Where actress-turned-entrepreneur Fanny Sieh goes, others inevitably follow…

Fanny Sieh, co-founder and co-owner of restaurant group Maximal Concepts, shares her top tips for leading a balanced lifestyle and finding entrepreneurial success…

So, how did it all begin for you?

Well, I was born and brought up in Hong Kong by two fantastic parents. My dad ran a successful business in the textile industry and, looking back, I think he was the perfect example of that first generation of Shanghainese entrepreneurs who made it big in Hong Kong back then. I will be forever grateful for how they brought me up. They’re the ones who motivated me to become a Grade A student, while encouraging me to try a range of different hobbies, ballet, tennis, swimming… All in all, I’d say I had a perfect childhood.

Your education was a little unconventional…

True. I started out at Maryknoll Convent School in Kowloon Tong, where English was the primary teaching language. This made me quite Westernised at a young age. At 13, I took the initiative and applied to a few prestigious prep schools on the East Coast of the US. I was eventually accepted by Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts.

And New York was next…

As you might imagine, nothing terribly exciting happens in Massachusetts. So, to compensate, I won a place at NYU and headed off for four very exciting years. It exposed me to people from all walks of life – Wall Street corporates, fashionistas, the arty brigade…

My major was English Literature and Humanities and, at the time, I had plans to become a psychiatrist. In the end, though, I returned to Hong Kong to work in the film industry instead. It was around that time that I really got involved with the local social scene, eventually coming to be regarded as the Queen of the Ball.

You’ve long been a champion of the healthier lifestyle. What’s the appeal there?

Oh, I love living as healthily as possible. It makes me feel lighter and more energetic, while I also sleep better, have a better complexion and even a transformed aura. Adopting this particular lifestyle has definitely changed me and only for the better.

It even led you study for degree at San Francisco Cooking School. Did that give you any particular healthy eating insights?

Firstly, I’d say, always eat what’s best for your body – you really are what you eat. Don’t go overboard with carbs and meat – throw in a few veggies and fruits. Secondly, stay away from animal fats, junk food and sweets. Swap them for healthier nibbles – avocado, salmon and natural salt-free nuts. Finally, do some research. Study nutrition and take the time to read labels when you go shopping to work out what’s healthy and what’s not. Of course, healthy eating is only part of healthy living. Exercising regularly is very important, and you also need to cultivate a healthy state of mind.

As co-founder and co-owner of Maximal Concepts, the company behind a number of Hong Kong’s best regarded restaurants – notably Mott 32, Blue and Brickhouse – has your love of healthy eating informed them?

Definitely. We currently have eight restaurants, but my favourite is Mott 32. It’s an East-meets-West Chinese restaurant. While it doesn’t only serve vegetarian food, healthy eating and sustainable food quality are very much part of its DNA. Our concept is to get ingredients fresh from the farm to the table. We’ve also banned MSG, cut down on the salt and refined sugar content and prioritised the use of fresh herbs and seasonings.

What’s next for Maximal Concepts then?

We’re very excited about Mott 32’s global roll-out. We opened our first Vancouver branch last year, with Bangkok soon to follow. The one I am most looking forward to, though, is our Las Vegas launch. While I can’t give you an exact date just yet, just watch this space…

As a successful businesswoman, what do you think are the key attributes that an entrepreneur needs to have?

The key is ASK – attitude, skill, knowledge – and a willingness to learn. Take notice of the world around you – its politics, its economic realities and the kind of people you find yourself among. That’s how you can spot trends at a very early stage, well before they fully emerge. Most importantly, don’t let tunnel vision hinder your mindset. Have a clear vision and try to make that a reality. I always bear in mind what Michelangelo said: “Every block of stone has a statue inside. The sculptor’s task is to find it.”

What advice would you give to the women out there who are thinking about starting their own businesses?

Don’t be a follower, be a leader – though that’s quite a challenge in the social media-fixated world of today. Basically, don’t let negative comments distract you from achieving your goals. There will always be people looking to tell you that certain things are beyond you, especially if you are a woman. Ignore all that. You’re not here to satisfy those people or to win their approval.

Thank you.

To read the full version of this interview, please check out the latest September 2018 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.

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Neville Lee
Art Direction & Styling: San Wong
Jewellery: Exclusively from Bulgari
Make-up: Irene Hung
Hair: Michael Lo @ LA BIOSTHETIQUE

Michelle Sun on honing the coding skills of four-year-olds

Michelle Sun, Hong Kong-based engineer-turned-entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of First Code Academy, a programming school that teaches children from the age of four onwards how to code and create mobile applications, with a particular emphasis on introducing girls to the tech sector.

How did the concept of the First Code Academy come about?

I was working as a Silicon Valley software engineer when the opportunity came up to teach children how to code. I was delighted to discover that very young kids are quick to master the required skills. I decided to build on this and bring what I had learnt back to Hong Kong. This, ultimately, led to the launch of First Code Academy.

With kids as young as four now enrolled at the Academy, are they really ready to learn programming?

These days, children start using iPads and computers at a very early age, well before they are four. For our part, we teach them how coding can help them create new things. Our approach to coding involves a lot of fun activities, all conducted in an informal atmosphere, with kids learning by playing with robots, etc. rather than staring at a screen.

Given how quickly programming languages become obsolete, how do you ensure what the kids learn remains useful?

It’s a fact that coding languages become obsolete quickly, so it’s inevitable that an eight-year-old currently learning Python may not find it useful when he graduates in 10 years’ time. We bear this in mind when we design our courses and ensure that our focus is always on the creative side of coding.

No matter what programming language they are learning, we encourage our students to develop two particular skills – problem-solving and unleashing their imagination. As they get older, their creativity and problem-solving abilities continue to be assets, with the programming language they were learning almost immaterial.

How much of an effort is it for you to stay up-to-date with the latest coding languages?

It’s an ongoing challenge but, fortunately, it’s one of the aspects of my job that I enjoy the most. When we are preparing a curriculum for an upcoming course, we start by looking at what’s new in the market and what’s soon to be released. Then we have to think about how to present it to our students in a way that is easy for them to digest.

Aside from programming languages, what are the other key challenges that you face?

Well, being an entrepreneur comes with its particular challenges. I find I have to wear many different hats every day. Sometimes I have to act as the company’s public face, while, at other times, I may be picking up trash in some of the classrooms. In between these extremes, there’s also a whole load of other things – meeting with teammates, formalising curriculums and a lot of marketing activities.

How did you feel when you were selected as one of Forbes Asia’s 30-Under-30 and also as one of the BBC’s Women Entrepreneurs Under-30?

They are huge honours and I feel particularly lucky to be recognised for doing something I love.

The real upside, though, is that these awards help build awareness of what we are doing in the wider community. A lot of parents – and even students – are aware of the awards, so that’s a plus. It gives recognition to our whole team, who have worked extraordinarily hard to get us where we are today.

With technology still very much a male-dominated sector, has that presented any particular problems for you?

While technology is still largely a man’s world globally, I have been lucky enough to be part of a growing community that actually supports women who are active in this sector and I have benefited from that in a lot of ways. I learnt how to code in a women-only coding boot-camp, for instance…

Despite that, women are still seriously under-represented in the sector and that’s a pipeline problem. The number of women who choose to major in engineering or computer science is still very low, which is something we are helping to address.

Our gender mix – across our four-to ten-year-olds – is almost 50:50. Once you look at the comparable secondary school figures, though, the ratio is 80:20 in favour of guys. Part of our role is to introduce coding to girls when they are still very young, before the idea that tech stuff is exclusively a guy thing can ever cross their minds.

What inspired you to launch the Hong Kong chapter of Women Who Code?

Women Who Code is a global initiative, one that I’ve benefited from personally. I felt, though, that Hong Kong was lacking something similar on a local basis. I wanted to create a safe place for women, somewhere they can discuss the uniquely female problems the tech sector throws up.

Thank you.

Interview by: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay, Art direction: San Wong, Photos: Neville Lee, Video: Lai Ti Yeung, Makeup and hair: Margaret Wong, Venue: Apartment Suite at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental

Arthur Lam on co-founding Synergy Group and saving the planet

Arthur Lam tells how he found Synergy with saving the planet…

Tell us about your childhood…

I was born in Hong Kong and lived here until I was 13 when I was sent to boarding school in Melbourne. After the end of one term at St Joseph’s College in Central, my mum suddenly told me: “You are not going back there, we are sending you to school in Australia instead.” At the time, I was really shocked and I really didn’t have too much time to prepare myself. Looking back now, though, I am glad that it happened. I had to become independent of them and it was a great learning experience for me. Overnight, I lost a lot of my shyness and became far more open and confident.

You went on to study mechanical engineering at the University of Notre Dame…

At the time, I was somewhat undecided as to what I wanted to study, so my college counsellor told me to try the very hardest course first, which turned out to be rocket science. Thinking that was pretty cool, I stuck with aerospace engineering for the first two years. Then, realising that my prospects as a non-American citizen were not particularly great in that sector, I switched to mechanical engineering in my third year and, ultimately, graduated in that.

In 2009, you co-founded Synergy Group, now one of Hong Kong’s leading energy-management businesses. What drew you to that particular sector?

Back in 2008, following the onset of the global financial crisis, everyone stopped spending and cost-cutting was the priority for nearly every business. As I had trained as an engineer, my partner asked me to review the prospects for a patented energy-saving product. As I looked into it, I realised that this product – created in Hong Kong – was one of those rare things that actually lived up to its hype. No only that, but its investor had no real grasp as to how to commercialise his system.

Even back then, I understood that, with the global population soaring, while natural resources were dwindling and costs were going up, energy efficiency was going to be a huge issue. I also wanted to prove that I could do things in a truly different way, yet still be effective. All of that, then, led us to found Synergy.

What is Synergy Group’s unique selling point?

Traditionally, companies such as ours specified products and delivered an energy-efficient budget, allowing clients to make savings on a monthly basis and then getting a payback after a certain period. By contrast, our Energy Management Contract (EMC) states that we will provide everything – from manufacturing and design to importing and installing – and clients don’t have to pay us anything. Every month though, when we save them ten dollars, they have to give us five back. It’s a true win- win!

What excites you most about your industry?

Energy is always going to be a key issue, especially now that sustainability and conservation are so high on the agenda. As a business, we never forget that everything we do helps our planet. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction to know that we are doing something that genuinely benefits the whole world.

What do you see as Synergy Group’s key achievement to date?

For me, founding Synergy and getting it listed on the stock exchange in 2015 – the first energy services company to do so – was an achievement in its own right. In terms of projects actually completed by the company though, the work we did for Singapore’s Changi Airport stands out.

Three years after we launched, we landed the project commissioned by Singapore’s government. It turned out to be a life-changing experience as it built my confidence and demonstrated to me that we were doing something truly meaningful.

Who would you say is your inspiration?

Of late, Elon Musk is someone I’ve been looking to learn more from. He is a true entrepreneur and a clean tech pioneer. What inspires me about him is the way he has picked himself up when he’s been in difficult situations. One of the marks of a true entrepreneur is the way you tackle problems. During Synergy Group’s journey from life as a start-up to being listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange, there were a lot of ups and downs. It wasn’t all glamorous.

What does the future look like for Synergy Group?

We are aiming to be a leader in global clean tech sector, one that rewrites the rulebook through continuous innovation. To that end, most of our efforts are now focussed in the APAC region, although we have also recently ventured into South Africa.

What advice would you give to those hoping to follow in your footsteps?

I would say be true yourself and find your passion. Once you find your passion, it will become clear what you can uniquely bring to the table. It’s also important that you show that you are happy to accept challenges, while creating opportunities for yourself by always demonstrating that you are the best person for the job.

Thank you.

The full version of this interview will appear on Gafencu Magazine’s July/August 2018 print issue as “Lam’s Tale”. You can download the free app for digital editions of the magazine.

Interview by: Hira Desai; Photos: Neville Lee; Location: Molteni&C

Ferretti Yachts 920 Tai He Ban version: The ultimate yacht for entertaining

2018 marks a very important milestone for Ferretti Yachts, as the brand celebrates its 50^th year in business this year.

To commemorate the event, the Ferretti Group made its worldwide debut of the FY920 in its Tai He Ban version at the 2018 Ferretti Group Itinerary Show held at the impressive Club Marina Cove in Hong Kong.

Celebrating Ferretti’s string of stunning yachts and successes, the 10-day event was an opportunity for visitors to tour both the FY920 THB and Riva 100’ Corsaro, two exceptional boats offered by Ferretti Group and to witness some of the brand’s most successful models.

According to the brand’s sales manager, Fabiomassimo Discoli, the Asian market tends to enjoy having more social interaction spaces rather than guest bedrooms. With this in mind, Ferretti Group has paid special attention to maximising the entertainment areas on board the Ferretti Yachts 920 Tai He Ban. Discoli explains the rationale behind the decision: “As a key player in the Asian nautical scene, we have deeply studied and understood the needs of the market. Asian customers use their yachts less for long vacations and cruises and more for entertainment and socialisation with guests. Most of the yachts are used during the day, which is why there is more need for entertainment spaces than bedrooms. We have listened and responded to this need with the Ferretti Yachts 920 Tai He Ban edition.”

With the Ferretti 920 THB already getting a good response, it’s evident that the Ferretti Group has struck the right chord with its Asian clients.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay; Video: Lai Tin Yeung

Best Foot Forward with Alden, the most trusted shoe-makers from the US

Luxury shoe store Tassels has recently played host to the exclusive Alden Trunk Show 2018 in Hong Kong. Founded in 1884 by Charles H Alden, Alden is a family-owned business that hand-makes shoes in Massachusetts for four generations now.

The company is known for its innovation in shoe technology, from producing Goodyear welted men’s traditional shoes to designing orthopaedic shoes that allow proper fitting and help in correcting feet problems. It is Alden’s thorough research and development that makes it a leader in specialised shoes as well as in traditional footwear.

We spoke to Steve Reinhart from Alden on what makes Alden the indispensable shoe brand for gentlemen. Check out the full video.

Warren Lee: The friendly face of hostile takeovers

Warren Lee is the founder of Yu Ming Group and a chairman of the board at SHK Industries.

When you were growing up, Hong Kong was still a British dependency. Did that leave any lasting impression on you?

I went to school in Hong Kong until I was 15 and then, after that, I went to boarding school – and, later, university in England. In total, I think I went to 13 different schools, which was a bit unusual.

By the time the handover came along, I was 34. So, I lived for quite a while under the British and I’ve now worked for 20 years under the Chinese. It would be fair to say I’ve seen the good side of both administrations.

Even back then, did you see yourself heading for a career in finance?

Actually, I wanted to be a policeman. As my father was a chief inspector and my sister was in police auxiliary services, it seemed a fairly viable option. My parents, however, had other ideas. When I told them I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps, they rejected the idea out of hand. While my parents rarely agree anything, they were unanimous in this instance.

Why were they so against the idea?

In my father’s day, the police force was a respected career option. More recently, though, a lot of that respect has gone. I guess my parents could see the way things were going. To this day, I still have a lot of respect for the police, but there has been a lot of public hostility towards them over the years.

So, instead, you were drawn to the world of finance in general and the world of hostile takeovers in particular. How did that come about?

In 2001, though, we invested in a project related to a listed company. There was then a dispute between the investors and the management and, largely to protect our investment, we had to take action against the management. It turned out to be a very expensive course of action and we ended up spending millions of Hong Kong dollars to take out an injunction. You can imagine how we then felt when the injunction was discharged only a few days later. It was then that I started thinking about how to best protect the interest of shareholders in the event of any hostile takeover.

What was your strategy and how soon did you get to put it to the test?

Well, the next year, we found ourselves working in an advisory capacity to another company that was locked into dispute between shareholders and management. I came up with an idea that wouldn’t necessitate any legal intervention. Instead, we took advantage of an existing provision in the Takeovers Code and, with a little creative re-interpretation, we managed to turn it to the advantage of the shareholders. That was how it all started and, since then, we’ve been able to help our clients with a number of similarly innovative approaches.

Given the sometimes controversial nature of hostile takeovers, have you ever found yourself facing an ethical dilemma?

When a client comes to me, I rarely ask who’s right or wrong. We do, however, realise that when two parties are in dispute one of them must be wrong or, at the very least, one of them must have unrealistic expectations. My role, then, is to advise them legally and see that their interests are best protected. While I am aware of the ethical issues, I don’t lose sleep over them.

Is Hong Kong a hotbed of hostile takeovers at the moment?

With a lot more mainland businesspeople investing in Hong Kong over recent years, the number of disputes has grown. More often than not, the mainland business community favours verbal agreements and, unfortunately, less documentation can lead to a mismatch in expectations. A lot of Chinese businessmen also tend to use agents and, sometimes, these middlemen can turn greedy when they having millions of dollars passing through their hands every day.

You’re known to be keen sportsman, but is there just one sport that you’re truly fanatical about?

When I was a child, I loved football and table tennis. I was quite good at table tennis and was even second runner-up in a Junior Hong Kong Open one year. There was a reason why I was quite so good, though. When I was very young, table tennis tables were found only in community centres and police recreation rooms. If you wanted to play, you had to fight for your spot and, having got it, you had to keep on winning if you wanted to stay on.

Years later, while living in London, I took up bicycling. Everywhere I went, I rode my bike. I became very attached to it – it was like a pet to me. I still go cycling whenever I can, at least once a month.

Thank you.

Interview by Suchetana Mukhopadhyay; Photos: Neville Lee

Ella Lau on her life-long love of children, education and philanthropy

As founder and supervisor of Parkview International Pre-School (PIPS), Ella Lau is in a class of her own

What can you tell us about your own school days?

I attended junior high school in Hong Kong, and then went to high school in the US. Back then, fashion was my passion, so I enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in California with a view to studying merchandising and management.

How did you then enter the world of education?

I’ve always loved children. In school I spent my free periods serving milk and cookies to the kindergarten classes. Once I graduated, I always made time to hang out with my married friends and their kids. My father noted my interest and encouraged me to channel my passion into a career.

How did you end up helming PIPS?

Again, I have my father to thank for it. At the time, he was friends with Hwang Chou-Shiuan, the man behind the development of Hong Kong’s Parkview housing estate project. It was this connection that helped us get approval to open a kindergarten within the site. PIPS opened its doors for the first time in 1989, nearly 30 years ago.

What was the original concept behind the PIPS project?

Well, aside from creating a dedicated pre-school for the residents of Parkview, we wanted to create a high-quality bilingual early-learning programme that taught children to think creatively. I believe this is essential to position them for success in a world that seems increasingly complex and ever-changing.

How has PIPS kept its competitive edge?

Well, we always try to stay a little ahead. We were the first independent kindergarten to adopt the International Baccalaureate (IB)’s Primary Years Programme (PYP). Two years ago, our Kowloon campus was also accorded IB PYP status.

Beyond that, it’s the happy and positive learning environment that our staff strives to nurture that sets us apart. We also put a lot of effort into reassuring and supporting our students when it’s time for them to move onto the next stage of their education.

Do you have any other new projects looming?

Actually, now that PIPS has a new school board in place and a new principal on board, we’re back into expansionist mode and are looking at both local opportunities and a few ideas that are beyond Hong Kong’s borders.

Do you have any advice for young parents?

Well, for better or worse, Hong Kong is the kind of place where parents focus almost exclusively on the academic success of their children. Those kids that do well academically can get away with almost anything.

It is hugely important, though, to remember that not all children excel in book learning. With this in mind, parents need to accept the multiple intelligences of their kids – some may be gifted when it comes to music or the arts, while others may find sporting success. Encouragement of these talents is critical for a child’s positive self-image.

As a noted philanthropist, are there any causes particularly close to your heart?

Although I’ve never considered taking singing up professionally, music has always been a passion of mine. A few years back, I found myself in a studio recording for a CD and it was something I enjoyed enormously.

It was this love of music that led to my involvement with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Having performing them onstage during a fundraiser, I was invited to help organise one of their charity concerts. Despite having no experience of staging a concert, I agreed to chair the organising committee. That concert ended up raising over HK$5 million. I’ve since done similar work for the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra as well.

I’m also on the Board of Directors of HK Spinal Cord Injury Foundation and serve as Vice-Chairman for Hong Kong Foodlink, which helps provide hot meals for the needy, another cause that’s close to my heart.

If you could live your life over again, is there anything you would change?

As someone who has always loved children, I often wonder what it would have been like to have a child of my own. If I could do it all again, I think that would be the one thing that I would change. I have been fortunate enough to have a number of nephews and nieces that I am very close to, so that has been some compensation.

How would you like to be remembered?

My philosophy has always been to create happiness and to help others whenever possible. Ultimately, then, I hope I’ll be remembered as a kind, happy-go-lucky person whose positive vibes brightened the lives of those around her.

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Neville Lee
Make-up and Hair: Celia Chong @ Celia C. Makeup
Location: Parkview Clubhouse and Suites

Chloe Ho on her multicultural upbringing and life-long love affair with ink

Feted at exhibitions in New York and Hong Kong, artist Chloe Ho and her ink works are the talk of a generation.

When did your artistic impulses first emerge?

Even when I was very young, I expressed myself through art. In Chinese International School (CIS), I was always drawing in the playground and my schoolmates would ask if I wanted to be an artist when I grew up.

In 1997, I won a contest for postcard design run by Time magazine. That led to my first appearance in an exhibition, with the winning entries showcased in the China Club. I was eight and that was the first time I received recognition as an artist. From then on, things just started to build.

How does your international upbringing manifest itself in your works?

I see myself as something of a sponge. My international education exposed me to a range of artistic traditions from many different countries. Ultimately, I combined many of these influences when I came to create my own works, something that freed me from the stylistic rules of any one school or aesthetic.

You are particularly highly-regarded for your work with ink. What drew you to this medium?

For me, ink is almost a religion. I first fell in love with it holding a brush in a Chinese art class at CIS. Since then, my passion has only grown.

It is, however, an unforgiving medium. Ink does what it wants to do. Ink is bold and unapologetic, but it can also be subtle and sophisticated. It’s something you can’t enhance or emend. Ink is naked and unalterable. It’s a lot like life – you don’t get a do-over.

You’ve also experimented with 3D effects and virtual reality art…

For me, that strange marriage of art and technology is fascinating. It’s a new and evolving medium and one that raises fundamental questions about what we consider art to be.

My most recent show – Ascendence – was focused on the concept of time, while also embracing humanity’s progress and the way we now use technology in our everyday lives.

Alongside this, I explored the possibilities opened up by VR painting, creating an installation you could walk through. Essentially, it was an immersive, ‘inner universe’ experience, one where users could actually interact with the art on show.

To date, what have you been most proud of?

That’s a tough one to answer. There’ve been quite a few highlights along the way. Recently, my work was featured in the MGM Chairman’s collection. My show at New York’s Forbes Gallery also stands out for me. More recently, my Ascendence show wrapped here in Hong Kong. It was great that it was just so well received by Hong Kong art lovers.

Having said all that, as an artist, you always believe that your best work is yet to come.

Aside from your artistic endeavours, what else takes up your time?

I’ve been short-sighted nearly of my life and, a few years back, I suffered from a detached retina. As a result, optical health is a subject that is very close to my heart. It was this experience that inspired me to get involved with eye care in Hong Kong, and to launch the Chloe Ho Safeguarding Sight Initiative, a joint venture with the Hong Kong University School of Medicine. Together, we raise funds to help ensure that underprivileged children and adults get proper access to routine retina health checks and treatments. We also fund a free eye-testing service in Sham Shui Po.

As an artist, how do you view your likely legacy?

The legacy of any artist has to be the work they leave behind. If it is to outlast its creator, it has to be strong enough to stand on its own and speak across the gulf of culture and time. I hope my body of work will convey how I feel about the world and the issues we all face.

On a more personal level, I hope to leave a legacy of kindness and generosity and I hope that I have – and will – inspire others to follow their artistic passions.

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Neville Lee
Art Direction & Styling: San Wong
Make-up: Margaret Wong
Hair: Eric Lee @ Kim Robinson Salon

Cruise Controller: Loui Lim truly has a Dream job…

Loui Lim, the youngest son of Malaysian billionaire, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, looks poised to carry on his family’s legacy. At just 29, he’s the Director of Dream Cruises Holding Limited, Dream Cruises Management Limited and Genting Dream Limited and also the Vice President, Brand Strategy, Marketing and Communications of Dream Cruises.

Gafencu reporter Suchetana Mukhopadhyay talks to Loui Lim about his Dream job and beyond…

You had quite an unusual childhood…

I actually grew up across three different continents. I was born in Australia, spent much of my early childhood in Malaysia and was then educated in the UK. Many of my earliest memories are of painting. I was quite artistic as a child. I’d spend a lot of time in the garden with a pencil and a sheet of paper, doodling away at whatever caught my fancy.

Given your diverse experiences, is there any place you are particularly attached to?

I spent my formative years in the UK, so it holds a very special place in my heart. When I first arrived in London, I was particularly drawn to the cultural contrast between the very posh neighbourhoods of West London and the very gritty, very hipsterey feel of East London.

As the son of a successful businessman, do you feel a particular pressure to excel?

Children born high-profile families inevitably feel a certain kind of pressure and this obviously intensifies if you are working for the family business. I know my father faced a similar pressure from his own father when he first joined the business. It is his success that inspires me.

Given that you have management positions across several family businesses, how do you ensure you have enough time for everything?

It can, indeed, be difficult to manage you time when you have a multi-faceted role to play. You need great organisational skill, something I am still trying to master. Overall, though, there is no clear answer and you just have to attack everything head on.

With the cruise sector becoming ever more cluttered, how does Dream Cruises manage to stand out?

Dream Cruises is uniquely focused on catering to Asian guests, with World Dream in Hong Kong/Guangzhou to service to the China and North Asian market and Genting Dream in Singapore for the Southeast Asian market.

Our itineraries encompass popular destinations around the region from the islands of Okinawa to Phuket and Ko Samui in Thailand, Halong Bay in Vietnam and North Bali, Indonesia.

We offer all the home comforts and services that Asian people have come to expect. As a company of Asian origin, I believe we understand the needs of our customers far better than any of our competitors.

Tell us a bit more about another of your businesses – Crystal Air Cruises…

It’s been an exciting year for Crystal Air and we have just stared operating a Boeing 777 service. As you know, Boeing 777s are commercially-proportioned airplanes and would normally accommodate up to 300 passengers. We, however, have customised it, optimising its use for just 88 travellers. It now offers leather flatbed seats, gourmet chefs, multilingual attendants and executive-class comfort.

With luxury travel booming right now, how are you looking to capitalise on this?

There is, indeed, a surge in demand for luxury travel at the moment. People are not just looking for a generic experience, they want something unique and inspirational. And they’re willing to pay for it. Our businesses are very well positioned to capitalise on this trend as they can provide genuinely immersive and inspirational experiences. On Dream Cruises, for instance, we frequently invite motivational speakers, wellness gurus and similar inspirational individuals to come onboard.

We’re also planning to launch two more global-class ships, both of which will harness the very latest in artificial intelligence, voice and facial recognition technology and many other digital innovations. These ships will offer a state-of-the-art VR experience, as well as water parks, amusement areas and even a roller coaster. Come 2020, we will launch the world’s largest mega-yacht, purpose-built to sail to Antarctica.

Do any of your recent travels stand out as particularly memorable?

Well, we organised a special New Year’s itinerary for Crystal Skye. This saw us fly our guests to Sydney to watch the New Year countdown fireworks over Sydney Harbour. Then we flew them back in time, travelling across continents so they could experience the New Year countdown again, this time on the sandy beaches of Honolulu. That was an incredible experience and one I will never forget.

In term of your charity work, are there causes that particularly appeal to you?

There’s this great charity, Impact Hong Kong, which helps get homeless people off the street. It finds them jobs, provides them with accommodation and gives them a second chance in life. It’s a great cause and I am planning to get more involved with it. Not so long ago, I’d attend social events for a number of charities, such as amfAR. Now, though, I’d much prefer to get involved at a face-to-face level, so that I could actually see that I was making a difference.

Thank you.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Photos: Neville Lee

Sweet Talk: Gafencu interviews Nicolas Lambert, Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 2018

Nicholas Lambert, pastry chef of Four Seasons Hong Kong, may be just in his early 30s, but all the accolades showered on him so far (and all of which he so deserves) speak volumes about the talent of a man whose vision is well beyond his years. The latest trophy under his belt is the coveted Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 2018 Award, sponsored by Valrhona, a title that he has just won at the highly prestigious Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards held in Wynn Palace Macau recently. We caught up with Nicolas Lambert just after the Awards Night to talk about all things sweet.

Congratulations on winning the award for Asia’s Best Pastry Chef. How do you feel?

It came as a total surprise! Winning this award is such an emotional moment for me. I need to thank my wife, my family and my team at Caprice for all the support. After three years of working in Hong Kong with Four Seasons Hotel, I can easily say that this is the best achievement I could have got so far.

What were the challenges along the way?

The journey wasn’t exactly an easy ride. When I first arrived in Hong Kong, I didn’t speak English at all. But I am grateful for all the support that I have got from my colleagues, particularly from my pastry team at Caprice, all of whom who have been there for me since the very beginning.

Do you have any mentor that you look up to?

Philippe Torti, my first boss, is a person I really look up to. He’s like a second father to me. He had mentored me through my first five years of learning how to make pastry.

What is the inspiration for your favourite dish?

I love desserts with hazelnut. I can find inspiration everywhere – in a museum, in nature, while looking at a painting or anywhere else – but never in other pastry creations, because it is very important to have my own unique style and identity. I want my pastries to be shaped by my personality.

You have achieved so much at a relatively young age. What’s next on the cards for you?

I am young in terms of age, but I started making pastries at the age of 15, so everything I have done in these 15 years has been a labour of love and passion. For me, going to work everyday is immensely enjoyable.

Moving on, I will continue to travel more and meet as much people new people as possible. I believe that when you open yourself to new experiences, anything can be possible. Working in the hospitality industry opens door to many countries – there are 100 or more Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to explore!

Thank you.

Interview by: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay