"I have gained very solid statistical knowledge and objective data analytical skill to solve real business problems. The scientific approach also enable me to succeed in getting professional qualification such as CPA, ACCA and further postgraduate studies in fintech, law and doctorate degrees"
Desmond Chu is the Director of Procter & Gamble (P&G) and serves on its Hong Kong and Taiwan business, specializing in FP&A and brand strategizing. Previously, he pursued an internal secondment —— took on a senior managerial role of Greater China market —— oversaw the financial planning and the entire operations of Vidal Sassoon, including end-to-end management of supply chain, sales activities, and service and financing support.
Before joining P&G, Desmond studied Risk Management in HKU and started his career with the consulting industry, focusing on consumer products and retail consulting. With a never-settle attitude, he earned a First-Class Honours Bachelor’s degree and the education set the foundation for his future studies in master and doctorate degrees.
- How do you manage to get into consulting and FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) industry after graduation?
Desmond:
Risk Management program helps me to equip solid logical thinking and analytical skills for me to succeed in different job interviews and real external business problems. I have scored quite well in numerical tests and develop a very structural and logical way for the case interview. All these trainings during the program build a solid foundation for me to succeed in different industries.
- Why would you continue further study in postgraduate studies and professional qualification afterwards?
Desmond:
The risk management program consists part of the examination scope of professional exams like CPA, ACCA and CFA. Even it only partially links with the exam, but this helps me to understand faster and better than normal. Interesting, my later study in law and fintech both require a strong logical thinking and programming knowledge where I have gained all the necessary skills in the bachelor study already.
- We understand that you went to London for exchange for a semester and internship in New York.
- How would you compare your life in London & New York with that in Hong Kong?
- Does the experience influence your management style?
Desmond:
a. That was truly unforgettable experience where I studied mathematics and management in King’s College in London and summer internship as accounting clerk in New York. I have broadened my horizon by exchange ideas with people form all over the world. The mathematic classes that I have chosen primarily to focus on theory basis and the teaching approach is open ended discussion among classmates. This has inspired me to look about problems in different angle and even mathematic questions might have different ways to solve. The internship in New York was very fast paced and I gained a lot of learnings on how to communicate effectively to colleagues and work collaboratively. I highly suggest students to apply exchange and internship during their school life.
b. The experience influence how I choose the job nature and shaped my management style. I enjoy the cultural exchange during the exchange and internship, so I have secondment to China for few years to steepen my learning curve. I also value diversity by respecting each individual ideas and empower them to become real business owners. We have “Everyone is a leader” spirit rooted in our culture and I truly believe this helps to transform the business and creates the comparative advantages for us to win externally.
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