Hoang Son Luu

“Innovative thinker, blending scientific rigor with strategic business insights, keen on shaping future healthcare solutions”

Hometown: Berlin, Germany

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have three years of professional golf training, yet I still struggle to hit the ball properly!

Undergraduate School and Major: Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Pfizer, Senior Project Manager & University Cologne, PhD Candidate

What has been the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

My greatest accomplishment to date is receiving a graduate education from Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA, where I worked with a globally influential professor in neurodegenerative research. Following this, my career trajectory soared—I received multiple job offers from top-tier pharmaceutical companies and secured a position to continue my PhD in the laboratory of my choice.

When you think of your school, what is the first word that comes to mind?

“Transformative”

The UCL School of Management is an exceptional institution dedicated to helping MBA students become the best versions of themselves by equipping them with essential skills for economic success in a competitive job market. It’s challenging to encapsulate my affection for the school in just one word, as that would not do it justice. Throughout my MBA journey, I’ve had the
opportunity to interact with many brilliant minds and fellow classmates. I can confidently say that this school is like a global beacon, producing valuable contributions much like a goose laying golden eggs.

What are one or two key aspects of this program that led you to choose the program, and why were they so important to you?

One key aspect of this program that stood out to me was its engaging nature. All students are encouraged to actively participate in class discussions. I realized that while I am comfortable engaging in scientific discussions, I need to improve my participation in business and economic conversations.

Another significant benefit of the program is the opportunity to build an international network. Engaging with people from diverse geographical regions has reinforced the importance of networking, epitomized by the adage ‘Your network is your net worth.’ Each connection contributes to a unique journey of success, making these relationships incredibly valuable. The program’s flexibility also allows students to progress at their own pace.

While many opt to take one course at a time due to work commitments, the more ambitious can take multiple courses in a semester, pushing their limits. This flexibility, combined with UCL’s reputation as one of the top ten universities for research-intensive expertise, made joining this program an easy decision for me.

What course, club, activity, or experience excites you the most and why?

The course that excited me the most was the ‘Decision & Risk Analysis’ module, taught in the winter semester of 2024 by Prof. Dr. Kenan Arifoglu and Prof. Dr. Onesun Steve Yoo at UCL. I had been looking forward to this course ever since I started my MBA at UCL. It particularly stood out to me because it equipped me with skills to navigate uncertainties and devise strategies for maximizing revenue.

Among the activities, the ‘UCL MBA Digital Hack 2023’ was especially memorable. This full-day event provided an opportunity to collaborate with a senior project manager from AstraZeneca. The challenge was to address a problem given at the start of the day, leading to a non-stop effort that culminated in a presentation at the end. It was both intense and rewarding, pushing me to perform at my best. I am looking forward to the ‘Digital Hack’ events in the future.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to other prospective MBAs? 

Recently, I’ve incorporated reading several prominent publications into my daily morning routine, including the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. I focus on the front pages and business sections to become more familiar with the jargon used in the economic world. This practice helps me make gradual, yet significant, progress in understanding causalities and correlations.

I regularly listen to interviews with financial experts like Robert Kiyosaki and Dave Ramsey to learn the necessary steps for making financially smart decisions—skills that are often self-taught. Listening to them is an initial step toward orienting my mindset in the right direction. For entertainment and education, I watch ‘Shark Tank,’ a show where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of investors within a limited time frame. This not only highlights innovation but also showcases the art of delivering a concise and persuasive presentation. I highly recommend watching similar shows to progressively develop the skills needed to become competitive in the economic world.

What are two things you have learned that have surprised you so far – one academic and one non-academic?

From an academic perspective, I was particularly surprised by the quantifiability of uncertainty. I vividly recall the intrigue during the ‘Decision & Risk Analysis’ module in the winter semester of 2024, taught by Prof. Dr. Kenan Arifoglu and Prof. Dr. Onesun Steve Yoo at UCL. This eagerly anticipated course equipped me with skills to assess risks and calculate the probabilities of potential outcomes. It enhanced my attention to detail, bolstered my numerical abilities, and enabled me to predict outcomes with robust justifications. Despite the pharmaceutical industry’s inherent volatility, the case study on Novartis was particularly illuminating. We performed complex calculations to determine the success probabilities of various components in the company’s portfolio, offering profound insights into risk management.

From a non-academic perspective, I was surprised to learn about a personal and somewhat whimsical incident involving receiving a welcome package from UCL. The surprise came from an unexpected source — a customs notification in Berlin, Germany, about a parcel waiting for me, which I had no prior knowledge of. Arriving early at the customs office at 7 AM, I was the first one there. When I opened the package, it turned out to contain welcome gifts and congratulations from UCL on my MBA enrollment. This gesture not only delighted me but also highlighted the thoughtful and engaging approach of the university towards its students, making me feel valued and part of the UCL community even before I had fully embarked on my MBA journey.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into your MBA program?

The MBA Program at the UCL School of Management is an intensive and rewarding path to career advancement. A crucial part of preparing to gain admission into this MBA program is to immerse oneself in relevant economic literature, including articles and magazines that focus on current economic theories and business practices. Effective preparation also involves recognizing that achieving success in this program requires considerable dedication and hard work. The curriculum encompasses a broad range of soft skills, introduced sequentially. Students learn to understand economic terminology and to analyze how institutions, companies, and startups succeed. Mastery of these concepts can quickly eliminate many obstacles. Therefore, the journey to success begins well before the admission process.

CLICK HERE TO MEET THE MBA CLASS OF 2025 FROM THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT