Year 4 undergraduate Hailey Lao is now preparing for the next stage of her academic journey, having already generated a legacy at UTM featuring passion, hard work, and ultimately high achievement. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of education at the University and the boundless opportunities that await UTM students
Hailey Lao Hang Lam is savouring her final days as an undergraduate at UTM. As she prepares to complete her Bachelor of Science in Tourism Retail and Marketing Management and pursue a master’s degree at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, Hailey reflects on her time at UTM.
She describes her academic journey at the University as “very fulfilling.”
At UTM, Hailey says she “gained a comprehensive understanding of marketing operations and brand management in both physical and digital realms.” She adds that the Tourism Retail and Marketing Management programme, soon to be rebranded as the Marketing and Brand Management Bachelor’s Degree Programme, provided her “with essential business fundamentals such as accounting, economics, language and communication skills, and digital competence.”
One standout aspect of her experience of learning at the University was the opportunity to work in UTM’s iRetail Lab. It serves as a practical education platform offering students a real-life setting for exploring branding and marketing management practices, Hailey explains. iRetail Lab’s collaborators include local designers and retail brands.
“The lab creates a genuine business environment for students to study and apply our knowledge,” she says. “This unique approach allowed me to gain firsthand experience in working with real brands and creating real business solutions.”
During her four years at UTM, Hailey also made the most of the extracurricular opportunities available. “As one of the founders and vice-president of the UTM Marketing and Brand Management Club, I took the initiative to establish collaborations with businesses, forging partnerships that would benefit our club and provide valuable experiences for our members,” she recalls.
A significant achievement was the club’s collaboration with luxury retailer DFS, to organise for students a workshop in professional makeup skills. “By working closely with DFS, we were able to create an immersive and educational experience that went beyond traditional classroom settings,” Hailey says.
The club also hosted live online video streaming sessions with founders of local brands such as Cloé Jewelry and Crstfa. “By showcasing the stories and expertise of these entrepreneurs, we not only increased their brand exposure but also provided our audience with valuable insights into the world of fashion and entrepreneurship,” she adds.
Hailey also actively participated in various competitions during her time at UTM. She was part of a team that received a Merit Award in the Greater Bay Area Branding Design Competition. Her team’s work involved developing innovative branding strategies and new product categories for a Macao fashion and art brand, in order to boost brand awareness and sales.
She was part of one of the winning teams in the 2022 edition of Idea-cation, UTM’s tourism innovation and entrepreneurship competition. For the event, “we collaborated with industry mentors and brand representatives to brainstorm and develop pioneering business proposals,” Hailey recalls.
She completed the six-month curricular internship portion of her studies in the retail administration department at local integrated resort operator Wynn Macau. “As a result of my dedication and exceptional contributions, I was awarded by Wynn Macau a scholarship for outstanding internship performance, affirming the value of my hard work and motivating me to continue striving for excellence,” says Hailey.
Editor: UTM Public Relations Team
