Helen Mac is an MSc Global Healthcare Management (Leadership) alumna and currently serves as the Vice President of the GBSH Alumni Association, a global network fostering connection, professional growth and community impact.
With a clinical background as a nurse and a strong interest in healthcare leadership, Helen’s passion is driven by the belief that the healthcare workforce is the most valuable asset and that effective leadership is key to building resilient organisations.
Since completing her MSc, she has returned to Hong Kong to apply her expertise in strengthening healthcare delivery at the Hospital Authority and giving back to the community she serves.
Today she shares reflections on her time at UCL GBSH, including her motivations for joining the school, how the programme has shaped her current work, and her advice for current and prospective students.
Why I chose GBSH
GBSH resonates with my aspiration to advance my career in healthcare leadership. The School provides a safe space for disruptive thinking, alongside UCL’s global reputation for game-changing research. The programme offered the structured foundation I needed to go beyond clinical training, equipping me with the skills to develop a resilient workforce capable of navigating unforeseen healthcare challenges, including strategic and operational planning, systems-level analysis, resource and financial management, and collaborative leadership.
My experience at GBSH
One of the most memorable aspects of my experience at GBSH was the learning environment. The programme brought together students from diverse professional, cultural and academic backgrounds, creating a truly stimulating classroom where I often found myself debating healthcare policy with a hospital director while sitting next to a future MedTech CEO.
I particularly valued the study tour to Singapore, which united students across programmes to explore one of the world’s most innovative healthcare systems. Sessions on MedTech, AI, sustainability, and systems thinking challenged me to think beyond local clinical practices and consider global perspectives on healthcare delivery. Visits to the National University of Singapore and Duke-NUS Health Services Research Center, for example, offered in-depth insights into policy, programme implementation, and the role of research in shaping healthcare systems. We also examined sustainable healthcare practices, including the carbon footprint of supply chains and strategies to reduce environmental impact. The tour reinforced the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement with industry experts in driving healthcare innovation.
Impact: Then & Now
Coming from a clinical background, I am thrilled that this programme offers an all-encompassing approach to healthcare management. Through a business lens, I have developed a specialism in healthcare leadership while strengthening my economic and financial acumen. These skills are directly applicable to my current work in the public sector in Hong Kong, where I can zoom in on operational details while maintaining a systems-level perspective - crucial for balancing day-to-day service delivery with long-term planning and organisational resilience.
Today, as Vice President of the GBSH Alumni Association, I am proud to contribute to a global alumni network that supports professional growth, mentorship and collaboration. This role allows me to stay closely connected to the GBSH community while supporting alumni in building meaningful connections across sectors and geographies.
Advice for current & future students
One turning point during my journey at GBSH was realising how much leadership shapes not only organisational outcomes, but also people’s sense of purpose and belonging. This insight continues to guide my career aspirations and my involvement in alumni leadership.
To current and future GBSH students, I would say: embrace discomfort and diversity of thought. Some of the most valuable lessons come from conversations that challenge your assumptions. Healthcare is evolving rapidly, and the leaders of tomorrow will be those who can think systemically, collaborate globally and lead with empathy.
I hope to welcome you soon to our alumni community, where together we can collectively shape a better future for healthcare worldwide, across disciplines and step outside your comfort zone.
Your experience will be shaped not only by the lectures you attend, but by the conversations you have and the initiatives you dare to lead.