Do you have any mentors? If so, who are they and what is the best piece of advice they have given you?
I have been very fortunate to have had many mentors in my career; two in particular are former bosses. Nora Ching Courtright was my first boss at the Ohio Department of Development, International Trade Division, when I started my career; and the second is my current boss, Ronnie C Chan, chairman of the Hang Lung Group and Asia Society Hong Kong Center. One of the best pieces of advice that Nora gave me was “Never burn your bridges.” Ronnie said: “Take your work seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously.” Both of these [sayings] have served me well in my life and career.

What is a common misconception people have about working for non-profits?
That our work is not as important as those in the for-profit world, and that non-profits are charities and only benefit the less fortunate. Non-profits also have their unique purpose and mission. It is still a business. The difference is that instead of making money, they produce services that are a public good, which also has value. Sometimes the value may be intangible, like clean air, but it is just as relevant and important as something tangible, like money or stocks.

Can you tell us about a particularly successful moment in your career?
Recently my alma mater, The Ohio State University, selected me as a member of its alumni association board, which consists of 19 board members. The university has around 600,000 alumni around the world and I am the only [board member] based outside of the US. This was an unexpected honour.

Can you tell us about a setback that you faced and how you overcame it?
A setback early on in my career was in 1991, when I did not get into the business school of my choice, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. I had hoped it would help transition my career from government to the private sector. This setback led me to work harder and later request an overseas transfer to Hong Kong. After working in Hong Kong for seven years, I was able to fulfil my dream of getting my business degree when I was admitted for the Kellogg-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology executive MBA programme.

What advice would you give to young girls who are interested in pursuing a career in your field?
Keep up your curiosity and continue to learn and grow. My field, like so many other fields, is evolving and changing quickly, so keep your eyes, ears and mind open. Find a good mentor along the way and find ways to contribute and get into the field. If you keep on learning and are open to [new] ideas and people, you won’t go wrong in any field. I have had a career in government, the private sector and now the non-profit sector—[know that it is okay] to change fields along the way.

What project are you currently working on?
Our current exhibition, Beacon in the Storm: The Art of Pang Jiun, opened in September and is something that I am particularly excited about. This exhibition features the work of Master Pang Jiun, who, at the age of 87 is still painting. Almost half of the works at the Chantal Miller Gallery are works he painted in 2023. His works are vibrant and full of colour and show the wonderful [cross-pollination] of both eastern and western artistic practices. Going into the exhibition just makes me feel happy, tranquil and alive. It’s open until February 2024.

What is a surprising thing about you that most people don’t know?
I learnt to speak English as a ten-year-old immigrant to the US by watching old Hollywood movies, especially musicals like The Sound of Music and Singin’ in the Rain. [It’s the reason] I’m very good at old Hollywood trivia [laughs].

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