I joined the Compliance function of Credit Suisse Hong Kong as a fresh graduate in 2016. My role involves advisory on regulations the bank faces as well as partnering with stakeholders across the entire organization to mitigate regulatory risks. On the surface, it would seem that my bachelor’s degree in Journalism has little relevance to my profession. However, I can safely say that I continue to rely on many skills that I developed during my university life till today.

From my first day at HKU, I was introduced to world class professors, mentally stimulating courses and plenty of hands on learning experience which vastly honed my ability to communicate and present my ideas effectively. Also, the program structure that enabled me to pursue a second major in Economics coupled with common core courses had broaden my horizons to explore other areas of knowledge that I would not have thought would interest me initially. I was also encouraged to seize the many opportunities that were on offer from internships to exchange programs; I believe that the proactive mindset to go beyond your comfort zone is crucial to any field of work you find yourself in.

Studying in HKU is really an eye-opening experience.  One thing I really like about learning in HKU is the practical approach of the programmes. This emphasis on practicality translates into the university encouraging us to gain hands on experience while still a student, so far, I have done two internships. In 2017, I interned at Sunway Construction under the KVMRT Line II Project. I am proud and honored as this is one of the iconic infrastructure development projects in Malaysia. 

My second internship with Accenture was very different from the first allowing me to dip my toes into consulting.  These two experiences really solidified my strengths and aspirations for me. I have decided to pursue a job in the consulting industry as I find it more invigorating and it will help me become a more holistic person.