Meet Oxford Saïd’s Inaugural Class Of Future Leader Scholars

Jose F. C. Hong

MBA Class year, specialization: 2025, sustainability
Hometown/ Home Country: Singapore

I’ve been an environmentalist since I was a kid. I grew up on the tropical equatorial island of Singapore and spent many happy days at the beach exploring the colorful marine wildlife at low tide. Yet in addition to being in one of the world’s richest areas of biodiversity, Singapore is an intensely developed city-state. The resources needed to support the comfortable and secure life I enjoyed jarred with the environmental destruction I knew was happening in many parts of the world. I wanted to overcome this tension and find a way for humans and nature to co-exist and thrive together. This drove me to pursue a career in sustainability.

Summary of your professional background prior to MBA:

I love language and view communication as an art form, so journalism very easily appealed to me. I won a journalism scholarship to study at University College London, and after attaining my bachelor’s degree, I worked as a science and environment journalist for Singapore’s national newspapers. Eventually, I desired to go more directly into sustainability and so moved to Switzerland to work for the director general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is the world’s largest nature conservation network.

Why did you pursue an MBA?

During my six years at IUCN, I grew fascinated by the role of the private sector as a partner in environmental sustainability. It became clear to me that the worlds of business and environmentalism can and must collaborate to secure a thriving future for the whole planet.

Why did you choose Oxford Saïd’s MBA?

I wanted a program that could nurture my desire to build a better future. Oxford Saïd’s MBA ticked all the boxes. The students and alumni I spoke with during my outreach were purpose-driven, the program was geared towards impact, and the MBA sat within the larger setting of a world-class university. Lastly, the program would allow me to re-enter the workforce after one year.

What has been the hallmark of the experience so far?

Being trusted by my cohort to co-chair the student-led business network for environmental sustainability, and to also co-chair the student pride club. My identity as an environmentalist and as a gay man are central to who I am, and it is amazing to receive the support of my peers and the institution to advance the missions of equality and conservation.

What has been the most valuable?

Enjoying the brilliance of Oxford. The University of Oxford leads the world in many respects, and I deeply cherish being able to engage with amazing minds from a dizzying array of disciplines, while immersing myself in centuries of history and culture.
What does the Oxford Saïd: Future Leaders’ Scholarship mean to you personally and to your ability to pursue an MBA?

It is an honor to be recognized as a future leader, and I want to live up to the responsibility of this scholarship. Receiving this funding also lifted a huge weight off my shoulders when deciding to pursue Oxford Saïd’s MBA. Combined with the Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) Fellowship I received, the Oxford Saïd: Future Leaders’ Scholarship meant I could complete this degree without any financial burden.

What leadership aspirations do you have for after the MBA program?

I aspire to lead as an environmentalist who brings the worlds of business and sustainability together. While doing so, I also aim to be a leader who creates a welcoming workplace for all, regardless of sexuality, gender, ethnicity, and culture.

What are you most looking forward to in the next term of your program?

Cementing the bonds I’ve forged. I’ve already made so many rewarding friendships both within and beyond the MBA, and with the short time I have left in the program, I want to ensure that the community I’ve built lasts for many years to come.

What is next for you?

Ideally, a role managing supply chains for a global food company. I would love to find operational efficiencies, drive productivity, and ensure profitability, while also ensuring that the food that travels huge distances from the farm to your dinnerplate does not harm the environment along the way.

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