Sharon Loi’s promise: to uplift women’s well-being

For younger women who may also need to take on the mantle of a professional role while caring for family, Loi highlights the importance of “being strong” and “carrying on”—and, even if they don’t feel ready yet, she urges them to embrace the process. “On the path to career success, women often face more scepticism than applause,” says Loi. “Therefore, they need to anchor themselves to their goals and beliefs, facing adversity with a resilient and persevering spirit.”

By educating and mentoring young women in Macau, Loi is confident about what’s ahead—a promise shared by partners like HSBC Life in supporting women’s health and financial security. “The women of the next decade will be healthier, more independent, and have a stronger voice—which is exactly the direction we have always been striving toward,” she says.

“The most reliable protection for a young woman’s future is never dependence or waiting, but rather maintaining the capacity for lifelong learning,” says Loi. “Continuously invest in yourself and keep pace with the times. By doing so, you will possess unwavering confidence at every stage of life, continually meeting a better version of yourself.”

Tatler Hong Kong’s content director asked Sharon Loi two questions about keeping promises, and the next generation

Tara Sobti: What's the first, smallest step you'd tell a woman in this stage of life to take, if she's never thought about protecting herself before?

Sharon Loi: Start by building a habit of regular exercise and finding stress-relief methods that work for you, keeping both your energy and mood in a good state.  Following that, take some time to clarify your existing basic protections and savings. Try setting aside a fixed emergency fund every month that you do not touch casually. This ensures you can handle future critical moments with composure and ease.  

Tara Sobti: You’ve played a pivotal role supporting younger women in Macau, helping prepare them to become future leaders. From what you've seen on the ground, what personality traits or qualities does an aspiring woman leader need to succeed?

Sharon Loi: Having watched many young women grow, I believe the most crucial qualities are resilience and perseverance. First, they must dare to try and speak up. Many women are highly capable but constantly feel they aren’t ready yet. The truth is, no one is 100% ready before they start; you learn by doing. On the path to career success, women often face more skepticism than applause. Therefore, they need to anchor themselves to their goals and beliefs, facing adversity with a resilient and persevering spirit.

HSBC Life also asked their valued customers, as mothers, about their dreams for their daughters—and their promises shared, and supported by, HSBC Life

A Mother’s Promise of Empowerment

As a mother, what promises do you want to keep for your daughter’s future? Here’s what these mothers have to say about their deepest hopes, dreams and aspirations for their children to pursue what matters—the promises shared, and supported by, HSBC Life.

A 36-year-old mother in the F&B industry, with two sons and a 10-year-old daughter:

As a mother, my deepest wish is that when my daughter grows up, she will have the freedom to choose her own path. I don’t expect her to become some big name, but I hope that whether she is navigating her career or choosing a life partner, she will never have to compromise or settle out of sheer necessity. My promise to her is that all the hard work and planning I am doing right now are to build a solid foundation of confidence for her. I promise to be her ultimate safety net, so that no matter what setbacks she faces, or if she ever wants to take a leap of faith to chase her dreams, she will have me and her family backing her up. I want her to have the confidence to say, “I am the master of my own destiny.”

A 40-year-old mother in the education sector, with an 8-year-old daughter:

I want her to possess true “free will”. Having grown up under traditional norms, I often went with the flow, for fear of being seen as an outsider. As a result, I hope every decision she makes in the future stems from her own heart, free from the shackles of tradition or the noise of the outside world. In her career, I hope she can choose purely based on her passion and interest, never having to bow solely to the demands of making a living or chasing money.

A 38-year-old mother in the finance industry, with an 11-year-old daughter:

As for the kind of person I hope my daughter will become, I envision her having clear life goals and cultivating her own unique interests. Above all, I hope she keeps that pure, unadulterated passion for the things she loves and, as she grows, becomes someone who knows how to love herself deeply while holding a heart full of gratitude for her family. As for my expectations, as a mother, I carry no worldly burdens or rigid demands. My sole wish and promise is that she enjoys good health, lives each stage of her life free from worry, and stays her authentic, happy self.

A mother in senior management at an integrated resorts enterprise:

I hope my daughter can live freely and comfortably, without being swept along by the crowd, becoming an independent woman who is confident, grounded, and lives with dignity. I promise to be her greatest backing, ensuring she lives without worry. I expect her not to be defined by the outside world, to calmly pursue what she loves, to bravely explore life, and to truly live as herself.