Jose F. C. Hong

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

“An environmentalist aiming to make the world happier, more prosperous, and greener for all.”

Hometown: Singapore, Singapore

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I performed in a Swedish-language musical theatre group to improve my Swedish skills.

Undergraduate School and Major: University College London, European Social and Political Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: International Union for Conservation of Nature, Global Coordination and Liaison Lead

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Oxford Saïd’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Oxford Saïd Business School celebrated me for who I am. Being an environmentalist and being gay are core parts of my identity, and it is here where I feel fully welcomed and supported to develop myself as a leader in sustainability and the LGBTQ+ spheres. The school’s mission of “impact from within” showed me that this is the place to learn how I, as a business leader, will learn how to drive positive change for the planet and for people. This is important because it goes to the core of why I want to do an MBA.

What course, club, or activity has been your favorite part of the Oxford Saïd MBA experience? There are so many talks and panels led by world-leading experts and intellectuals, on subjects ranging from astrophysics to biology to urban planning. All of them are held in close proximity to each other, and they take place very regularly (often clashing with each other!). It has been wonderful being able to attend these events as a student at Oxford.

What is the most “Oxford” thing you have done so far as a full-time MBA student? Attending dinners at the different dining halls of the Oxford colleges, and speaking with people from such a huge range of countries and walks of life.

Oxford is known as a place where world collides, be it in the classroom or the dining hall. What has been the most interesting interaction you’ve had so far as an Oxford MBA student? The colleges of Oxford University have chapels that date back centuries, and which are seen as bastions of tradition. It was extremely interesting and welcome to interact on a theological perspective with one of the chaplains about the importance of addressing climate change.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Co-writing and editing speeches that were used by my director general at major United Nations meetings.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Co-chairing MBA student groups dedicated to environmental sustainability and to LGBTQ+ rights has been my biggest accomplishment of the Oxford Saïd MBA experience. It has been amazing to be trusted by my peers and the institution to move forward equality and conservation, and to do so with driven and fantastic co-chairs.

What has been the biggest epiphany you’ve gained about yourself or the world since you started your MBA program? In these few months, I have learnt how quickly knowledge evolves. What we think of as accepted wisdom can be quickly replaced, seemingly in the blink of an eye. As such, if me and my classmates want to be the changemakers Oxford Saïd Business School is training us to be, we need to be comfortable with creating a path where none may have existed before. We also need to be comfortable knowing that we will make mistakes, and that we must surround ourselves with friends who can help us pick ourselves up, grow, and create a better future.

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