Long live the pioneers, exploring entrepreneurial journey in the environment and recycling sphere
Atsushi Sugiyama ( Full-Time, Class of 2016)
Pre MBA : Senior Manager, Tri Petch Isuzu Sales Co., Ltd., Thailand
(Seconded from Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan)
Post MBA: CEO, Sun-Up Corporation (Hong Kong) Limited, Hong Kong
CEO, Sun-up Corporation (Thailand) Limited, Thailand
CEO, Sun-Up Recycling Co Ltd, Thailand
Director, Sun-up Corporation, Japan
Non-Executive Director, Rock Engineering Co., Ltd., Thailand
Atsushi Sugiyama is a rare gem. He started off as a general staff at the automotive business division of Mitsubishi Corporation in Japan. An opportunity arose where he was seconded to Thailand to be in charge of the local marketing and supply chain team, where he also completed a Thai language course. For Atsushi, despite being able to learn and experience a lot as well as getting a good understanding of Thailand, it was a tough experience for him. He was increasingly frustrated by the hierarchy and bureaucracy of large corporations.
He then quitted his job at Mitsubishi and succeeded his family’s environment and recycling business for a short period of time. However, he noticed simply succeeding a family business was merely enough for him. Consequently, he decided to start his own business with Thailand as his main market, not only because of his experience, but also given the fact that Thailand is home to a lot of industrial clusters and these clusters provide plenty of opportunities for the business Atsushi engages in.
Atsushi saw himself lacking enough financial knowledge to start a business, therefore he decided to pursue an MBA. Hong Kong instantly became his top choice. The City is physically close to Thailand and with the number of business trips he needed to make in between his studies, it was basically not possible for him to study in the US or in Europe. Furthermore, with Hong Kong being a tax haven and one of the world’s most dynamic financial hubs, he could set up his company here as an investment and financial base whilst studying. He chose CUHK for his MBA because of its long history and the extensive alumni base where he could meet different alumni all over the world easily.
The entrepreneurship courses throughout the MBA programme brushed up his skills in pitching, generation of business ideas, modelling and feasibility studies, coupled with Atsushi’s ample knowledge in marketing and supply chain management, have no doubt reinforced his entrepreneurial success.
Atsushi is proud of his 5 companies all in full swing in the recycling and environment-related businesses and he already has plans to expand his business into other new markets like Vietnam. When asked about what he thinks about CUHK MBA, “it has expanded my horizons with regard to business knowledge”.
He would definitely recommend the course to other aspirants who have similar ambition and objectives as him – to be a successful entrepreneur!