HKU Business School proudly welcomes the significant contributions from Prof. Roy Liang Tan, Professor of Practice in Management and Strategy and Programme Director for the Customised Programme of Executive Education. With a career spanning two decades across global powerhouses like General Electric (GE) and Alibaba Group, Prof. Tan brings to the classroom the unique blend of corporate insight, cultural intelligence, and educational innovation.

Born in Shandong, Mainland China, a place renowned for artistic kites, Prof. Tan embodies the spirit of craftsmanship and care in every facet of his work. Whether shaping leadership systems or guiding students through strategic thinking, he believes mastery of a domain comes from the blend of patience and purpose. He is influenced by the wisdom of “helping others to help yourself” (成人達己) , reflecting his lifelong commitment to supporting and empowering others.

At GE, Prof. Tan served as Dean of Crotonville China, where he redefined leadership development by blending in-person and digital learning to expand the insights and practice of those under his care. He helped thousands of leaders adapt to a rapidly evolving global landscape, a legacy that has reached to this very day.

Prof. Tan’s leadership philosophy centres on values and performance as engines of transformation. At GE, he also spearheaded the shift from “Growth Values” to “GE Beliefs,” impacting over 20,000 employees and earning Prof. Tan the GE Beliefs Gold Award.

At Alibaba, he led the design of the Future CEO Program, a 15-month leadership journey that integrated strategy, and organisational and staff development. This initiative became a cornerstone for the Group’s succession planning, preparing leaders to anticipate and navigate AI-driven markets and cross-border e-commerce.

He also helped evolve the company’s core values, ensuring they remained a living philosophy that guided decision-making and culture. His work in performance management emphasised real-time feedback, developing a growth mindset, and aligning individual goals with organisational operations and agility.

Since joining HKU Business School in 2024, Prof. Tan has maintained across his courses a highly valued real-world relevance. His “Global Leadership” class challenges students to analyse actual Alibaba case studies, encouraging them to rethink how values shape the company’s strategic decisions.

He teaches through the lens of “People, Practice, Platform,” which is a framework that broadens perspectives and helps students turn theory into action. His goal is to help students lead with confidence, adapt with agility, and understand the impact of their decisions.

Beyond the classroom, Prof. Tan finds inspiration in calligraphy. This meditative practice mirrors his approach to leadership: be deliberate, precise, and deeply intentional. He’s also committed to daily plank exercises and values quiet reflection as a way to recharge and stay grounded.

“Step beyond your comfort zone. Embrace challenges—they’re your sharpest teachers,” Prof. Tan advises. Because as with mastering calligraphy, leadership is a patient and precise art.

From Weifang’s soaring kites to the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies, Prof. Tan’s journey is a testament to the power of purposeful leadership.