“Inspire. Empower. Lead.” More than just a slogan, the essence of HKUFBE serves as a guide for students and alumni to grow and achieve their dreams.

In our “LEAD Interview” series, we invited four outstanding students and alumni to explore the various facets of leadership – each based on an anchor word starting with L, E, A, or D.

Levy Jiawei Huai
D is for Driven

• 2014 Graduate in Bachelor of Science in Physics, School of Science, Renmin University of China
• 2014 Graduate in Bachelor of Economics, National School of Development, Peking University
• 2016 Graduate in Master of Finance, HKU Business School

From pursuing cross-disciplinary studies to career progression, each move demonstrates how Levy turns his motivation into an instrumental power to make changes.

The Drive for Cross-Disciplinary Exploration

“In music, every note, every pause, every movement shapes the composition. In finance, even the most complex projects are built piece by piece. It’s about precision, recognising patterns, and calculating risk,” said Levy. Music and finance may seem different, but both require a deep commitment to excellence. This relentless pursuit of excellence led Levy to step out of the physics world and explore finance, where he applied mathematical principles to bring logic to uncertainty and turn abstract numbers into real-world solutions. His cross-disciplinary journey began with the drive to translate excellence into daily practice.

Execution-Focused and Results-Oriented

As a typical ENTJ, Levy is highly execution-focused and driven by clear objectives. Once he sets a goal, he focuses intensely on achieving it, often entering a state of flow that enables deep focus and high productivity. His high standards for outcomes and the satisfaction from achieving them create a positive feedback loop, motivating him to pursue his endeavours.

To learn more about the programme, please visit: https://masters.hkubs.hku.hk/

“Inspire. Empower. Lead.” More than just a slogan, the essence of HKUFBE serves as a guide for students and alumni to grow and achieve their dreams.

In our “LEAD Interview” series, we invited four outstanding students and alumni to explore the various facets of leadership – each based on an anchor word starting with L, E, A, or D.

Elizabeth Bergo
L is for Limitless

• 2019 Graduate, Bachelor’s Degree in International Business, Munich Business School
• 2021 Graduate, Master of Global Management, HKU Business School

After graduation, how did Elizabeth break boundaries while navigating the new world of finance and innovation?
Her story is a perfect example of “leading the future.”

A Journey of Growth Through a Tricultural Heritage

Elizabeth Bergo’s background is a mix of cultures. Ethnically Russian, she spent her teenage years in Austria before moving to Germany when she was 18 to pursue her undergraduate studies. Her trilingual upbringing not only stimulated the curiosity of different cultures, perspectives and mindsets, but also influenced her open-mindedness and has inspired her to keep exploring the world.

A Chosen Family at HKU

In 2020, Elizabeth enrolled at HKU Business School, during a very significant and challenging time. Although the COVID-19 pandemic brought face masks, social distancing and other restrictions into her life, none of these obstacles stopped her passion for knowledge and intellectual exchange.

As part of the first cohort returning to campus, she built strong connections with her tutorial classmates, who soon became her chosen family. They spent countless hours together on long and stressful study nights, sharing meals and exchanging aspirations. For Elizabeth, HKU was both a valuable place of knowledge and a starting point for self-discovery and personal growth.

A Cross-Disciplinary Experiment in Limitlessness

Elizabeth’s academic journey at HKU Business School reshaped her global perspective. After graduation, she launched her career at a crypto exchange, gaining experience in blockchain investigation. Now, she works for a local law firm, bringing in a diverse range of expertise and acting as a bridge between different industries, cultures and mindsets.

She firmly believes in the motto, “go beyond what you think is possible,” and embraces that life is full of limitless possibilities waiting to be discovered.

No matter where your journey begins, join us in exploring the limitless possibilities your own life has in store: https://masters.hkubs.hku.hk/

Freediver Jin Ming (William Joy) holds multiple Asian records and is also the world champion in Dynamic Apnea with Fins (DYN). The Shanghai-born  athlete, who is able to cover 311 metres in just one breath, only started diving formally in 2018. Since then, he has continued to break national, Asian, and world records, and helped the Chinese National Team reach new heights in the aquatics world. To the surprise of many, Jin Ming doesn’t devote all his time to training.

In order to excel at both competitions and work, Jin Ming is extremely strict with time management. He tends to avoid socialising and entertainment. As a firm believer of the “811 rule”, Jin Ming spends 80% of his time on business, just 10% on freediving and dedicates the remaining 10% to studying.

Whether in the sports arena or the commercial world, Jin Ming’s tenacity and determination are second to none. He first started investing in 2009 and is the founder and CEO of the tech firm – Jilian Group. As a business leader, he thought it would be best to return to school and study finance.

In 2021, Jin Ming enrolled in the Master of Business Administration (International) Programme jointly organised by the HKU Business School and the School of Management of Fudan University. The two-year course is ranked number one among global, part-time MBA programmes . He sees great value in the international programme that keeps him up to date with the latest industry news and trends. Jin Ming is also inspired by outstanding entrepreneurs within the alumni network at HKU Business School, boasting over 6,000 alumni  worldwide. As a student, Jin Ming has been encouraged to rethink many fundamental investment theories, leading him to create new theoretical frameworks and innovative tools.

The diving icon thinks it is very easy for people to focus solely on his achievements, neglecting the fact that he would “experience failures 99 percent of the time” as an entrepreneur or an athlete. In fact, just a few years ago, Jin Ming hit a stumbling block in one of his freediving events. He recalled how people close to him, including his mother, suggested that he call it quits whilst still at the top of his game. Had he given up back then, he would never have smashed the world record earlier this year. In his words, “I believe that breaking human limits is inherently challenging. If I give up so easily, I feel like I haven’t fully utilised my potential.” As for challenges in the tech industry, the entrepreneur is adamant that any setback will only help oneself discover new skills and motivate them to do better next time. Jin Ming has proved that dedication and embracing failure will result in great success.

To his fellow schoolmates at HKU, his message is simple – “Failures are a norm in life. Just remember to keep trying.”

The HKU Business School Shenzhen Campus, completed in November 2022, marked another significant milestone with the unveiling of the school emblem stone. This not only underscores HKU’s role in fostering the development of the GBA, but also reveals a heartwarming story of our alumnus’ generous support and contribution to the school.

We recently conducted an exclusive interview with Xufei YAN, a graduate of HKU Business School in the DBA programme and the Chairman of Shenzhen Longyuan Refinement Construction Co. Ltd., who diligently supervised the design and construction of Shenzhen Campus and generously donated the school emblem stone. Xufei YAN shared his experiences as a HKU student and how the school has contributed to his career progress.

We would like to express our gratitude to Xufei YAN’s dedication to the school and his unwavering passion for nurturing future generations.

Full article (Chinese version only) is available.

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