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At HKUST, we had classmates from all over the world, and this provided me with an international perspective that I have needed throughout my career.

Talent, innovation and the future

HKUST alumnus Mohamed Butt (2007 EMBA), Executive Director of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), is leading the vanguard for innovation, applied technology and value creation, bringing Hong Kong into the new generation of business connections with the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and other cities in Mainland China, Asia and beyond.

Born in Hong Kong, Mohamed was raised locally, before studying in Minnesota for his undergraduate degree at Winona State University. Mohamed’s father hailed from a South Asian background, and moved to Hong Kong, marrying his mother, who was a local Hong Kong Chinese.

A graduate of the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA program, Mohamed cut his teeth on a plethora of projects in different sectors with more than two decades at General Electric (GE), including roles with GE Consumer and Industrial Sourcing, and serving as President and CEO in Asia Pacific for Security, Lighting, and Transportation in three separate roles.

Whether it was working in Indonesia building train networks or working on whole city lighting in Sydney, GE helped Mohamed hone the necessary chops to be the leader of HKPC, which is largely focused on supporting the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) business, comprising approximately 70% of the work they do. When he was in- between jobs at GE, Mohamed received a fortuitous call from ahead-hunter, who introduced him to HKPC in 2017.

Entering a new era for HKPC

Mohamed is greatly focused on promoting technological innovation in manufacturing technology, upgrading and transforming local SMEs in the GBA, at the same time providing a boost to enterprise R&D and enriching the talent pool in Hong Kong. “HKPC and GE are very similar in many ways, especially with their development of talent and innovation, and an ethos to serve the needs of the community and bringing things to the public that can change their lives,” says Mohamed.

HKPC’s headquarters in Kowloon Tong has a spacious feel to it, with a recent round of new renovations adding a large wow factor, especially with its public exhibitions of advanced manufacturing and robotics capabilities, and buzz brought by visiting school students eager to learn more about all this future tech.

“When I first started the role this site was ready for a new lick of paint, and now I beam with pride, every time I walk in and see the advances that we have made. So many of our displays and exhibits look like they could be part of an Instagram highlight reel,” Mohamed says. “We have incredible scientists and engineers, so one thing we worked on deeply was telling our story,” he adds.

Aside from the GBA, HKPC is expanding its reach to Southeast Asia: “Whenever there is a need from Hong Kong enterprises, our mission and goal is to be there with a helping hand, whether that is in Beijing, the Yangtze River Delta or as far as Bangladesh,” says Mohamed. “Innovation, transformation, upskilling, these are all essential components of our operations, along with managing government funding. We engage with manufacturing technologies, focusing on applications, production lines and IP,” Mohamed says.

Reminiscing on HKUST days

With so much experience, what did being at HKUST add to his career? “We had classmates from all over the world, and this provided me with an international perspective that I have needed throughout my career. Networking was a strong aspect of the program, and I was able to learn and gain new perspectives from people in a range of different businesses including banks, family offices, entrepreneurialism, media, and more. I made a lot of friends, that was a bonus, it helped my career immensely,” Mohamed says.

One concept that Mohamed took from his time at HKUST was to follow the mantra of being high impact at work but keeping a low ego. This philosophy encompasses being competitive without having arrogance. At Kellogg, the focus often turned from learning to sharing real- world experiences, which Mohamed sees as a big plus.

The next five years will be critical to keeping HKPC ahead of the game, particularly with transformations abreast in supply chains, with geopolitical changes happening all across the globe. Talent is key, with 15 percent of employees on an internship as of September 2024, helping invigorate the organization with a youthful spirit, while developing the next generation of talent. “We don’t let them do scanning, filing and making coffee, we want them to learn real skills, and hopefully they will want to work with us in the future. Seeing is believing, we bring them to the GBA and tell them a good story about Hong Kong.”

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When I was younger, of course I had more dreams. Now, I just want to be helpful to whoever I can help and enjoy every step of the way.

The path less taken

Jack Lau’s (1994 PhD(ELEC)/2010 EMBA) journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In his career, the President of the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) has traversed the worlds of entrepreneurship and academics. Describing his path as “surreal, rewarding, and full of joy,” he has been a HKUST Adjunct Professor in Electronic and Computer Engineering and an Honorary Fellow; all while serving on boards including the HKEX and several for the HKSAR Government.

His current role sees him at the head of QSTP, which has the mission to create a comprehensive platform for nurturing and growing tech enterprises in Qatar and placing the country at the forefront of scientific research and tech, generating global impact for the Park. Comprising nearly 500,000 square feet of offices, laboratories and business facilities on 120 hectares of land, QSTP is currently home to more than 40 multinational companies, including General Electric, Microsoft and Siemens, to name a few. Jack is responsible for driving the development of products and services, commercializing market-ready technologies, and helping Qatar diversify.

A journey back in time

Harking back to HKUST days, it is clear that Jack is a living mascot for the University. “I had some of the most amazing experiences at HKUST. I am probably the only person who had so many different roles, which include PhD and EMBA student, Professor, Council Member, and CEO of the first HKUST spin-off to go IPO on the main board in Hong Kong,” he says.

Jack also has demonstrated his passion as a pioneer donor of the Alumni Endowment Fund (AEF), also getting initially known for setting up Perception Digital Limited, under HKUST’s Entrepreneurship Program, along with two other HKUST professors. “I just keep looking for opportunities which allow me to be completely absorbed in that task. When I was younger, of course I had more dreams. Now, I just want to be helpful to whoever I can help and enjoy every step of the way,” he says.

It all started from very humble beginnings as a youngster in California, interested in making model boats and being a “huge Star Wars fan”. He studied Engineering at UC Berkeley, moving to Hong Kong and becoming fully immersed in the HKUST community. “When I first arrived in Hong Kong, the campus was not finished yet, and yes, they call me the University’s ‘first PhD’, which is a great honor,” he says.

The Qatari adventure

Jack’s career is full of adventurous and unconventional turns – his stint at QSTP began in February 2024, a role which he describes as being an enriching experience, with unique challenges and rewards. “Building an innovation hub here involves navigating cultural and economic dynamics that differ from other markets.”

It all started from a chance encounter. An impromptu stopover in Doha was initiated by a friend who asked Jack to a talk on innovation and entrepreneurship. The sell-out lecture at the Hamad bin Khalifa University in Doha altered his career and led to him taking on what many people felt to be a surprising role, particularly as he has become the first non-Qatari to helm QSTP in its two-decade existence.

The job is somewhat different from his previous engagements, and while Hong Kong has a more mature and established financial center, Qatar is diversifying in technology and innovation, so there are synergies between the two cities. “There are growing links between Hong Kong and Qatar, especially in finance and investment. Through my role, I encourage collaboration by fostering partnerships and knowledge exchange,” he says.

From Gulf States to further afield such as Armenia, Uzbekistan and beyond, QSTP has expanded and focused on new markets and innovation. As Hong Kong and HKUST develop, students and young people will be playing a greater role in delivering new excitement to the Hong Kong market. Jack believes that it is crucial for them to be “curious, observant, bold and want to change things, with the grit to see things through.”

Gazing into the future

When asked what his career goals are for the future, Jack stresses the importance of “enjoying every opportunity when it comes.” Ultimately, he says his life goal is simply to be useful and in service of others. “I don’t think I ever have a career goal. Look at my own career. People often think that I am crazy – eccentric, Engineer, Professor, CEO, Public Services, and now in the Middle East,” he adds.