“A quote that inspires me is from the late US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Fight for the things you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.

Throughout my career, I’ve championed children’s literacy and gender equality, working in both business and civil society. By standing up for what you believe in, while meeting people where they are at and learning from diverse individuals and communities, can spark incremental change. When we each make incremental changes, it drives lasting, transformative progress for gender equality and inclusion. When challenges seem insurmountable, this quote reminds me that change is unstoppable when we bring others along for the journey.”

“I don’t really live by mantras or quotes. I always think: ‘Tomorrow is another day’ so no matter how tough or good or challenging or amazing today is, I always think tomorrow is just a fresh day to experience all the ups and downs of life. When I’m having a bad day, it’s a good reminder that tomorrow can be better. When I’m having an amazing day, it’s a reminder that I can’t get too complacent.”

“A mantra that has really shaped the way I engage with the world is ‘lift as you climb’. This is something that my mum always said to me. This phrase is such a powerful reminder that we as women should not only focus on being leaders and trailblazers, but we should also ensure that we bring others with us on our journey. We often speak about the importance of mentorship to support women’s success. However, what I have found to be more impactful is sponsorship. I have personally benefited from sponsorship in my life; women [and men] who not only gave me advice on how to succeed, but also opened doors for me, and made space for me to be part of the conversation.

There was a recent report by [consulting company] McKinsey that said that one of the biggest barriers to women moving ahead is not the glass ceiling but the broken rung. The idea that women face challenges in the first crucial step of their journey, which then continues to impact them on their personal and professional journeys. So, the phrase ‘lift as you climb’ reminds me that I’m not alone on my journey to create change and I need to bring others with me, to sponsor women and those who may not get a seat at the table. I do this in my day job at Help for Domestic Workers, which supports and empowers Hong Kong’s migrant women to have the opportunity to succeed, and through my volunteering work at Amber Foundation Empower Programme, which helps Hong Kong’s ethnically diverse young women succeed.”

“When I find something unfair or unjust, I try to fix it. People sometimes say it can’t be fixed and so I say to myself, ‘Come on, Kay! How hard can it be?’

Theodore Roosevelt’s speech The Man in the Arena—that credits the man, or woman, fighting in the arena and making mistakes—reminds me to have courage. Both of these, along with my family, friends and team, give me strength. I like to think that even when we fail, at least we’ve tried to make things better and learnt along the way.”

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