MBA Connect
August 2016
CUHK MBA

Connect Story

Philipp Martin

Senior Manager, Projects Footwear Sourcing
adidas Group (Hong Kong)
(Full-time, Class of 2013)

I was quite sure I would be pursuing an MBA as early as when I started my undergraduate studies. The only question was where I should go. Since my mother is from Taiwan, I was looking for an opportunity to link my studies with China. I speak Mandarin and have lots of relatives in this part of the world. I wanted to get to know the culture better and improve my language ability. The business is very dynamic and so much is going on in Asia, it is a good place to be at the moment. Hong Kong was a really good fit for me. CUHK has an international body of students, a great MBA program and provides exposure to China.
What important skills did the MBA teach you that served you well in your career?
It was a really steep learning curve for me. I was one of the youngest students and a little bit intimidated at first. Everybody was from a good school, good company and with solid work experience, so I tried very hard to prove myself and add value to the group. I think it helped me mature faster. The interaction with classmates was extremely useful and helped me to work with people from different cultural and professional backgrounds. It prepared me well for my present job, where we also have people from all over the world. Also, I found it very helpful to learn about negotiation skills and look at leadership from a scientific perspective.
Graduation Ceremony 2013
How did CUHK MBA help you in clinching the job?
I got to know the general counsel of adidas, who was one of the mentors at CUHK. She helped me get an interview for an internship. I got through the interview process, did a summer internship at adidas Hong Kong and by the end of the internship they offered to hire me fulltime after my graduation. However, suddenly they had a hiring freeze. I spent a term at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai on exchange, then graduated and went back to Germany. Back in Germany, I did an internship with Boston Consulting Group and could have joined them full-time afterwards. By that time adidas in Hong Kong was ready to hire again, and I decided to join them in their in-house consulting department. That is where I worked until recently, when I got promoted to the project management position in Footwear Sourcing.
What is in your workday as Senior Manager Projects, Sourcing Operations - Footwear at the adidas Group?
In my current role as a project manager, I go through the whole project management cycle. I set up and plan projects, secure resources, do analysis, define and improve processes, work with experts to find solutions, make sure that project members know what they’re supposed to do and make progress, and give regular updates to Senior Management. The job is versatile; it doesn’t get boring very quickly.
Have you faced any challenges in working and living in Hong Kong? How did you overcome them?
I was surprised to learn that in Hong Kong the starting number of annual leave days is so low, I started with 15 days of leave. In Germany it is 30 days. Day-to-day life has its small challenges, such as getting someone to fix something at home. But generally, Hong Kong is a very convenient and easy city to live in.
You have an extensive international experience living in Europe, Australia and Asia. How do these experiences play a role in your study and career development?
At adidas, having my German-Chinese background is advantageous. A lot of people working in sourcing have mainland Chinese and Taiwanese background. The business language is generally English, but being able to speak Mandarin helps a lot in connecting with people on a personal level.
Picture taken at adidas
Did you participate in something really memorable during your MBA?
I participated in the Hult Global Case Challenge with five of my classmates – an Indian, a Canadian, an American and two other Germans. We represented CUHK in Shanghai in the annual international case competition, which aims to find solutions to global social challenges. The competition was very intense and a great experience of bonding as a group. I really enjoyed working as a group under great pressure and also the nice party afterwards.
CUHK MBA Team at Hult Global Case Challenge 2012