When Business Meets Purpose

The second event of the ‘Tri-Sector Leadership in Action’ workshop series took place at CUHK Business School Town Centre on 3 April. Titled “When Business Meets Purpose”, the workshop attracted over 60 participants from all three sectors: business, public service and social enterprise. All came together to learn, first-hand, from practitioners who are running organisations with a social mission.

Featured in this group photo includes (1st row) Mr. Simon Wong (3rd from left), President of EMBA Alumni Association; Dr. Teresa Chu (4th from left), Founder of the Association of Retired Elderly Limited; Prof. Andrew Chan (5th from left), EMBA Program Director; Ms Charmaine Wong (3rd from right), Assistant Director of the Home Affairs Department; Mr. Howard Ling (2nd from right), the workshop instructor; and Ms. Lonna Kwan (2nd row, 4th from left), Founder of the Comfort Me Health Wear Company Limited

Prof. Andrew Chan, EMBA Programme Director, kicked off the workshop with a warm welcome, saying, “I hope that what you learn today will inspire your work.” He was followed by the workshop instructor, Mr. Howard Ling, Senior Consultant of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service – HSBC Social Enterprise Business Centre, who shared case studies about local and overseas social enterprises which have an impact on society and are financially self-sustaining.

During the workshop, participants heard from two local founders who shared the stories of their NGOs. Dr. Teresa Chu, Founder of the Association of Retired Elderly Limited, talked about how her social enterprise helps promote activeness during ageing through a job-matching platform for recruiters and retirees. Another speaker, Ms. Lonna Kwan, Founder of the Comfort Me Health Wear Company Limited, discussed her company’s humble beginnings and its mission in promoting natural beauty and confidence in women through female lingerie products.

“It was indeed an interesting and insightful evening. I really hope that the inspiration can influence more alumni like you and encourage you to inject a social mindset into our work,” Prof. Chan remarked. After this workshop, participants formed six teams and will work on a project that focuses on the elderly or education, which will be presented at the final workshop scheduled in late May.

 

This article was first published in the alumni website by CUHK Business School’s Alumni and Corporate Affairs Office on 18 April 2017.