Entrepreneurship? A way to stay young
Prof Ho has had a hard time working in innovation and technology in Hong Kong. He entered the business world as a scholar, and had to adapt to the commercial concept of making money. “The difficulty in raising funds and market development is beyond imagination. Compare to the stability of a teaching staff, I’m really inexperienced in business. Sometimes I ask myself why have I started all these? Fortunately, I find anchor in pursuing my goal!”
“I keep learning with a humble heart. My friends praise me for tremendous improvement in business thinking. They nicknamed me ‘Prof Eco-Businessman’. Every day to me is a new challenge. The ageing in me slows down and allows me to stay young. I believe that there are always more solutions than problems. There is always a way out. If you can’t figure it out at night, sleep on it and you will straighten it out in the morning. Feel how the circumstances guide you, keep a grateful heart, and create opportunities for young people. What more can I ask for!”
Team work, dream work
There are 5 core members in Prof Ho’s team. He is very grateful for the team’s dedication to drive company growth. “I am very grateful that they are willing to invest in me, believe in my leadership, and trust that my scientific research can benefit the society. The team needs to work together. They have to understand my scientific research, market concept and vision, and collaborate. We are like a troop, each performing his or her duties to complete the tasks. We work together and no one is dispensable. When I hire them, it also means that I invest in them.”
How does the 2 post-90s in the team see the microalgae industry, and their seniors?
Kobe has business background and specialises in marketing and HR management. He gets tutorial in environmental science from Prof Ho every day. “I went to take my first job in Shanghai after I finished my master’s degree in Birmingham, UK. I only returned to Hong Kong for more than a year after. In this team I always have to commute between in mainland China and Hong Kong. Hong Kong talents are very much sought after in China. There are many policies that support young people under the age of 40. You also develop a wider professional and business circle in China than in Hong Kong. Hong Kong of course has unique advantages. It is most desirable to develop in different environments from time to time. I recommend young people to visit and try.”
“I am very grateful to Prof Ho for teaching me so much. He is a great example to follow. My science studies are at high school level only. It is difficult for me to understand Prof Ho’s years of hard work in scientific research. Fortunately he is an experienced educator. He can always explain to me in simple terms, and I transfer what I understand in layman terms, so that people who no scientific background can understand easily too. I have benefited a lot from this process.”
As the youngest team member, Eric was trained in environmental engineering and assists in technology and production procedures. “There is no generation gap at all in the team. As a newbie I have much to learn both at work and in scientific knowledge. Everyone in the team is willing to teach me and to help me realise my potentials. I am in charge of design and technology. Prof Ho gives me a lot of advices and ideas, yet he also gives me the freedom to try so that I can apply my speciality in engineering.” Eric points out that currently no other company in Asia has developed a large-scale microalgae industry, so he looks forward to the team’s success.
Mondo is described by Prof Ho as a versatile generalist. He’s a fervent supporter to Prof Ho’s entrepreneurship. “My previous work experience was largely to ‘destroy the environment’, mining iron and coal around the world to supply to different manufacturers. Steel manufacturing is an energy and pollution intensive industry, and involves extensively from infrastructure, automobiles, medical equipment, to canned food.”
“Why a sudden turn from 20 years and more in steel manufacturing to environmental protection? I happened to know Prof Ho in a course on environmental protection education. I was impressed by his enthusiasm in humanism and environmentalism as a CUHKer. I didn’t know what microalgae were at first, but through cultivation, sharing, and data collection, I learned a lot about the ecological environment and sustainable development. “
The other two female colleagues, Anita and Nancy, are experts in finance and economics. They provided professional advice on investment and guide Prof Ho into the financial world. Anita shares, “Prof Ho has a good understanding of both Chinese and Western cultures — Chinese learning as the essence and Western learning as practical application. He often encourages me to think more. When we see that there seems to be no way out for global warming, it turns out there is! God has prepared a way in His creation. I am on fire!”
“As year 2030 approaches, the whole world is committed to reducing carbon emissions to stop global warming from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius. I am very happy to be able to join this team. I am not young any more and I wish to pass on what I have. The damage done by industrialisation in the past will have to be paid for by the next generation. If we can attenuate this today, we should do all we can.”
Nancy’s concern is more spiritual and prays for Prof Ho sincerely. “He is full of energy, but he has to strike a balance between everything. I hope his will have more time with his family and start out everyday in the best condition.”
