Sabrina Chao on captaining Hong Kong’s largest shipping company for a decade

After steering Hong Kong’s largest shipping company, Wah Kwong Group, for more than a decade, Sabrina Chao chats with us inside the plush Signature Suite of The Murray on what lies next for her and the company.

With your grandfather having founded the Wah Kwong Group, was it always on the cards for you to join the family business?

Not at all. Coming from a traditional Chinese family, the weight of carrying the family name was on the boys, which in our case, was my brother, my youngest sibling. As a daughter, I had a very carefree childhood. I was allowed and encouraged to pursue whatever path I chose, and that’s exactly what I did. My parents never interfered with my choice of university or subjects. I just sort of came back into shipping by coincidence. It was around 2001 and my family was facing a very turbulent time. Both my grandparents and my uncle passed away in consecutive years, which left a very big void in our company. My father was the only one left to take care of the business. So he and my mother requested me to step in and I decided to learn the ropes of the trade alongside my father. It was never planned that I would one day take over the family business, it all started with me stepping up to help my family through a difficult time.

But you decided to stay on…

Yes, once I was in, I found myself very drawn to the shipping business. It was so different from my previous experience of working in finance companies like PwC. I must say that shipping is a very special industry, and I am not saying that only because our family’s heritage and legacy are tied to this business. One gets to meet all these fantastic, larger-than-life personalities in this field. Though it’s not necessarily the most profitable business, it’s still a very addictive one. You just get drawn into it.

What would you consider a turning point in your life?

When I was around 30, my father had his first stroke and fell seriously ill. At that time, I just went into crisis management mode and took hold of the reins of the company. The family business was my father’s life work and I just couldn’t let it fall apart. At that time though, I did not think of it as a turning point, I just did what had to be done.

How do you keep the momentum going in a family business that’s been there for generations?

It’s pretty simple for us, as it’s just me and my siblings looking after the company. We just discuss over dinner and share ideas. We challenge each other from time to time and thrive to come up with solutions via open communication. It keeps us growing.

With you recently stepping down from the role of the chairperson of the Wah Kwong Group, what’s next for the company?

Yes, I stepped down in August to spend more time with my family, and to pursue new horizons. But the business is in very good hands. My brother has taken over the reins from me, and he was always meant to run the business. I ran the company for the last decade and it was a good time for a change of guard. I don’t think it’s healthy for one person to hold the same position for too long. My brother brings a new perspective – a fresh pair of eyes, so to say – but he understands, more than anyone else, the essence of this business and what it means to our family.

You have been elected as the President Designate for the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), one of the oldest and largest shipping associations in the world. What are your thoughts on this role?

It is very humbling and a huge privilege. It’s exciting because, in its 114-year history, this is the first time that two female presidential candidates have been elected back to back. Shipping has traditionally been considered a male-dominated industry, but now we are gradually changing that perception.

So, how exactly are women breaking the gender barrier in this male-dominated industry?

I think women are breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings across many industries, not just shipping. If you think about it, a few centuries ago, women were not even allowed to go aboard ships because it was considered unlucky. It’s ironic because ships could be named after women, but they wouldn’t be allowed on them. Of course, those days are thankfully behind us, and we have women captains, female chief engineers and so on. In fact, a few months ago, Hong Kong produced its very first lady chief engineer. Having said that, we do have a long way to go.

Shipping corporations also seem to be taking steps to address environmental issues…

Yes, there are many things happening right now. Historically, it has been all politically driven, with governments coming up with new regulations and with us scrambling to meet them. But some time ago, the industry realised that these regulations are not really very well drafted. Over the last decade, there have been many conversations within the shipping industry about what more we should be doing. Ultimately, everybody agrees that we want to leave behind a much better world for our next generations. We don’t want to be seen as the polluters of the world. If you look back, we have already made great progress in reducing our carbon footprint, but that’s not enough, there is a lot left to be done.

How does Hong Kong’s position as an international maritime hub compare to, say, Singapore?

With over half of the world’s merchant fleet being in Asia, we can have more than one international maritime hub in Asia. While Hong Kong, with its proximity to China, serves as a gateway into China and other northern Asian countries, Singapore caters more to South East Asia. There’s actually room for more than two hubs in Asia now, with Shanghai coming up as well.

What are the other new projects you are excited about?

It’s probably too early for me to be talking too much about it, but I am liaising with an English public school to potentially launch in Asia. We’ll be opening a few schools in China and South Korea over the next five years. It’s a project that I am personally very attached to, especially because I have young kids and education is always on my mind.

What do you do in your downtime?

I enjoy family time, especially when I get my hubby to myself, which is never enough. I enjoy the simple pleasures of life, such as taking my boys to school. In that 20-minute car ride, I spend a lot of quality time with them. At home, they are both distracted with their toys or games, but during our drive to school, we really bond.

Thank you.

Interview by: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Video: Kingsley Lau
Photos: Jack Law
Styling & Art Direction: San Wong
Make-up: Irene Hung
Venue: Signature Suite @ The Murray

Hire Calling: Chatting with Andrew Chan, CEO of ACI HR Solutions

Andrew Chan, award-winning CEO of ACI HR Solutions, examines his own career choices, shares top tips for recruiting senior employees and introduces his exciting new AI-driven startup, AiMYJOBS…

Were you always destined for a career in Human Resources?

Actually, it was something I pretty much stumbled into. As soon as I’d finished my travel and tourism diploma in Sydney, I started work as a mailboy for a travel agency. I then moved on to working in reservations for Cathay Pacific, followed by a stint in sales for Singapore Airlines, all without ever leaving Sydney. After that, I moved into the hotel industry, relocated to Singapore and joined a recruitment firm…

To be honest, none of that was planned. Throughout it all, though, it became apparent to me that my passions lay in travel and hospitality. Even though I currently have a recruitment / HR role, it’s still within those same industries. It’s what I’m most passionate about and I’ve never really wanted to leave.

What spurred you into starting ACI HR Solutions?

It was a mixture of luck, coincidence and a bit of ambition. I was fortunate enough to work in a recruitment company and be in a position to see how it actually operates, ultimately working my way up to becoming its Chief Executive. When the owners sold the business in 2012, I realised I was at a crossroads. I had to decide whether to find a similar role at another firm or if, armed with all my experience, I should start out on my own. In the end, it was the latter that appealed to me more, which led me to found ACI HR Solutions later that year.

In a crowded recruitment consultancy space, how do you ensure you stand out?

We’re an executive search firm-cum-recruitment company, which focusses exclusively on the travel and hospitality sector. Everyone who works at ACI comes from the industry including myself. What sets us apart is that, as a boutique business in a niche market, we’re able to focus on our customers like no one else. As we’re all industry insiders, we have a deeper understanding of how to deal with clients and candidates. We know exactly what both sides are looking for because we’ve been through the same process ourselves.

What do you think are some common misconceptions surrounding the HR industry?

That it’s boring. That it’s a back-office function. I feel there’s a lot of outdated views about HR out there. I always say that if the Chief Financial Officer is the trusty right arm of any business owner, then HR is the left. Why? Simply because employing the right people is now more critical to any organisation’s success than ever before.

What would you advise employers to pay particular attention to when considering a candidate for a senior role?

I think there are three things one should really consider quite seriously when evaluating a potential hire – their past achievements, their leadership skills and their ability to handle stress. In terms of achievements, it’s important to analyse exactly what they’ve done and how it was accomplished, while paying particular attention to whether the success was really down to them or whether it was due to external factors. For high-level employees, it’s particularly important to evaluate their people management skills and to get an understanding of their style of leadership. Here, it’s helpful to consider whether or not they managed to nurture the abilities and careers of those under their wing.

Finally, when considering how any candidate might deal with pressure, it’s important to identify their stress levers and then determine, as much as you can, how they would react in any situation where things are going badly wrong. Here, you need to get them to share previous experiences, while throwing in a few open-ended questions just to see where they go with them.

Do you have anything new on the horizon that you are particularly excited about?

Well, there’s a new project that I’m a co-founder of – AiMYJOBS. During the 15 years that I’ve spent running recruitment firms, I’ve come to realise there is a missing element, a gap between a fully-fledged recruitment agency and a job board. I was never really sure what was missing until recently when I started mentoring start-ups, something I’ve been doing for a year now. It was through that that I met two young guys who were building an artificial intelligence (AI) platform. We started talking and, ultimately, I kind of tweaked their idea a bit to see if it could be adapted into a recruitment platform. We launched the company earlier this year and we’re now beta-testing.

In essence, it’s a concept that operates in the middle ground between the low-cost, work-intensive process of sifting through hundreds of candidates and the high cost of getting a shortlist of potential hires hand-delivered to you by a recruitment firm. We’re aiming to deliver a low-cost shortlist that’s been narrowed down via the judicious deployment of AI.

Is there a particular philosophy you swear by?

Well, there’s a scene in one of the Rocky movies where Sylvester Stallone tells his son: “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows… It ain’t about how hard ya hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” That really resonates with me. I believe that, no matter what happens to you, you have to get up and move forward.

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Jack Law Art
Direction: San Wong
Venue: ViA x Giorgetti Flagship Store

The full version of this interview appears in Gafencu’s latest September 2019 print issue. You can also view the digital version for free by downloading the Gafencu app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Pointes of View: The all-tutu true story of dancer, actress and designer Flora Cheong-Leen

As a ballerina, actress, choreographer, TV director and fashion designer, Flora Cheong-Leen has been a trendsetter all her life. We sat down with her in the plush showroom of the COLOURLIVING concept store to talk about her lifelong passion for dance, her brief tryst with acting, her controversial fashion designing career, and above all, her eternal zest for life.

You were just nine when you signed up to London’s Royal Ballet School. What made you so sure that dance would be such a huge part of your life when you were so young?

It was really all down to my sister. She had already enrolled to study under Jean Wong, the illustrious Hong Kong-born ballet dancer who taught at the city’s Royal Academy of Dance. After being under her tutelage for a little while in Hong Kong, she suggested I audition in London. So, when I was just eight or nine years old, I found myself – along with thousands of other kids – trying out for a place at London’s Royal Ballet School. Fortunately, I was first Chinese kid to get accepted and I’ve never looked back. Initially, I was a little homesick and found the training regime to be quite demanding. As my skills improved, however, my love of ballet continued to blossom.

What ultimately led you back to Hong Kong?

Well, I had just been accepted as a professional dancer at the Royal Ballet Company in London when my mum fell ill. So I immediately gave all that up to come back to Hong Kong to be with her. Sadly, six months later, she passed away and I couldn’t bring myself to go back to London. I decided to join the Hong Kong Ballet instead. While it was a smaller company than the one I had been a member of in London, it allowed me to stay close to my family and that was my true priority.

Your return to Hong Kong also marked your transformation into a movie star…

That came about completely by accident. When I first came back to Hong Kong, I picked up some part-time modelling work. It was during one such assignment that someone singled me out and asked if I’d be interested in starring in an upcoming movie. At the time, they were looking for a replacement for Josephine Siao – then one of Hong Kong’s biggest stars – who was pregnant. Of course, I signed up for that. Then the offers started flooding in. Before I knew it, I had committed to 10 different movies.

You eventually gave all that up though…

Well, while I felt I could really express myself emotionally through dance, I didn’t find that same freedom in the movies. The parts I was being offered just didn’t have that kind of depth – all I had to do was look pretty, and that didn’t really resonate with me. I was also not that enamoured with all the add-ons – the promotions, the ribbon-cuttings and the whole PR process.

You also found time to become a fashion designer…

Ever since I can remember, I have loved experimenting with fabrics. As a kid, I would cut the lace trims off my dresses to create new outfits. Let’s just say that my mother wasn’t always impressed. When I was older, I took over my sister’s fashion design business and looked to expand it. It wasn’t long before I launched my first collection – Pavlova. With its name a nod to Anna Pavlova, the legendary Russian ballerina, it had an unabashedly romantic-countryside feel to it.

As the business expanded, it no longer made financial sense to manufacture in Hong Kong, so we outsourced it to the mainland. It was around this time that I also fell under the spell of Chinese culture and art, eventually going on to study for a diploma in art history in Beijing. I felt more connected to my Chinese roots than ever before, something that started to manifest itself in my choice of fabrics and my designs. My collections became quite popular and I went on to open 200 stores under the Tian Art label.

Some of your designs, however, seemed to almost woo controversy…

Yes – after I had an image of the Madonna holding the Baby Jesus in one of my jeans collections, I was accused of trying to promote Christianity in China. That wasn’t the case at all, though, and it was actually more about my take on motherhood. Then I used Chairman Mao badges and motifs as part of another range and that landed me in even more trouble. For my part, though, it was never my intention to be wilfully controversial; I was just looking to be creative.

How would you describe your design ethos?

I have a very multicultural background. My family has ties to South America, China, Australia and Indonesia. As a result, I am inspired by the local cultures of all these places – many of my designs, for instance, feature traditionally Indonesian batik prints. I have also designed a number of contemporary-looking cheongsams to celebrate my Chinese heritage. I am, essentially, pluralistic by nature.

What are the challenges of spending your life in the limelight?

I don’t like my personal life being written about. People would see me with someone at some event or another and then something scurrilous and unfounded would appear in the news the next day. It’s the kind of thing that has made me determined not to remain public property. Life is not about the next party or the next gala; there is so much more to it. I would rather be spending my life doing things that allow me to make a real difference.

Thank you.

Interview: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Photos: Jack Law
Video: Kingsley Lau
Art Direction: San Wong
Make-up and Hair: Irene Hung
Jewellery:Cartier
Venue: COLOURLIVING

La Styla Bonita: Bonita Cheung, one of Hong Kong’s foremost fashion impresarios, now has designs on the future…

In 1998 you launched Tassels, your first fashion label. Four years later, the Bonita Cheung range made its debut, followed by Ni-Chi in 2009. Can you tell us a little about the genesis of each line?

After graduating, I didn’t jump straight into the fashion industry. Instead, I worked in the luxury jewellery sector, focussing on the marketing and advertising side. By 1998, though, I’d realised that fashion was where I really wanted to be and that I should really make the move before it was too late. Soon after, I opened my own workshop in Central and started creating bespoke items, evening and wedding pieces under the Tassels brand.

After a few years spent establishing Tassels and building up my clientele, I felt it was time to branch out under my own name. The result was the Bonita Cheung collection, which was picked up by Lane Crawford as part of its ready-made couture offering. Then, after I’d been working with Reina Chau [one of Hong Kong’s most stylish socialites and a leading patron of the arts] for several years, we both realised we shared a very similar approach to fashion and matching beliefs in the kind of styles we wanted to create. This led us to collaborate on our own ready-to-wear line – Ni-Chi. The company name was actually a combination of our daughters’ names – Nicole on my side and Chiara on hers.

When you are designing outfits, how do you visualise the women who will ultimately wear them?

I always imagine that my pieces appeal to women who are not easily influenced by the trends followed by others, while also being confident and fun to be around. Ultimately, my clothes are made for the kind of woman who isn’t afraid to try something new and who relishes every new adventure.

How would you describe your own approach to fashion design?

For me, it’s all about creating something that will withstand the test of time and be marked as a classic – not in the sense that it’s in any way old fashioned, but more that it has an enduring appeal. To my mind, you should be able to dust something off a few seasons after you bought it and find that you still want to wear it, largely because it’s both memorable and unique.

You’ve long been associated with the Hong Kong Fashion Designers’ Association…

I was initially approached to be one of the executive members. Later, when the chairman found I had a background in marketing, I was asked to focus more on that side of their activities. This led to me creating events that really showcased the work of the city’s fashion designers.

It was around that time that you set out to break records in association with the Danish Fashion Institute…

All that actually began with a conversation with Eva Kruse, the CEO of the Danish Fashion Institute (now the Global Fashion Agenda). Some years earlier, they held a very successful event – The World’s Greatest Catwalk – which had featured the longest runway ever seen at a fashion event. We decided to try and break that record, so we then had to find somewhere in Hong Kong that could accommodate the mammoth catwalk we had in mind. In the end, a 3.2km runway was created along the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui. Some 340 models took part and it took each of them 45 minutes to walk the full length of the catwalk, which saw us establish a new world record.

Last year, you were the Project Curator for Juxtaposed Fashion X Music, a major event in the city, which showcased over 150 different outfits from 75 local designers. What made you think the city’s fashion community needed to up its visibility?

Well, I think every city needs its own distinct character and fashion is a huge part of Hong Kong’s identity, not least because people here just love to style it up. While we are universally recognised as a shopper’s paradise, our local brands are largely under-exposed. On top of that, it’s far from easy for local designers to survive against all the international competition and the ever-rising rents. Having experienced all that for myself, I really wanted to help the up-and-coming generation of designers to get the kind of exposure and create the kind of noise necessary to overcome these very real challenges.

Where do you stand on the much debated diversity issues the fashion industry has had to contend with?

Well , we definitely need a greater commitment to diversity. To be brutally honest, 99 percent of models are still all drawn from the same demographic, which is a great shame. It’s really only when you have a more widely representative selection of models that you can truly showcase every design possibility. I want women – whether they are 155cm tall or 185cm, whether they weigh 100 pounds or 150 pounds – to know that they can look good in my designs. It also gives fashion an added element of reality – clothes aren’t meant to be costumes; they are meant to be worn by real people.

Thank you.

Interview by: Bailey Atkinson
Photos: Jack Law
Art Direction: San Wong
Venue: SICIS Hong Kong
Make-up: Margaret Wong
Wardrobe: Bonita Cheung
For the full article, please find the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the PDF version on the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Chow Time: Little Bao founder May Chow shares her recipe for success

May Chow is heating things up in the kitchen and inspiring Hong Kong’s youth to dream big and break the glass ceiling both inside and outside the food and beverage sector…

With the gender balance in the hospitality sector still famously out of kilter, was that something you struggled with when you first entered the business?
Well, there wasn’t any obvious discrimination, with no one saying they wouldn’t hire me because I was a woman. Instead, it was more a case of microaggression, for example, with people seeing me as more suitable for a pastry chef role than taking centre stage in a hot, busy kitchen. That all adds to the perception that women should stick with the salads and not carry heavy things, that they’re somehow inferior.

While you worked with many well-known male chefs prior to opening your own restaurant, were there any women who made a strong impression on you along the way?
The first woman that I worked for was a Boston-based pastry chef named Karin. I loved her because, even though she had graduated with joint honours in aerospace and electrical engineering from MIT, she’d opted for a career in pastry as that was her passion. She trained me so well that I could make everything on the menu after just three months. For me, she was my MIT professor and she allowed me to major in pastries.

may chow — Blazer by 8 By Yoox;Tee by COS

Flashing forward a little now, in 2012, you opened your first restaurant – Little Bao. Can you tell us more about that experience?
Looking back, I was so naive. I opened that restaurant without having any clear idea as to how to go about it. I had, however, seen others do it and I believed I could replicate what they had done and be successful. At the time, I felt like I was drowning, but I didn’t. Instead, I had to learn how to do everything. One day, I would be washing the dishes, the next, I would be front of house.

The original Little Bao site recently fell victim to urban renewal plans. How did you feel about letting it go?
I actually knew that was going to happen about six years ago, but I didn’t tell anyone except my partner and a few close friends. In the end, we only announced we were closing a week before we shut the doors for good, which shocked a lot of people. Walking by it now is definitely a bittersweet experience. The last six years, after all, have been something of a rollercoaster. In truth, though, it was no longer enough for me – at least not in that particular space…

In 2017, you were named the Best Female Chef at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards. Did you see that as some kind of vindication?
At the time, I was just starting my career and I wouldn’t really have chosen to win something like that at that point. I didn’t want to be a one-hit wonder – to be famous at 30 and gone by 40 – so I had to think hard about what accepting it would entail. While I was initially hesitant, I then wondered if I could put the win to good use. Ultimately, I thought that if someone very ordinary like me could gain such an accolade, that could act as an inspiration to others.

You came out about your sexuality a few years back. Was that difficult in a conservative city like Hong Kong?
Well, when I lived in the States, I was out among friends but still very much in the closet as far as my family in Hong Kong was concerned. Eventually, when I moved back to Hong Kong full-time, I didn’t want to revert to who I was before – an insecure 13-year-old. It was difficult to be honest about who I was, however. I was very aware of this innately Chinese desire not to embarrass your family. After about a year, though, I did come out to my parents. That was hard, but over time, my mom came to accept me and learnt to love my partner. Later, when some of her friends also found out they had queer children, they reached out to her and they were able to give each other advice and support.

You had the chance to sit down with Anthony Bourdain [the celebrated US celebrity chef] before he died. That must have been quite an occasion…
Every chef knew that having Anthony Bourdain come to your restaurant was akin to winning the lottery. A true hero of mine, not only did he come to see me, but he also brought along Christopher Doyle, my all-time favourite cinematographer, and his girlfriend Asia Argento, the Italian actress, whom I had also admired from afar. On the day he was due, I invited all my close friends to come along and help create the right ambience. When he arrived, he was very genuine – in his case, what you saw on camera was really him.

Do you have one piece of advice for any female or queer would-be entrepreneurs who may be reading this piece?
As an entrepreneur – whether you are a woman or a man – it’s important to work hard and remain true to your initial vision. In the case of women, they should also know that there’s a lot of support out there. If any woman ever reached out to me, for instance, I’d be willing to share what I know.
Something else – something that I noticed at the recent Asia’s Best Restaurants Awards – is that men are constantly looking to promote themselves, while women are nowhere near as bold. I’m not sure if that’s because women are naturally more humble or feel that they shouldn’t behave that way, but they really should. At the end of the day, be adamant about what you want and don’t be afraid to offend anyone who might get in your way.

Thank you.

Interview by: Bailey Atkinson
Photos: Jack Law
Art Direction: San Wong
Make-up: Esther Kwan
Venue: Happy Paradise

For the full article, please find the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the PDF version on the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store

People Prone: Francis Cheng on being a people person and starting his PR company

As the CEO and Founder of NumberOne PR Communications Ltd, Francis Cheng is easily one of Hong Kong’s most recognisable faces in public relations. We chat with him at Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel to find out more about his inspiring journey.

What do you recall from your childhood in Hong Kong?

I recall just how fortunate I felt. At the time, my family ran the Kai Tak amusement park in Kowloon City and, every Sunday, we would visit my grandparents for lunch, then head to the amusement park. It was an unforgettable time. Later, I went to Vancouver and that proved to be an equally great place to be a child. I was quite short we when first moved to Canada and, at the time, the TV was full of commercials pushing the benefits of drinking more milk. I took them at their word and, 12 months later, I was 1.86 metres tall.

You also studied in Canada. How did that affect you?

When we first moved to Canada, there wasn’t a lot of Chinese about, particularly in Coquitlam, the fairly remote suburban city where we lived. As a result, my English really improved and I also began to learn about different cultures and different ways of thinking for the first time. Canada is something of a melting pot and, looking back, while I was there I really began to appreciate different cultures, religions, ethnicities and genders. That was and still is something very precious to me.

Did a career in public relations always beckon?

Yes and no. Like any child, I had a headful of dreams, but I am a Taurus and we like to play it safe, which led me to take a degree in journalism. Looking back, that sort of helped balance out my options and ultimately set me up for a career in PR.

Is there a particular philosophy that you apply to PR?

As I tell all my staff, learning to be a good PR involves learning how to become a good human being. It’s something that may take you your whole life to achieve. And even then, you can never be the perfect PR. You will always have flaws and there will always be areas where you can improve.

What was it like when you first set out on your own in 2013 and launched NumberOne PR?

I’m a firm believer that you have to take on various challenges throughout your life. By 2013, I figured that I was up for such a challenge. When you have been an employee for a while, it’s time to consider whether you should do something in your own right. Being an employer, though, is very different from being a member of the staff. It’s a lot more pressure and you need to ensure that you have enough business coming through to support your staff and enough challenges to make sure you continue to develop.

What quality do you think makes you best suited to your current role?

My mentor, Pansy Ho [the eldest daughter of Stanley Ho, the Macau casino magnate], taught me the importance of understanding human nature. In the case of babies, for instance, if they see something shiny, they have to go and touch it. With adults, they are endlessly fascinated by diamonds and pearls. So – and this what I learnt from Pansy – it’s very much part of human nature to love beautiful things. When it comes to PR, then, I believe you must also always seek out the shiniest and best options on offer.

What advice would you give to anyone now looking to launch into PR on their own for the first time?

The world has changed – and continues to change – quite dramatically, so my personal route may no longer have any relevance. So, while my own experience may not count for too much in today’s world, I do still recommend learning from the past, especially from others’ mistakes. Once you’ve learnt how to make accurate decisions on the work front, you also need to recognise that it’s a discipline you should apply more widely. It’s part of what life is all about. On top of all that, you also seem to have an active social life.

How do you strike a balance and stay both energised and healthy?

Honestly? Sometimes I just fall asleep. I do, however, try my best to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I box and do cardio exercises at least three times a week and I also get facials and do my best to eat well. Right now, I am also trying to watch my diet as sometimes I tend to eat a little too well. Most importantly, though, I try and make sure I get enough sleep. I may check my mailbox before I sleep, but I always turn off my phone before I doze off.

You have quite an impressive Instagram following [34,400 and counting]. Would you say you have an unusual affinity for this particular social media platform?

It’s something I am very proud of. While I have little time for fake followers and pretend likes – things that always ultimately come to light – I think Instagram remains an important channel. There’s something innately positive about sharing, even within a commercial environment.

Interview by: Bailey Atkinson
Photos: Jack Law
Video: Kingsley Lau
Art Direction: San Wong
Make-up: Janae Chan
Hair: Vic Kwan
Venue: Deluxe Suite, Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel

Molteni&C / DADA unveils brand new showroom in the heart of Wan Chai

For over eight decades, Italian furniture maker Molteni Group has wowed with its fantastic interior decor and luxury lifestyle designs. Now, the marque has opened a sumptuous new showroom in Wan Chai’s Harbour Centre – a grandiose event that also celebrated Molteni’s 85th anniversary. On this special occasion, we caught up with Andrea Molteni, third-generation scion of the Molteni family and Director of Product Development for Molteni&C / DADA, the group’s home and kitchen furnishings arm.

Andrea Molteni, Director of Product Development, Molteni&C DADA, and Heyman So, GM of Retail Division from Firmstone Mobili Ltd

Tell us about your family’s company, the Molteni Group.

We are a family company that’s celebrating its 85th anniversary this year. It was started after WWII by my grandfather, Angelo, in Brianza, the hub of luxury Italian furniture. We began as a small woodworking workshop, but over time, my grandfather decided to move from crafting traditional furniture into modern designs. He also switched to an industrial manufacturing model. Both these decisions really put Molteni ahead of our time. Through the decades, we continued growing, diversifying and gaining acquisitions, and today, we encompass the breadth of the interior design and furniture making industries with branches across the world.

When did you decide to join the company, and what does your current role entail?

It was a strange evolution to be involved in this family business from an early age. I remember spending weekends playing in the factory, and I was always fascinated by how things worked and how they go together. So, personally, it was a natural progression from that to studying architecture to joining the family business.

Today, as Director of Product Development of Molteni&C / DADA, my role is to serve as a conduit and translator between the visions of the amazing designers we collaborate with and our own unique brand identity. Then, of course, I’m involved with the technical side of things to ensure that every product is up to our high standards.

What sets Molteni&C / DADA apart from competitors?

I think the fact that we’re a heavily family-involved business sets us apart. For myself and my cousins, as well as my father’s generation, who are still involved, it goes above and beyond just a professional career. It’s something we’re all building together, so everything we do is personal, something we take pride in. It helps us really create and maintain special relationships with our clients, and gain a keen insight into their needs so we can keep manufacturing furniture that is in line with their desires and demands.

Tell us about the new showroom.

Our new Molteni&C / DADA showroom is a beautiful new space that showcases the best in high-quality home and kitchen furniture. But beyond the amazing products, we also have an amazing staff who are on hand to aide you in finding the right designs to suit your unique needs.

Thank you.

Molteni&C / DADA Showroom. Shop 202, 2/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup

Living in Luxury: A closer look at Sansiri’s Khun by Yoo project

As the Chief Creative Officer of Thailand’s leading full-service real estate developer Sansiri, Ou Baholyodhin has great responsibility on his shoulders. He not only looks after the group’s visual identity and customer experience, he is also instrumental in shaping the brand’s overall look and feel, from design and development to marketing and branding. Ahead of the launch of the group’s prestigious Khun by Yoo condominium – which opens its doors come November – he chats with Gafencu about the brand’s mission, vision and its new special project, the Sansiri Luxury Collection.

Tell us more about the Sansiri Luxury Collection that is launching later this year.

We’ve created this collection specifically for properties that meet certain criteria, specifically in three areas: refined taste, curated experiences and uncompromising quality. It comprises four projects widely recognised in both local and international markets, the super-luxury flagships: 98 Wireless and Baan Sansiri Pattanakarn, and luxury projects: The Monument Thong Lo and Khun by Yoo, inspired by Starck.

What is your vision for Sansiri in the future?

I envision us to be above and beyond other property developers because we go beyond just making sure our residents are happy in the future. We always get involved with art and design, and ensure that world-class architects, interior designers and artists work on our properties. It’s the experience that money can’t buy, because these are the people who are often too busy creating palaces around the world, but thankfully, we are able to get them.

Khun by Yoo — Chief Creative Officer of Thailand’s leading full-service real estate developer Sansiri, Ou Baholyodhin

How do your Asian heritage and your work experience in the UK influence your design aesthetics?

Having a good address book and being wellconnected with some of the world’s top talents means that I have access to bring a real wealth of knowledge and expertise that adds value to Sansiri’s projects and properties.

For the Sansiri Luxury Collection, you have collaborated with some very famous international designers like Gert Voorjans and Phillippe Starck. How was it like collaborating with them?

Nothing good comes easy, these are people whose time is very precious and they know what they like. I think to be able to work with worldclass designers, you have to have complete trust in what they do. If you’ve hired the best, trust and believe in them, because that’s the only way you’ll get the best out of them.

Why did you choose Phillippe Starck for the Khun by Yoo project?

In the ’80s and ’90s, a day wouldn’t go by without you hearing about the many achievements of Phillippe Starck, he was already considered something of a deity in the field of design in those days. So when we decided to do this project, it was only fit to get a real global superstar to do it. His designs just get stronger and stronger, and his finger is always on the pulse of what modern urban living is all about.

What makes this project so special?

The location is really important, and the great thing about this property is it’s right in the heart of the most happening part of Bangkok.

Thank you.

Transformative Times: Bobbie Huthart speaks out about her gender journey

At the age of 67, Robert Huthart, the son of a former Lane Crawford managing director, undertook gender reassignment surgery. Reinvented as Bobbie, she now lives in Thailand and is a keen campaigner for trans rights.

Did being part of the high-profile Huthart family put any pressure on you while growing up?

There was never really any pressure on me at any time. I actually had a number of great advantages. I could go anywhere and had the Lane Crawford brand backing me up. Being part of a well-off family meant I had everything I could have imagined or might possibly have needed.

Was it always on the cards that you would join the family business?

I always knew I’d enter the family business in one capacity or another. Ultimately, when I came back to Hong Kong after having qualified as a Certified Public Accountant and having worked in an investment bank for a while, my father had just taken a stake in the company – Z enith Refinery and Pacific Palters – which did very well for us.

After that, I took on an investment role within the family business, initially focussing on Phuket real estate. At the time, this saw us buying land that no one else really wanted, which led to outstanding profits further down the line. I really enjoyed everything I did, and came to believe that, as long as you have conducted yourself with real zest and maintained a positive attitude, while treating people well, you could get anything done.

Bobbie Huthart — *Serpenti* Tubogas necklace in 18K rose gold set with pavé diamonds on the head and the tail; *Serpenti* earrings in rose gold with mother-of-pearl and pavé diamonds, both by Bulgari

How do you view the world as a woman now, opposed to when you were living as a man?

When you are transitioning, you start off by taking hormones and, all of a sudden, you begin to see the world in a dramatically different way. You also find yourself having the kind of conversations that you really couldn’t have if you are a man. I find that women talk very openly with each other. I also think having lived as both genders has given me a truly unique understanding of their different perspectives on life. I believe only open discourse can unite the two for a better world.

You came out to your family back in 2015. Looking back, is there anything you’d have done differently?

I think if I had been a member of a later generation, if I had known I was transgender when I was younger, it would have bothered me not to have transitioned earlier. I wasn’t aware of all the possibilities and I think, in some ways, my ignorance was a kind of blessing. It ultimately allowed me to live two full lives in one lifetime.

Do you think coming from an affluent background has given you a different experience as a trans woman compared to those less-advantaged?

Well, the transgender women I talk to tell me I’m lucky because I come from a rich and accepting family. With that in mind, I try to speak out on behalf of all older transgender individuals, as well as for all elderly people in general. I want people to know they don’t need to shrivel up and die when they reach a certain age.

While I believe trans women are able to secure jobs at the lower end of the pay scale, it’s often difficult for them to progress. I also believe that this isn’t a specific trans issue, but one that affects all women. As a result, we have to collectively fight for women’s rights and move forward together.

Are there any misconceptions about the trans community that you would like to tackle head on?

I think the biggest misconception about the trans community – not only in Asia, but also on an international basis – is that it is inevitably linked to prostitution. As a Buddhist, I have no problem with prostitution, but, in general, it seems to carry a huge stigma. There is also the issue as to whether or not post-surgery you can “pass” as a member of your reassigned gender. In truth, being transgender is about what’s in your heart, rather than about your looks, and that’s what’s important.

What do you hope the 21st century will deliver in terms of transgender rights and acceptance, particularly within the Asian community?

Ultimately, I just want to get my point of view across without offending anyone. I just want us to be accepted. In the case of China, I think the process of gradual change has to begin and I believe the next generation will come to accept transgender people. So much of its culture is male-centric, with every mother-to-be wanting a boy. What happens, though, when that boy wants to be a girl? At the end of day, people need to be allowed to transition and to then be accepted.

I also believe in order for transgender people to win the hearts and acceptance of society, we must continue to do good deeds, and recognise that if we push too hard, especially in Asia, for rapid law changes, this could lead to more discrimination and hate.

Is there anything you are currently campaigning for?

Well, I currently run a foundation that aims to help transgender people in Thailand. Initially, I thought surgery always topped the agenda for trans people, but I’ve since found that isn’t necessarily the case. Sometimes, the bigger priorities are education, medication and support from doctors. And so, the foundation’s focus is now on financing education, and funding seeding capital and venture capital businesses run by trans people in Thailand. Our foundation has no name, and thus, no ego.

Finally, what’s left on your personal bucket list?

Really, I just hope to live long enough to help more people, not just for their sake, but also for my own. I am also still trying to become far less egocentric. That’s one of the biggest challenges I have ever had to face and it’s an ongoing battle.

Thank you.

Interview by: Bailey Atkinson
Photos: Jack Law
Art Direction: San Wong
Make-up: Irene Hung
Hair: Eva Lee@Headquarters
Venue: Ichu Peru
Jewellery: Bulgari

For the full article, please find the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the PDF version on the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store

Sarah Heller: Asia’s youngest Master of Wine and what she’s currently drinking

Sarah Heller discusses becoming Asia’s youngest Master of Wine, the evolution of Hong Kong’s wine industry and the vineyards she currently has her eye on…

Your wine career had something of a bumpy start…

A little bit, yes. After graduating from university, I had a job lined up with an Italian wine importer and they very generously sent me to tour a few Italian wineries over the summer. Unfortunately, part way through my first visit, I fell into a wine vat and fractured my spine, which was – in equal parts – mortifying and painful. So rather than start working, I had to return to Hong Kong for a prolonged period of rehabilitation.

When I arrived, the city had just cut all duty on wine, so the local wine market was exploding, while the US scene had become rather stagnant in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis. It became clear that I should stay in Hong Kong and I began working for Debra Meiburg, one of the first Masters of Wine in Asia, and she really encouraged me to pursue my academic interests in wine. I’ve always been a little bit of a geek, so when I realised there was an academic qualification in wine – the Master of Wine certification – I just knew I had to go for it.

As Asia’s youngest Master of Wine (MW), what can you tell us about this particular qualification

Well, strictly speaking, the MW isn’t an academic qualification at all. It’s more like a guild, but one that requires a lot of study, hard work and success in several examinations if you want to become a member. As an institute, it was formed in 1953 as an offshoot of the Vintner’s Guild. Essentially, the MW is seen as official confirmation that its owner is particularly knowledgeable when it comes to all things wine-related.

How has Hong Kong’s wine market evolved over the 10 years you’ve been involved here?

Well, many things have changed. When Hong Kong first opened up and set about becoming Asia’s wine hub, the focus was almost exclusively on the fine wine segment and, in particular, on a tiny group of high-end producers in Bordeaux. Today, there’s far more diversity. While it’s still driven primarily by collectors, other sectors of the market have expanded considerably.

The food and beverage industry, for example, has become far more vibrant as things have progressed. Beyond that, there’s also an emerging group of younger collectors who have driven the move towards Burgundy, while also highlighting some of the once-lesser-known wine-producing regions, so it’s been an exciting time to watch the evolution of local wine preferences.

Have there been any particular regions that you have seen coming to the fore of late?

I think Italy has really been the one that’s proved something of a rising star over the last two years. I’m on the committee of an association called the Hong Kong Wine Society, and we’ve noticed a massive increase in interest in tastings of Italian wines, particularly prime Piedmontese varietals, such as Barbaresco or Barolo. In many ways, the Tuscan vintages are akin to Bordeaux, while Piedmonte is closer to Burgundy.

What projects are currently occupying you?

Actually, although I’m now an MW, I don’t have a regular nine-to-five schedule as everything I do is project-based. Wine education has been a big part of my career and I’ve long been involved with the Vinitaly International Academy – an Italian wine education institute – as a visiting lecturer. I’ve also designed a range of crystal glassware in partnership with Lucaris, a Thai crystal company. This will launch in November and has been crafted while keeping in mind the unique way Asian consumers enjoy food and wine.

Aside from that, I’m also collaborating on creating a new wine brand with a couple of partners – one is an Austrian wine producer and the other an Austro-Hungarian noble. This particular project came about as a way of introducing Austrian wines to the Asia market, but the project has now expanded to encompass all the wineries of Central Europe. We just launched in Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam and will shortly be in Poland and Sweden. We’re also hoping to produce a documentary that will chart the whole process of creating these wines sometime next year. Watch this space…

Are there any new wines that have recently caught your eye?

I think sparkling wines worldwide have become so much more interesting over recent years. While the French champagnes are, of course, delicious, it’s invigorating to see new players coming up. Right now, I’m particularly enamoured with Franciacorte – from the northern Italian province of Brescia – that produces such sparkling wines as Ca’ del Bosco and Bellavista. While champagnes can be compared to super-skinny supermodels, these are more like Sophia Loren – full-bodied, softer and warmer. Aside from that, I’m partial to a drop of Nyetimer or Rathfinny, both of which are English wineries.

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Jack Law
Art Direction: San Wong
Make-up: Margaret Wong
Venue: The Optimist