Peking University, June 1, 2022: #Meet Our "Future Leaders" # is a series featuring the personal stories of students in PKU Guanghua’s "Future Leaders" International Undergraduate Program. Learn more about student life in the "Future Leaders" Program from those who know it best: our students.
 
Today, we meet Harisa Natasha Haron, a young Singaporean and first-generation college student who constantly challenges herself for continuous growth and self-development.

PROFILE


Harisa is a final year undergraduate from the pioneer cohort of the "Future Leaders" Program at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management. Prior to entering PKU, she completed her first 2 years of undergraduate studies in her home country at the National University of Singapore's Business School, where she will be obtaining a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons.) with a specialization in Marketing upon graduation. As someone who is passionate about product and operations management as well as creating social impact, Harisa constantly looks for opportunities to combine and balance these in her professional pursuits.

Placing Social Impact at the Heart of Different Pursuits

From 2018 to 2020, I was part of the organizing committee of the NUS Students' Business Club's annual Bizad Charity Run, which raised funds for beneficiaries such as the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore and TOUCH Community Services. I led a team of over 200 student volunteers, and was in-charge of coordinating all operational volunteer manpower matters for the event. Being tasked with such a huge responsibility was incredibly daunting, especially due to the scale of the event which attracted over 1,300 participants. However, our team worked hard to prepare for it, and our efforts indeed paid off as we managed to execute a smooth event. This experience gave me a great sense of accomplishment as we were able to meet our targets in helping the beneficiaries, and the success of the event truly made me realize that I can overcome any obstacle, big or small, if I put my heart and mind to it.


Earlier this year, I also had the opportunity to complete an internship at one of the largest multi-disciplinary hospitals in Singapore, where I gained some experience in both product and project management, as well as operations management. During my time there, I worked with cross-functional teams and supported several digitalization projects to enhance patients' healthcare journey and improve process efficiency in the delivery of social health services. Some of the systems and applications I had worked on and contributed to will be launched across several public healthcare institutions in Singapore. Supporting these projects was truly pivotal for me as it reaffirmed my passion for tech and digitalization, which paved the way for me to start a career in tech. Additionally, not only did I get to learn more about tech developments, I was also heartened to have been able to contribute, albeit indirectly, back to society in a meaningful way by easing the journey of patients and healthcare staff.


Seeking New Experiences

In my spare time, I absolutely enjoy exploring. I love finding new places to visit, stumbling upon hidden gems, and observing the beauty of the views around me, either abroad or even in my own home country. I’m also incredibly fond of the arts, and enjoy heading to museums and art galleries to take a look at new exhibitions, as well as watching theatre productions and concerts.



Additionally, I have always been big on keeping fit and leading an active lifestyle. Growing up, I participated in many different sports such as football, which I played competitively for several years, boxing, and more. Beyond that, I like to try a variety of other sports and activities I have never taken part in before. I am always open to novel experiences and find excitement in delving into multiple escapades, all whilst pushing myself out of my comfort zone.



Culture as a Window to the World

I have always strongly believed in the value of global education, particularly in learning about different cultures. Gaining cultural understanding is incredibly valuable in helping us to deepen our knowledge of people, their perspectives, and the principles which govern their decisions. As my home country, Singapore, has strong bilateral relations with China, I felt that there was a lot to benefit from learning more about Chinese businesses, the culture, and the economy.


One of the things that truly impressed me during my time in "Future Leaders" Program was the collaborative environment created. Despite all of us coming from vastly different backgrounds, the university and professors were able to create a comfortable and safe space for us to share our knowledge and experiences, encouraging active discussions for us to fully benefit from this global program. This was especially well done considering all our classes were held online and that we are not able to be present on campus yet. Everyone I've met in PKU has also been incredibly warm and welcoming. I have been able to learn so much from our professors and peers thus far and I genuinely appreciate all the connections I've made through the program.

PKU Guanghua "Future Leaders" Program


The Guanghua School of Management founded the "Future Leaders" International Undergraduate Double-Degree Program in partnership with 15 of the world’s best business schools, giving students the opportunity to gain an understanding of their local markets while also immersing them in one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic economies in the world: China. This program focuses on admitting top students with outstanding leadership potential from Peking University and its partner institutions. After completing their first two years of study at the institution in their home country, students live and study together with classmates of diverse backgrounds from all over the world—including students from China—for two more years as a single cohort at Peking University.

Source: Guanghua School of Management