February 2013 - Shidler College of Business - University of Hawaii

In The Classrom
An executive
master student like you
may be an expert in your
field. But if you choose
to empty your cup first,
you may learn a lot of
things from a professor
like Victor Huang
Should keep attitude as
an “empty cup” when studying VEMBA
The course FIN 634 – Investment
Analysis & Management – was
long anticipated because the
course concentrates on developing our
basic knowledge and analytical tools
in investment analysis and portfolio
management. The main topics of
the course included institutions of
financial securities and trading; theory
of asset pricing models and their
applications in portfolio allocation
decisions; stock and bond valuation;
fixed income management; securities
analysis; introduction to derivative
assets; investment performance
evaluation and portfolio management.
We also discussed investment issues in
emerging markets.
I was truly amazed by this course, first
of all for its practicality. Randomlyselected
groups chose their own
project companies and used financial
data to analyze and assess the
companies’ performance. Additionally,
Professor Huang provided us with
analytical tools, instructed us how
to assess financial strengths and
weaknesses with precision, and gave
us special tips for investing more
effectively.
This reminds me of an old story. Nanin,
a Japanese master from the Meiji
era (1868-1912), received a university
professor who came to inquire about
Zen. Nan-in served the professor tea.
He poured his visitor’s cup full, and
kept on pouring.
The visiting professor watched the
cup overflow until he could no longer
restrain himself. “It is overflowing!” He
yelled, “No more will go in!”
“Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full
of your own opinions and speculations.
How can I show you Zen unless you
first empty your cup?”
An executive master student like you
may be an expert in your field. But if
you choose to empty your cup first,
you may learn a lot of things from a
professor like Victor Huang. He has
been in the field for over 30 years
and he probably has experienced the
difficulties you are facing. His insights
may be very useful for you in the longrun.
If you are looking to speak with
or learn from a great master in the
investment field I suggest you enroll in
Professor Huang’s Investment Analysis
& Management course.
By Nguyen Tien Duong VEMBA-Hanoi’ 13
Team Leader
Oracle Financial Services Software
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 - FEBRUARY 2013 | 13