Part I
Introduction: Become an entrepreneur From the University of Hong Kong
--Memorial First function day of YED
November 8th was a distinct starting point for HKU students who want to start their entrepreneurship and let their dreams release with passion and ambition! That was because Youth Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YED) held various activities, including ice-breaking, opening ceremony and experience sharing section, for HKU students to make friends and get approach to distinguished guests. The distinguished guests include Dr. Patrick Ko, Ms. Joelle Woo, Ms. Smita Sanadhya, Ms Angel Tai, Mr. Ricky Lam, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Peter Wu Jinxiong, Mrs. Edith Law, Dr. Anthony Ho, Ms. Cora Chung and Mr. Andy Chan. It is really appreciated to invite these distinguished guests to come to YED’s opening ceremony and experience sharing section to help and guide the students with dream and doubt about Entrepreneurship.
In the Ice Breaking Section, students were required to approach to with courage and were provided a platform to deliver presentation by representing a team on the stage. This could help train their speech and leadership skills in teamwork. The Director of YED, Mr. Issac Wu summarized the Ice Breaking Section with a passionate and inspiring speech, which pointed out the importance of confidence and courage as a HKU Student.
After a relaxing break, the solemn opening ceremony started with the great support of our distinguished guests and dear YED ambassadors. The Chief consultant of YED, Dr. Patrick Ko, had an inspiring speech for our students about culture. He firstly pointed out the importance of dream, the road we would like to lead in our life. In this process, we are suggested to learn from daily life and be ready in every moment. What’s more, this kind and knowledgeable professor also shared his business experience, including understanding diverse law systems, understanding different culture, being punctual and being confident. The students were greatly inspired by his passion and humor in the speech and laughs came out from time to time.
Then, Ms. Joelle Woo, director of Microsoft of Hong Kong gave us a speech about the importance of innovation, vision, culture and concept by sharing some experience of Microsoft. It was not only the product values but also the hidden concept should be highlighted more. Besides, Ms. Smita Sanadhya, the CFO of Microsoft, delivered a lot of knowldge on how to finance a company and make good decisions on raising money. An entrepreneur should have sufficient information on advantages and risks of finance with careful planning. She also pointed out that, with reasonable management, Finance can make the foundation of a big business dream stronger. The experience and knowledge from both the two distinguished guests from Microsoft helped students broaden their vision about how to set up their own business and build up confidence to a larger extent.
Then, after a refreshing time for discourses between mentors and HKU Students, Ms. Angel Tai (Marketing manager of UDomain) shared the information about UDomain with an intense introduction about UDomain and its UPromote. She also told the importance of serious operation in every step of work to the young students.
The whole function day ended but the passion of the HKU students was greatly inspired. Groups of students did not leave immediately but chose to talk with the guests or new friends. If you were there, you should have experienced and enjoyed the strength and enthusiasm about entrepreneurship and future from these HKU students, our YED Ambassadors 2014-2015.
If you are interested, don’t hesitate come and join us. If you are our ambassadors, congratulations and best wishes!
Kelly Liu
Academic and Publication (YED)
Note:
YED is a placement program running with Postgraduate Student Association, HKU. YED is now organizing a 15 hours elite-scheme, called “YED ambassador”, in which YED will provide entrepreneurship workshops, professional seminars, soft skills training and mentorship program with 40 talents among 12,000 outstanding students in HKU each year.
Part II
Reflection from YED
The Youth Entrepreneurship Development (YED) Institute has a creative energy that is palpable and contagious. Imagine a room of bright eyed HKU post-graduate and graduate students ready to make their mark upon the world sitting next to twelve distinguished leaders within Hong Kong. Men and women who work in some of the world's top fortune 500 corporation or own businesses that make million dollar deals over the phone.
If you attended the YED Opening Ceremony and the Experience Sharing Session, you don't have to imagine it because you were there. Shaking hands and exchanging business cards with the Microsoft (Hong Kong Division) Chief Financial Officer and the Director of Development and Developer Experience. Or maybe you were offered free website assistance from UDomain's Marketing Manager. Everyone in the room was inspired by Dr. Ko Siu Shing. Listening to him speak about running a billion dollar bulk commodities company was impressive in itself. Having him look you in the eye and tell you he is committed to supporting the entrepreneurs within YED as our Chief Consultant...commitment of that magnitude can literally take the wind right out of you.
As newly inducted ambassadors of YED, we have gained access to a network of forward thinking individuals who are passionate about their future. Some of our members have already launched their businesses and others have won city-wide acclaim through their award winning social enterprises. Today we all sat in the same room and dared to dream out loud.
If I've said this once, I've said it a thousand times. I am proud to be a student of The University of Hong Kong, and now I must also add a member of YED.
Part III
Reflection from committee member of YED
Dreams and Details
On November 8th, 2014, I was lucky to participate in the opening ceremony of Youth Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YED). It was a special ceremony for our ambassadors to meet each other, exchange insights, and learn from speakers. With the opening ceremony, ambassadors had a good start in their journey to a successful entrepreneur.
During the opening ceremony, ambassadors were inspired by the wonderful speeches given by Chief Consultant of YED, Dr. Patrick Ho, and elites from Microsoft. They gave us a clear picture of what a good entrepreneur should be like and what valuable qualities entrepreneurs should have. In their speech, there was so much wisdom for us to learn. However, what left me with a deep impression is their message on dreams and details.
To begin with, it is true that people in all works of life need to have their own dreams and goals. So do entrepreneurs. As Dr. Patrick Ho mentioned in his speech, the first thing was that we needed to have a dream. Before starting a company, we need to think carefully what is the things that we want, what we are working for and what changes we can bring about to people around us or even the world. Without a clear vision and concept, it is very hard for a company to have long development. Another speaker Ms. Joelle Woo, the director of Microsoft pointed out that the vision and culture was of great importance to a company's success. Customers buy and like goods not simply because of their functions and qualities, but also because of the concept and culture behind them. Maybe you are thinking about making people live happier lives, helping people become more beautiful and attractive and so on. Grasp those ideas and be brave to try them out.
However, it is not enough to only have a dream. As many of our speakers pointed out, we also need to be practical and pay attention to details. Dr. Patrick Ho gave us his own experience as an example. Before he negotiated with foreign partners, he always tried to find out information about the partners' countries, such as what their culture was like, whether their law systems were different from his and what weretheir courtesies in business. He even tried his best to use the same language of his partners to shorten the distance. He also reminded us to pay attention to more detailed things, such as dress code andpunctuality. Different from what we had believed, a businessman not only set long-term goals and leads others, but should also be careful and attentive.
Financing is another detail entrepreneurs should be careful about. Although financing is not as exciting as creativity and innovation to some people, it is related closely to how well a company can run. Ms. SmitaSanadhya, the CFO of Microsoft, delivered a lot of useful information on how to finance a company and make good decisions on raising money. When deciding money source, an entrepreneur should have sufficient information on advantages and risks of finance. Although it is said that there is never enough money, with careful planning and good management, finance can make the foundation of a big business dream stronger.
From their inspiring speeches, I think that an entrepreneur should have a combination of dreams and details. He should be creative and foresighted, and at the same time, he needs to be practical and put his feet on the ground. What audiences have learnt in the opening ceremony will serve as a good starting point in their long journey in the future.
The opening ceremony was followed by an experience-sharing session, in which Ms. Angel Thai introduced how to reach target customers via Internet. It equipped audience with new technologies and marketing strategies.
The opening ceremony provides a platform to get closer to elites in business and exchange insights. It is also an opportunity for ambassadors to communicate, learn and grow.
Xie Jingrui
Academic and Publication(YED)
Edited by
Kelly Liu
Academic and Publication (YED)