【Extraordinary Business School Alumni】Wong Cheuk-fung (IBBA 1997, MBA 2002): A servant leader

While priesthood and business schools seem worlds apart, clergymen are present in the alumni community of CUHK Business School – Wong Cheuk-fung (IBBA 1997, MBA 2002), dean of the Chinese Rhenish Church Tai Po, is one of them. How does his background in business set him apart? Let’s watch the video.

 

 

Greeting congregants with a warm smile, Pastor Wong, with his polished demeanour, took an unconventional path from studying science subjects in secondary school to pursuing the IBBA programme at CUHK. His decision to switch fields was driven by the broad range of skills and knowledge offered by the business school.  “Not only did the programme equip me with specialised knowledge in areas such as accounting and finance, but it also helped me learn about humanity. It provided training on soft skills and leadership.” He added.

 

Pursued an MBA at CUHK to expand his professional network

The young maverick landed an unusual job after graduation, his first job was at a cosmetic company as a management trainee (MT). “ I was one of the two men in the group of seven.” He then turned to furniture trading and manufacturing, with ample opportunities to work and learn the working culture and style in Mainland China.

 

Pastor Wong (first from the right) began his career as an MT in cosmetics. He was one of the few male members in the team.

With a view to expanding his professional network, he returned to CUHK to pursue an MBA. During his studies, Pastor Wong learnt different business thinking and leadership across territories but also seized the opportunity to spend four months studying abroad in the US as an exchange student.

 

Pastor Wong (first from the left) went to the US as an exchange student during MBA studies.

Following several years of work in Mainland China after completing his master studies, he made another life-changing turn to theology in 2009. “Who has imagined the public speaking skills you have honed in marketing lectures 25 years ago, laying the foundation for my current role to deliver sermons?” he said with a laugh.

 

Better understand people’s challenges and struggles

In the Bible, Moses was an Egyptian prince who grew up in the palace and later was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Could Pastor Wong’s business education, reminiscent of Moses’ princely upbringing, contribute to his leadership role in the church today?

Pastor Wong says the leadership training in business school facilitates his role as the shepherd of the church. “Especially as the congregation comes from diverse backgrounds, my background in business enables me to better understand their struggles and challenges.”

 

Pastor Wong says that his business background helps him better understand the difficulties faced by his congregation.

“While clerical attire, preaching, and administrative work may form the stereotypical image of a pastor, our responsibilities extend beyond these. We work not only in the church but also in the community.”  Pastor Wong, who willingly positions himself as a servant leader, led his church in distributing meal coupons during the pandemic, benefiting not only grassroots families and tenants of subdivided flats, but also restaurants that business was equally affected.

Looking back, he appreciates the training from his days in business school. “The work itself required different skills to navigate differences and explore potential collaborations. In essence, it was a form of business training on how to unite different groups to work towards a common goal.”

 

CUHK Business School alumni are everywhere, transcending geographical and industrial boundaries. To explore more inspiring alumni stories, please click HERE.