IT consultant Garry Deng, who is a graduate of Hong Kong Baptist University's MScBM programme, says the mindset and principles he learned during the course were key factors in his career choice. Illustration: Pak To Yip

Illustration: Pak To Yip

News

Hong Kong

Education


Canadian Garry Deng, 27, says scope of Hong Kong Baptist University’s MScBM programme encourages people to be open to new opportunities
Higher-education course also ensures students can be assimilated into diverse workforce, handle on-the-job stress and show resilience in challenging times



Canadian Garry Deng, 27, says scope of Hong Kong Baptist University’s MScBM programme encourages people to be open to new opportunities


Hong Kong Baptist University

EdTalk: Universities

Universities in Hong Kong

EdTalk

5 ways master’s degree has helped IT consultant ‘click’ in technology industry

Canadian Garry Deng, 27, says scope of Hong Kong Baptist University’s MScBM programme encourages people to be open to new opportunities Higher-education course also ensures students can be assimilated into diverse workforce, handle on-the-job stress and show resilience in challenging times

Canadian Garry Deng, 27, says scope of Hong Kong Baptist University’s MScBM programme encourages people to be open to new opportunities

Higher-education course also ensures students can be assimilated into diverse workforce, handle on-the-job stress and show resilience in challenging times