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Be Deeply Involved in the Chinese Market

Dec 29-2020   



Joohoon Bok, PKU-Vlerick MBA 2019 Part-time Class, BiMBA MBA Ambassador

Joohoon got his bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Hanyang University and now he is serving as a manager in BMW China.

 

 

The year 2004, was the first time I visited China (Beijing) for a family trip.


In 2016, after 12 years of my first visit, when I worked at BMW Korea, I came to Beijing again for the employee exchange program and stayed for one month. During my stay, I realized how much China had been changed and developed since my first visit. I already knew that China is now the biggest market for BMW, but after I experienced this market for a one-month, I saw how much the biggest market is different and how fast they are growing. Meanwhile, I started thinking that I wanted to know more about the Chinese market, and it would be great if I could have a chance to work here.

 


Two years later, fortunately, I received the offer from BMW China through a colleague I met during the exchange program, and finally, I came to China as an ex-pat in May 2018.

 

After adapting myself to the new environment for some time, I've been thinking about a better way to utilize the time in China, improving myself not only in terms of working experience but also in an academic way. Therefore, I naturally came up with a part-time MBA.

 

I've already considered an MBA several years ago, but I finally gave up due to many reasons back then. So, I thought now it is a time to reconsider an MBA in China. As the MBA is a pretty practical study, it might be even better to study in the world's biggest and fastest-growing market.

 


Moreover, since my career has been developed in marketing, although I majored in engineering at university, I was sure that MBA would bridge my crossed background and strengthen my overall business administration knowledge.

 

When I searched for MBA programs in China, I was attracted to BiMBA by its international and professional aspects comparing to other MBA programs. The international element was the priority for me to choose MBA as I’m not very familiar with Chinese (business) culture, including the Chinese language, even though we have something in common in Asian culture. In that way, BiMBA met my expectation. Then, I directly contacted the BiMBA office and had a meeting to learn more about the programs. I was eventually convinced that the PKU-Vlerick MBA curriculum would be the best fit for my career. Also, the jointly structured MBA program, together with Peking University and Vlerick Business School, was another attraction for me since I would be able to experience both the best university in China and the mature European MBA study from Belgium, which were already pretty much qualified by its name.

 


I also thought that BiMBA would be a great chance to meet people as classmates who are smart, capable, and professional in their work – this is one of the benefits people might expect from MBA, and BiMBA has a strong alumni group from all walks of life which makes BiMBA stronger. After two semester’s study, I absolutely can say that I enjoyed studying with great friends and was inspired by their enthusiasm.

 

The MBA study is more like analyzing your logic/thoughts and exchanging your opinion through a presentation and a discussion, not just listening to a professor. It might sometimes be challenging but these challenges would let you move one step forward in various aspects such as running a presentation skillfully, delivering a message clearly and concisely, negotiating a gap, and so on. You could learn it from peers through the relationship and activities, and it may stimulate you positively.

 


Of course, the balanced mixture of the professors from the NSD and Vlerick Business School also helped to see professional insights on the Chinese economy and an interpretation from a global perspective based on their international experiences. BiMBA’s MBA courses are diversified and practical. Mostly, finance-related classes and economy classes were quite interesting and instructive. Since I’ve always thought that finance is one of the vital knowledge for a senior-level no matter what line of work you are in; however, mine was not sufficient. Besides, as finance-related skills could barely be accumulated by work experience, I felt the classes were more valuable for me – like distributed pieces of knowledge are connected, I could figure out the whole story.

 

I’m sure that my life areas will be expanded and more fruitful by the knowledge and friendships acquired in and out of the class. Although, as an ex-pat, I had to push myself to balance study and work from time to time, it is worth it if you are willing to seek another chance in your career and to be deeply involved in the Chinese market.

Be Deeply Involved in the Chinese Market

Dec 29-2020   



Joohoon Bok, PKU-Vlerick MBA 2019 Part-time Class, BiMBA MBA Ambassador

Joohoon got his bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Hanyang University and now he is serving as a manager in BMW China.

 

 

The year 2004, was the first time I visited China (Beijing) for a family trip.


In 2016, after 12 years of my first visit, when I worked at BMW Korea, I came to Beijing again for the employee exchange program and stayed for one month. During my stay, I realized how much China had been changed and developed since my first visit. I already knew that China is now the biggest market for BMW, but after I experienced this market for a one-month, I saw how much the biggest market is different and how fast they are growing. Meanwhile, I started thinking that I wanted to know more about the Chinese market, and it would be great if I could have a chance to work here.

 


Two years later, fortunately, I received the offer from BMW China through a colleague I met during the exchange program, and finally, I came to China as an ex-pat in May 2018.

 

After adapting myself to the new environment for some time, I've been thinking about a better way to utilize the time in China, improving myself not only in terms of working experience but also in an academic way. Therefore, I naturally came up with a part-time MBA.

 

I've already considered an MBA several years ago, but I finally gave up due to many reasons back then. So, I thought now it is a time to reconsider an MBA in China. As the MBA is a pretty practical study, it might be even better to study in the world's biggest and fastest-growing market.

 


Moreover, since my career has been developed in marketing, although I majored in engineering at university, I was sure that MBA would bridge my crossed background and strengthen my overall business administration knowledge.

 

When I searched for MBA programs in China, I was attracted to BiMBA by its international and professional aspects comparing to other MBA programs. The international element was the priority for me to choose MBA as I’m not very familiar with Chinese (business) culture, including the Chinese language, even though we have something in common in Asian culture. In that way, BiMBA met my expectation. Then, I directly contacted the BiMBA office and had a meeting to learn more about the programs. I was eventually convinced that the PKU-Vlerick MBA curriculum would be the best fit for my career. Also, the jointly structured MBA program, together with Peking University and Vlerick Business School, was another attraction for me since I would be able to experience both the best university in China and the mature European MBA study from Belgium, which were already pretty much qualified by its name.

 


I also thought that BiMBA would be a great chance to meet people as classmates who are smart, capable, and professional in their work – this is one of the benefits people might expect from MBA, and BiMBA has a strong alumni group from all walks of life which makes BiMBA stronger. After two semester’s study, I absolutely can say that I enjoyed studying with great friends and was inspired by their enthusiasm.

 

The MBA study is more like analyzing your logic/thoughts and exchanging your opinion through a presentation and a discussion, not just listening to a professor. It might sometimes be challenging but these challenges would let you move one step forward in various aspects such as running a presentation skillfully, delivering a message clearly and concisely, negotiating a gap, and so on. You could learn it from peers through the relationship and activities, and it may stimulate you positively.

 


Of course, the balanced mixture of the professors from the NSD and Vlerick Business School also helped to see professional insights on the Chinese economy and an interpretation from a global perspective based on their international experiences. BiMBA’s MBA courses are diversified and practical. Mostly, finance-related classes and economy classes were quite interesting and instructive. Since I’ve always thought that finance is one of the vital knowledge for a senior-level no matter what line of work you are in; however, mine was not sufficient. Besides, as finance-related skills could barely be accumulated by work experience, I felt the classes were more valuable for me – like distributed pieces of knowledge are connected, I could figure out the whole story.

 

I’m sure that my life areas will be expanded and more fruitful by the knowledge and friendships acquired in and out of the class. Although, as an ex-pat, I had to push myself to balance study and work from time to time, it is worth it if you are willing to seek another chance in your career and to be deeply involved in the Chinese market.