Jose F. C. Hong

Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford

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

Hometown: Singapore

Fun fact about yourself: I performed in a Swedish-language musical theatre group when living in Sweden to improve my language skills.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

School – University College London

Degree – European Social and Political Studies

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?

Company – International Union for Conservation of Nature

Role – Global Coordination and Liaison Lead

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Not applicable

Where will you be working after graduation? I am still in the job search process and eventually aim to work in a global food company – actively managing their supply chains to make them more efficient, profitable, environmentally sustainable, and socially impactful.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Co-chair of the MBA business network for environmental sustainability.

Co-chair of the MBA pride club.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? The MBA Pride Club organised an event that drew 150 participants. It centered on how to be an effective LGBTQ+ ally in the workplace, and on what it means to come out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The engagement we received blew us away, especially given that the event took place on a Tuesday evening in the middle of term.

I am very proud for several reasons. This event showed the Pride Club’s ability to work as a team under tight deadlines to deliver successful products. It also showed that the Pride Club could create a trusting space where our peers felt comfortable to ask us vulnerable questions. Lastly, seeing the beautiful support of the classmates and friends who came out in force on a weekday night was deeply moving – and made me proud to be a student of Saïd Business School.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The achievement was securing a job to work for the director general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest environmental network.

In 2018, I was a science journalist in Singapore. And when I saw that the role to work in Switzerland for the leader of IUCN was open to any candidate worldwide, I realised the competition would be fierce. But, as someone passionate about nature conservation, I also knew I would regret not trying. After all, chances to work for the leader of an intergovernmental organization are few and far between.

I progressed through the application process while still writing articles as a journalist under tight deadlines, and eventually received my job offer from IUCN. I then took the plunge to move to a country I never lived in before, and in the six years up until my Oxford MBA gained more responsibilities, was promoted, and thrived.

This whole journey is a proud professional achievement, because it showed me that I could stand out in a global talent pool. Just as importantly, it proved my independence, resilience, and adaptability in unfamiliar contexts.

Why did you choose this business school? Saïd Business School is a leading institution within a world-class university. As someone who firmly believes that bridge-building is key to success in life, I was drawn to the dizzying array of disciplines at Oxford, and to the potential for intellectual cross-pollination.

There are so many talks and panels led by world-leading experts, on subjects ranging from astrophysics to biology to history to urban planning. All of them are held in close proximity to each other and take place very regularly – often clashing with one another.

It has been wonderful to attend these events as a student, and to establish connections with leaders in various fields. These are relationships I know I can maintain even after graduation.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor so far has been Timothy Galpin, who is a senior lecturer in strategy and innovation. He taught us strategy, and I loved how he drew on his three decades’ practical experience to bring academic concepts to life.

With his commanding presence and his dry, sharp humour, Tim also keeps students fully engaged (and on their toes!) during lectures. Furthermore, he was caring and attentive when me and my team approached him for advice on a procurement case competition. Tim embodies a lot of what I came to Oxford for, and for that I like him a lot.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favourite course so far has been Transforming Organizations for Sustainability: A Change Agent’s Toolkit. This course provides students with a framework for managing change processes within organisations, which is deeply meaningful to me as an environmentalist who wants to make the world a better place. Our lecturers in this course have been engaging, and we have heard from leaders with practical real-world experience.

Furthermore, the class has challenged me to reconsider my assumptions on the methods of driving systemic change. While this journey has been intellectually uncomfortable, I am grateful that the course has pushed me in this way, because this will make me a more successful leader.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Nothing. This one-year degree is so short and intense, and I struggled greatly in the beginning when trying to balance between academics, building meaningful relationships in a cohort of 348 classmates, appreciating the intellectual breadth and depth of the University of Oxford, co-leading two student societies, and planning my job search.

It was this very process of struggling that was so crucial, and which taught me a lot about myself. I made mistakes which I quickly learned from, and which have helped me grow as a result. If you brought me back to the start of my MBA experience, I would do it all over again in exactly the same way.

What is the biggest myth about your school? Many people may think the University of Oxford is filled with people who are out of touch with reality. However, I have found this to be far from the truth. My peers – both within the MBA and in the wider university – come from all corners of the world and all walks of life.

They seek deep connections and want to leave a positive impact. This is something I treasure greatly.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? The University of Oxford dates back to at least 1096. With more than 900 years of academic history, the surroundings of the business school are rich in architecture, culture, and beauty. I love cycling to school every day, where I can go past the ancient buildings steeped in innovation and learning which give this place its name as the “City of Dreaming Spires”.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? My choice is perhaps a bit unconventional, and it is The Devil Wears Prada. It tackles the compromises that people feel compelled to make between their personal values and career advancement, and it shows how corporate culture can be both a source of great personal growth and a minefield of office politics – occasionally at the same time.

I greatly enjoyed how the film explored these tensions through the lens of humor, and the movie reinforced the ideals of adaptability, resilience, and positivity – all values which remain important to me.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? We can take a course on machine learning, and through this class have access to ChatGPT Edu, and an AI teaching assistant, which we have been encouraged to use to explain Python coding and various aspects of machine learning (such as the process of training artificial neural networks). Separately, we have also talked in different courses (e.g., strategy) about the impact of AI, which shows how this subject is on the front of our faculty’s minds.

Through using AI, I have become convinced of its great power across multiple disciplines. I also know that the field of AI will evolve at a dizzying rate and that we must be prepared for it to disrupt established practices in ways that we cannot yet comprehend or imagine. As such, the use of AI has highlighted the values of always learning, so that we can stay ahead of the curve.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? It is extremely hard to choose between my classmates because so many of them are amazing. But if I had to select one name, it is Mudit Shukla.

Mudit, who comes from India, co-leads the MBA student network for environmental sustainability with me and three other classmates. I admire his intellectual curiosity, as well as his openness to people of different cultures and backgrounds. He shows this in a way that stands out even in a diverse course of very open students.

Through working with him, I have also seen his willingness to engage in difficult conversations, and respect how he can quickly switch between leading decisively and following effectively – which is a crucial element of teamwork. Most importantly, I have seen his kindness and his enthusiasm for life. This makes him highly persuasive (important for an environmentalist!) and tells me he will be a leader that people want to work with. These are not qualities he boasts about, and which I have learned only because I have been privileged to work with him. This is why I admire Mudit so much.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? First, I wish to reach the C-suite of a multinational food company, because I see the food industry as a powerful global engine to create prosperity for businesses, people and the planet. And it is through leadership positions that one can effectively drive positive change.

Second, wherever I work, I want to create a corporate culture where colleagues feel safe. People should not feel discriminated against because of their cultural, socioeconomic, or sexual background. This is especially important in the multicultural and global environment that we live in.

What made Jose such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“I am honoured to write this recommendation for Jose Hong; a truly exceptional individual whose maturity, consistency, and unwavering commitment set them apart as a leader and role model. In my role as an Associate Director overseeing the MBA Programme delivery, I have had the privilege of witnessing Jose’s dedication to both academic and personal growth, as well as their passionate advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.

Jose is one of the most level-headed and mature students I have had the pleasure of working with. He approaches challenges with a calm and thoughtful demeanour, demonstrating resilience and problem-solving skills that inspire those around him. His consistency in both academic and co-curricular commitments reflect a deep sense of responsibility and reliability, making him a trusted leader among his peers.

Beyond their personal excellence, Jose is a true champion for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. He has actively worked to create safe and supportive spaces through student led initiatives, including our recent university wide panel on LGBT+ History Month in Oxford. His ability to foster meaningful conversations and promote understanding is a testament to his empathy and leadership skills. Not only standing up for what he believes in but also uplifting others, Jose ensures that every individual feels seen, heard, and valued.

His maturity, commitment, and advocacy make him an outstanding candidate who will undoubtedly continue to make a positive impact.”

Lisa Chow
Associate Director, MBA Programme

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