Cover We spoke to ten of our Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 in Hong Kong about their many firsts on the way to making marks in various industries (Photo: Hungmc)
We spoke to ten of our Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 in Hong Kong about their many firsts on the way to making marks in various industries (Photo: Hungmc)
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With the launch of the Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024, we speak to some of the city’s brightest on the defining moments that shaped their journeys
Tatler’s annual Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow highlights up-and-coming entrepreneurs, creatives, executives and influential talents around the region. This year, we have chosen more than 200 promising young leaders from around Asia who have made waves in their industries including Sustainability, Technology, The Arts and Public Service and Law.
In the process of making a name for themselves, these changemakers have experienced many firsts: starting their first business, the first hurdle, the first aha moment, the first breakthrough. We asked ten of the Hong Kong honourees to share some of those firsts that set them on the path to success.
Read more: In an uncertain economy, this is how to position your business for success
Above Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 from Hong Kong: Matt Orr, Sophie Chapman and Stephanie Hui (Photo: Hungmc)
Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 from Hong Kong: Matt Orr, Sophie Chapman and Stephanie Hui (Photo: Hungmc)
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When did you first realise you wanted to do something different with your life?
Sophie Chapman
Co-founder, COO and CFO, EcoBricks
“My first year in investment banking was before the whole sustainable movement happened. I would go on to the floor that I worked on. It was an open plan with kitchen units on both ends. It was just the sheer amount of waste that one floor and one office could create that genuinely shocked me. That’s what got me thinking: ‘I need to do something about this. I don’t know what it will be, when it will be, but one day, my life has to be devoted to fixing this.’”
Who first inspired you to pursue your career?
Matt Orr
Hong Kong footballer
“My biggest inspiration was my dad. Back in New Zealand, he used to be a professional footballer for the country. [Then], when I was eight or nine years old, Liverpool came to Hong Kong to play against the Hong Kong team. I was very fortunate as I was the mascot for Steven Gerrard. I got to walk on the pitch with him as one of those kids. That moment will forever be special to me.”
What first triggered your mission?
Stephanie Hui
Fashion and beauty content creator
“As a consumer, I felt like there was a lack of Asian faces in the beauty community. Trying to find out how to do an eyeshadow look or eyeliner took a lot of digging to find the right creators. So that’s what I really wanted to do for the Asian community. I wanted to share tips and tricks, because doing make-up on our [Asian] faces is very different from doing make-up on a Caucasian face.”
Read more: How Charlotte Cho of Soko Glam and Then I Met You brought K-beauty to the world
Above Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 from Hong Kong: David B Wang, Alfred Lam, Sho Dewan and Bianca Ho (Photo: Hungmc)
Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 from Hong Kong: David B Wang, Alfred Lam, Sho Dewan and Bianca Ho (Photo: Hungmc)
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What did you first realise about your industry that prompted your business idea?
Bianca Ho
Co-founder and COO, Wati
“In the western world, people primarily communicate by email, but in Asia, instant messaging is how we communicate. It is part of our daily fabric. However, managing emails is very different from managing messages. That’s why we find a lot of value in creating something that focuses on messages and helps businesses sort through all the messages that they receive daily to reach their end customers more effectively.”
What was the first challenge you faced in setting up your business?
Wesley Ho
Co-founder and design director, Napp Studio and Architects
“The first challenge was figuring out how to maintain the innocence and passion one has. At school, we could focus on telling the story we wanted and what the design meant. But once you enter the commercial market, other factors start to emerge. For example, money, budget and site constraints. You also need to deal with a lot of regulations, especially in Hong Kong, which can dumb down your design. Sometimes they almost kill your original idea.”
What was your first major project?
Alfred Lam
Founder, TravPholer
“One of our very first destinations was Somalia, which was a surprise to many people. The country is divided and plagued with dangerous situations. We had to arrange security and logistics which was tedious, but not challenging given our experience and expertise. The most rewarding part is that our guests were inspired and they learnt something new. Perceptions and stereotypes were broken, with guests gaining a new real-life experience and perspective about the places they visited.”
Read more: What this tech founder realised after his previous business failed
Above Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 from Hong Kong: Justin Chan, Wesley Ho and Lynette Nam (Photo: Hungmc)
Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 from Hong Kong: Justin Chan, Wesley Ho and Lynette Nam (Photo: Hungmc)
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What was your first goal when you set up your business?
Sho Dewan
Founder and CEO, Workhap
“When we first started Workhap, it was really about helping people to find happiness at work. We are more tactical now—what does happiness mean for people? Sometimes, it means getting paid more. Sometimes, it means landing a leadership role. Some people prefer to stay put and have a perspective shift. That’s where we have tinkered with the mission by being personalised for the people who we’re helping.”
What is your first and biggest concern when it comes to your business?
Lynette Nam
Executive director, Justice Centre Hong Kong
“On a day-to-day basis, the people who walk through our doors do so because they’re desperate, and something is seriously wrong. Sometimes, a decision that’s made, not by us but by the legal systems they interact with. This may mean that they get sent back to a situation of serious danger, not just for themselves but sometimes for their very young children. We are tasked with our mandate to work with them, to help them and to do what we can to try to get them to a place of safety. That feels to me like a constant weight. But it’s also something that motivates us.”
What’s the first piece of advice you’d give to entrepreneurs dealing with anxiety?
Justin Chan
Co-founder and CEO, Virtrix
“A lot of the time, being a founder or co-founder can be a lonely path. Every decision you make [might be based only on] your experience, your feelings and your emotions. So it’s very important to have that someone you can speak to—whether it’s family, friends or even an employee. Those are the people who will help you the most.”
What’s the first thing you say to yourself each morning?
David B Wang
Founder, Krip
“‘You got this.’ Just believe in yourself and give yourself some strength to say that. Whatever challenges that come, you will be able to deal with them. Maybe not immediately and maybe it will take a bit of time. but eventually, you will get there. There is nothing that a person cannot do if they really put their mind to it. As they say, tough times don’t last, tough people do.”
Explore the full list of Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 from the other regions: Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.
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Based in Hong Kong, editor Yoyo Chow covers the people and ideas redefining Asia’s future—from cutting-edge innovation and AI to bold moves in sustainability and diversity. She also drives content for Tatler Gen.T in Hong Kong, a platform and community spotlighting the region’s next generation of startup founders, creatives and changemakers.
Before that, she was a video journalist producing content for international TV and digital platforms, including Reuters and South China Morning Post. If you have a powerful story to share, she’s all ears. Send press materials, event invites and any inquiries to yoyo.chow@tatlerasia.com.
