Christopher Hwang, MiFPT2027
My first week at London Business School was nothing short of intense. With equal parts learning, networking, caffeine and just enough after-class drinks to keep things balanced.
The Masters in Finance Part-Time (MiFPT2027) officially kicked off on 11 August 2025. We began with two days of warm welcomes and orientation, followed by three full days of lectures. We dove straight into Accounting and Data Analytics – undoubtedly the broccoli and spinach of the finance world. Not always easy to chew, but definitely good for you! Returning to the classroom after eight years out of academia was… well, let’s just say my brain needed a bit of WD-40. With the brilliant guidance of the professors and the infectious energy of my classmates, I made it through my first week in one piece.
On Saturday, we had our joint Away Day combining the MiF Full-Time (MiFFT2026) and Part-Time cohorts. It was a fantastic day full of team building, bonding, and discovering just how competitive adults can become over seemingly harmless activities. My personal highlight? Confronting one of my biggest fears: heights (anyone who knows me knows that I’m seriously terrible with high places). During the climbing challenge, I panicked halfway and nearly tapped out… but my teammates’ encouragement got me to the very top. The climb wasn’t just a physical and mental feat, it was symbolic. A reminder that trust, teamwork, and a good sense of humour can get you through even the most daunting challenges. It’s a lesson I’ll carry with me throughout my MiF journey.
A special shoutout to my study group: Davide Valente, Andie Bui, Fahid Elgheriani, Mai Ayoub and Ivan Chernyshev. We made a legendary team.
As Orientation wrapped up, the reality of being a MiF Part-Time student truly set in. Monday would mark the beginning of a challenging but rewarding journey. A journey fuelled by lectures, new friendships, and a renewed energy of youth. I’m slightly on the older side of our cohort’s average age of thirty-one, and yes, I proudly carry the title of full-time professional, part-time student, and full-time cat dad. Balancing work, study, and life isn’t easy. The ‘perfect’ work-life-study balance may be a myth, but it already feels like a goal worth striving for.
The next two years won’t be easy. My journey isn’t just about becoming a ‘master of finance’, it’s about mastering challenges, managing time, overcoming fears, and, (hopefully), surviving group assignments too.
Life is full of expectations, and to meet them, you’ll need to carve out your own path. From the application process all the way to your first steps on campus, you’ll face fears, anxieties, and a whole lot of unknowns. Who will you meet? What does your future hold? How tough will it be?
I know, because I’ve felt it all too. That anxiety is natural. But if you prepare yourself mentally and take just that ‘half a step’ further, you’ll unlock incredible experiences as part of a dynamic community.
And no,this is not a Pokémon Master programme… but in the wise words of Professor Oak, ‘Your very own Masters in Finance legend is about to unfold! A world of dreams and adventures with LBS awaits! Let’s go!’ And with that, challenge accepted.
Here’s to the journey ahead!
Christopher (“Hyunjung”) Hwang is a candidate in the Masters in Finance (MIFPT2027) at London Business School. He currently works at the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY) London Branch as a Global Cash Management Solution Product Manager, structuring and delivering liquidity and cash management solutions to clients across EMEA.
As a Korean national, Chris has lived, worked, and studied in global environments spanning South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia, with experience in multinational financial institutions including Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas, and BNY.
Chris is proudly a rescued-cat dad who enjoys exploring and challenging himself through different cultures and cuisines, and he is a CFA Charterholder.
LinkedIn: /christopherhjhwang