HKUST’s Stephen Shih on why an MBA education still matters in the age of AI

Stephen Shih joins Personable for a wide ranging conversation on consulting, academia, AI, leadership development, ethics, and preparing the next generation of executives for an increasingly complex world.

Stephen is the Associate Dean at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a former Bain partner, and former Executive Vice President of Learning and Development. He has lived and worked across Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai, advising senior executives, building leadership pipelines, and now shaping one of Asia’s leading MBA programs.

He discusses:
 ◽️ What consultants really do and why perspective matters more than jargon
 ◽️ Leaving Bain for academia and returning twice
 ◽️ AI, automation, and the future of junior consulting roles
 ◽️ Why future professionals must think like executives earlier in their careers
 ◽️ The skills that matter most in an AI driven world

00:00 Stephen’s background and transition from Bain to academia
 02:15 Consulting across Asia and leadership development
 04:30 What consultants actually do
 07:05 Perspective, judgment, and choosing the right mountain to climb
 09:15 AI, consulting, and junior talent pipelines
 12:15 Preparing for jobs that do not yet exist
 13:30 Skills, mindsets, and executive thinking in the AI era
 17:50 MBA education and developing future leaders
 19:55 Differentiating HKUST and building a global class
 23:30 Ethics, values, and responsible leadership
 26:55 Making ethical decisions when no one is watching
 28:25 Hong Kong, China, and a multipolar world
 31:15 Listening, communication, and asking better questions
 34:25 Admissions, individuality, and holistic evaluation
 38:40 Discipline, values, and professional standards
 41:10 Rankings, numbers, and misleading metrics
 43:25 Traits of the most successful students
 45:05 Networks, trust, and long term relationships
 48:10 One key takeaway for listeners

Stephen Shih:

◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenshih/

Harvey Bracken-Smith:

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Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023. 

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