The Change Generation Creating a more socially responsible future
As part of The New Modern, Lane Crawford speaks to three of Hong Kong and China’s most inspired young entrepreneurs who are looking to create a more socially responsible future.
We profile some of the most inspired young leaders in Asia that are disrupting the worlds of art, philanthropy and education. With boundless passion and a hunger for success borne out of the immeasurable changes that we, as global citizens, have seen over the last decade, these are the names and faces to watch.
First Code Academy Michelle Sun, Founder
Breaking the stereotype that ‘coding is for geeks’, Hong Kong native Michelle Sun launched First Code Academy to empower a new generation of children to become creators with technology. “It’s common to see children playing with iPads and smartphones as young as two years old. We hope children can learn to build these apps and games instead of playing them,” says Sun.
First Code Academy launched in 2013 after Sun - who was exposed to the world of technology after working as an equity analyst for Goldman Sachs - quit her finance job and headed to Silicon Valley where she spent weeks teaching young students how to code at a summer programme at Stanford University.
Inspired by her experience at Silicon Valley, she decided to bring the concept to Asia. “Coding is not only for those who aspire to become developers. Children who learn to code will not only be learning coding concepts but also skills like communication, critical thinking and creative confidence,” she says.
“Coding is this generation’s literacy, and there is a huge need to be addressed.”
For the young entrepreneur, owning a business is more than just holding a ‘CEO’ title. “It’s important to ensure the business is solving a problem and making a positive change in society today.”
The McNamara Art Foundation Greg McNamara, Founder
For Greg McNamara, a life led by art was inevitable. “[Art] was an integral part of my life. Ever since I was a kid, I had a natural fascination with aesthetics and design and often visited museums. I was interested in how beauty and art affects people and their point of view of the world,” he muses.
It was this innate curiosity coupled with his passion for Hong Kong that eventually led him to found The McNamara Art Foundation two years ago.
With a singular vision to, “contribute to the growing number of people who are ‘bringing more’ to Hong Kong”, McNamara is hoping to bring art out of the “white walls” of traditional galleries and into public domain with two major shows a year.
“In Hong Kong, most people view art at a commercial level where people are engaging with art with the view to buy or sell. There just aren’t many ways to see art publicly here. For my first project, I brought over works from celebrated British sculptor Lynn Chadwick whose pieces are easier to engage with. There’s a sculpture called The Sitting Couple in Exchange Square in Central, and every time I walk by, there are people who are engaging with it in some way from sitting on the bench or taking pictures with it. It’s an easy piece to understand and it’s great to see how it resonates with people,” says McNamara.
McNamara’s next project is to open a public gallery in Wong Chuk Hang later this year, designed to be an “old-school salon with a chic apartment-style interiors” where he hopes to display some of his own art collection. “It’ll be open for anyone to come on in and view the pieces, chat to us about art and I’ll also be hosting talks and with artists.”
Hong Kong’s cultural scene continues to be a hot topic for debate but if the recent focus on public art is anything to go by, it is growing from strength to strength.
Philanthropy In Motion Jasmine Lau and Connie Leong, Co-Founders
Jasmine Lau and Connie Leong founded Philanthropy in Motion with a vision to make philanthropy accessible to all millennials by educating the youth, particularly in China, on the concept of venture philanthropy and intelligent giving.
“The concept of venture philanthropy was introduced in 1997 with the publication of a Harvard Business Review article questioning why the trillions of dollars donated by philanthropists over the past decades were not having a greater impact in addressing societal problems,” explains Leong. It kick-started a dialogue for the pair during their senior year at Yale University where they first met, on how one should consider utilising traditional methods of venture capital such as due diligence and risk measurement to decide how to give more intelligently and effectively.
After moving to China after graduating in 2013, they found that there were few opportunities in Asia for young people to contribute.
“Despite the fact that over a third of millennials prioritise making a difference with their careers, they have trouble finding outlets, unsure of which organisations to support or how to make the most impact,” says Lau.
“This was especially the case in China, where there was a low public understanding dissuading people from actively participating in the sector.” It was then that the idea for PIM first formed.
Every summer, PIM runs a Model Foundation summer programme where students from around the world come together for six weeks to conduct research and site visits on 10 NGO and social enterprise candidates. This year representatives from eight different countries and regions from Harvard, Stanford, Peking University and University of Hong Kong among some will investigate these business operations and evaluate their social impact and sustainability in detail. The programme culminates in a week-long conference where the participants collectively devise a grant-making strategy.
“We wanted to spread the message: ‘Why wait? Give early’”, says Lau. And in just a few short years, we can attest that the ambitious and passionate pair has done just that.