Aaron Pang
Where is your home town?
Hong Kong
What languages do you speak?
English, Mandarin and Cantonese
Where do you live now?
After graduation, I stayed in Sydney until 2011 before I moved back to Asia.
What was the name of your course?
Bachelor of Commerce and MBA
When did you graduate?
2006 (Bachelor of Commerce with majors in marketing and management), 2010 (MBA)
What is the name of your education institutions?
University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM)

Life is not a linear path and is full of ups and downs. Follow your passion and make the best out of every day.
Student life
Why did you choose to study in this field?
I've always been curious about how leaders solve complex business issues. I felt the combination of marketing and management would develop the needed problem-solving skill in the context of business. That said, I chose actuarial studies in my first year but quickly realised we should always follow our passion in life.
Tell us about your experience studying in NSW
Studying in NSW and Australia has been one of my highlights in life. I met most of my best friends and work peers from UNSW and MGSM. Both universities have a very supportive culture underpinned by a dynamic community. I was grateful to have the opportunity to meet students from very diverse backgrounds.
What was the highlight of your experience studying in NSW?
I had the opportunity to explore and experience different neighbourhoods during my time in NSW. I purposely moved around NSW so I could make the best out of the experience. For examples, I lived in Strathfield where there was a strong Korean community. I lived in Newington, a village which was built for athletes when Australia hosted the Olympics in year 2000. I lived in Chatswood, Willoughby and St Leonards where there was a large Asian community and impeccable food choices. I also spent a lot of time in the City of Sydney, around Town Hall, and Manly (a beach paradise) where I worked part-time at call-centre and different retail companies.
What opportunities has studying in NSW given to you?
I stayed in NSW for a total of ten years until year 2011. Suffice to say, it was a difficult decision to move back to Asia. Studying in NSW has opened a new world of infinite possibilities and great relationships. There is a big Australian community in Hong Kong, and I have been able to connect with many alumni. Studying in NSW has played a big part in shaping who I am and my career to date.
Career goals and advice
What are you doing now in your career?
I am a digital advisor at Microsoft. I am also a father of two, an author, a motivational speaker and a podcaster. I am the host of Transformative Purpose podcast, a platform which helps people become a better future-self. Each week we speak to an inspiring person about what we can do differently and collectively to make our world a better place. In the last couple of years, I wrote a couple of books.
The first one was about my parenting journey as a first-time father, inspired by a close-to-death encounter with my first new-born son. I published my second book 'Reborn Digital' which focuses on digital transformation. I am pleased to share that my second book will be available across all public libraries in Hong Kong.
Can you share any career advice for current students or graduates?
Be curious, humble and grateful. Follow your passion and make the best out of every day. Life is not a linear path and is full of ups and downs. Treat every failure/setback as an opportunity to learn. Our growth comes from the down phases in life and 80% of our life defining moments take place before the age of 35. Be kind to everyone you meet and don't forget to help those in need.