I was always raised to believe that the world was my oyster and that there were infinite opportunities for me to pursue. However, growing up, I found this was not always the case, as many people were willing to dictate every aspect of a woman’s life and career. Joining HKUST Women in Business (WiB) in Year 1 made me realize that I was not the only one who thought so.

WiB’s weekly speaker sessions and social gatherings were designed to better prepare its members for life after graduation. This included talking about workplace norms, managing personal finances, and networking. Combined with the business acumen that the GBUS program provides, these speaker sessions were instrumental in broadening my perspective about corporate Hong Kong. As Editor-in-Chief of the student society, I focused on workplace inclusion and combating stereotypes in my articles for our blog page. Each piece gave me the opportunity to learn more about the subject matter before delivering, which is also something upheld in my Global Business studies.

A pivotal moment in my experience was when I had the opportunity to talk to Ms. Karen See who spearheaded the #MeToo movement in Hong Kong. Our conversation covered an array of topics such as leadership, how workplace discrimination differs globally, and her journey with the #MeToo movement. Our conversation inspired me to start the WiB Woman Of The Month blog series, among many other initiatives, such as pioneering WiBVoice (our first podcast series) and collaborating with Singapore Management University. Another key moment in my WiB journey occurred during a casual conversation with another member. I was asked about various topics such as the reason behind observable short careers of women, why “feminism” is a problematic term, and whether all genders are truly treated equally in our society. What struck me was when this member said she had never had this kind of conversation with anyone. At the same time, for me, this was something I talked about at every given opportunity!

Today, as President of Women in Business for the 22-23 academic year, I envision WiB as the perfect platform for people of all genders and schools to openly talk about social issues such as these, creating a sense of community to continue enhancing corporate and social awareness among our members. This being said, my initiatives at WiB are highly driven by the GBUS program which cultivates students to be outspoken, keep an open mind, and channel one’s learnings into action. It is instrumental in our careers and as individuals seeking to shape tomorrow’s world.