In this week’s edition of Tatler’s Secrets of Success series—the all-access pass to the city’s most impressive business magnates and entrepreneurs—eco-warrior Emily Lam-Ho reveals why she wished she started 8Shades earlier, how her mother Lynn Hsieh inspires her to live a fuller life, and why her son thinks she picks up trash for a living
Three words: Emily. Lam. Ho. She may be from one of Hong Kong’s most prominent families but she has chosen to make a name in her own right. The mother-of-two has dedicated her career to championing causes she cares about, including female leadership, through her social-impact investment firm Empact28, which focuses on funding female entrepreneurs and start-ups.
As a council member for the Hong Kong Women’s Commission, Ho advises on female-supported initiatives, a cause she has also furthered as the vice president of the Columbia University Alumni Association of Hong Kong. Under this post, she has launched a series of women-led panel talks with leaders from a wide range of fields.
Sustainability is another cause Ho has become synonymous with. In 2018, she co-founded EcoDrive HK, a charity organisation that promotes the reduction of single-use plastics, and this year she launched 8Shades, a lifestyle platform to demystify the idea of sustainable living.
Ho talks to Tatler about what it takes to be successful and why living consciously is easier than you think.
Describe what you do in one sentence.
I run a lifestyle platform called 8Shades, focusing on sustainable living.
How does your business make a difference?
8Shades breaks down daunting sustainability goals into digestible content and doable daily practices, making sustainability fun, relevant and accessible. The aim is to make your life more enjoyable while being green.
What do you put your success down to?
Passion and idealism. Sometimes people think I’m naïve, but I genuinely believe in the goodness of people and that if we keep trying to do the right thing, then we can all collectively make positive changes to our world.