Bottom Row: Dr. Anil NARASIMHA (Company CEO), Dr. Yu Ting (Bill) CHOW (HKUST ’08 alum and Company Director of Systems Integration), and Kurt KEILHACKER (Company Board Director).   

Evelyn, Simarjit, and Chloe interviewed the CEO and executive team at Mekonos Inc., a biotech cell engineering company in Berkeley, California. Dr. Yu Ting (Bill) CHOW, an HKUST '08 alum and Director of Systems Integration at Mekonos, guided them on a tour of the company's laboratories.  

  
Siwei (Evelyn) FU (MBA ’23) and Qiyuan (Chloe) YU (MBA ’23) with Dr. William ONORATO (Company Director of Engineering) as they examine the silicon nanoneedles in Mekonos’ cell engineering platform.  

Another memorable interaction for Kurt was a mock interview with a student interested in venture capital. The student displayed a deep understanding of the local startup ecosystem while being well-informed about global trends, particularly in Silicon Valley. Kurt emphasizes, "Their ability to analyze opportunities from both a local and global perspective showcased the impact of cross-cultural collaboration and knowledge exchange."   

As the conversation draws to a close, Kurt offers his advice to HKUST students aspiring to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions. He urges them to embrace continuous learning, career networking, and personal growth. Personal growth must be intentionally focused on the building of character and resilience. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks, making sacrifices, and learning from failures, highlighting that every successful entrepreneur has faced setbacks. Kurt's experiences and insights serve as a testament to the transformative impact of HKUST's MBA program, inspiring cross-cultural collaboration and fostering global innovation among its students.   

BEHIND-THE-SCENES DIALOGUES  

Interviewer: What would be the topic that you would like to discuss if there's another opportunity for our students to learn from you?   

Kurt: Well, one area would be how to thrive in a fast-changing world and workplace. It's not enough to just survive. We want our students to be able to go out there and really thrive. So, what does thriving mean today?   

Interviewer: That's an interesting topic. So, what are your thoughts on it?   

Kurt: Firstly, I believe creativity is crucial. What does creativity look like in the AI age, in the era of artificial intelligence? What does it mean to be a creative entrepreneur?   

Interviewer: That's a truly interesting topic. I wish we could invite you again to have our students learn from you.   

Interviewer: Everyone is really busy, including our students who are working professionals in different fields. They want to transition to different roles in different areas. As someone who plays different roles in different places, do you have any specific tips or strategies for effective time management?   

Kurt: Absolutely. One observation I have is that life is a marathon of individual sprints. That means there are times when you need to time-bound and fully focus on a project. But you also need to realize that you can't run at 150% for 10 years straight. You'll burn out. A career is a marathon, and that means you need to be strategic in how you expend your energy.   

ABOUT KURT KEILHACKER  

Kurt brings a wealth of experience to the table as a startup and VC veteran. He has played key roles as a co-founder, Chairman, CEO, or CFO in numerous companies, both in Silicon Valley and internationally. With a track record of multi-billion dollar exits and successful IPOs, Kurt's expertise in the startup world is well-established. Throughout his career, he has invested in more than 70 companies in the tech sector.