The program received an overwhelming response during the recruitment. In Hong Kong, 100 female university students who are passionate about social services were chosen. Over 40% of them are Year 3 or Year 4 students who are about to devote themselves to work.

“We are glad that the program has received positive response from universities and students across the nation,” remarks Mr. Weber Lo, Chief Executive Officer of Hang Lung Properties “Nurturing future talents requires collective efforts across society, and I am grateful to our tenants and business partners, who have joined forces with Hang Lung by offering their time and effort to engage in this meaningful initiative as mentors.”

As Lo explains, the Future Women Leaders program strives to bring together the strengths of different stakeholders in the community in order to promote women’s growth and create a compelling place that embraces diversity and inclusivity. “We believe these 100 female university students will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to draw inspiration from their outstanding female mentors, and prepare themselves to become Hong Kong’s future leaders,” he adds.

The high-quality training in the program, according to Mr. Andy Ho, Executive Director of the HKFYG, emphasizes both study and practice for female university students with leadership potential. He is extremely thankful to Hang Lung for their active support and looks forward to these young leaders planning and implementing social projects that will help build a more diverse and inclusive future.

Ms. Louise Ho Pui Shan, the officiating guest, is the first female Commissioner of the Customs and Excise Department, as well as the first female government official elevated to the highest position in the Disciplined Services. She emphasized in her motivating speech that characteristics such as conscientiousness, honesty, and perseverance are gender neutral.

“The key is not in gender, but in whether one demonstrates empathy, and the willingness to embrace difficulties and responsibility,” she emphasized. “Women no longer have to demonstrate masculinity to be accepted in a male-dominated workplace. They can still retain their femininity, be true to themselves and achieve success while complementing male colleagues.”

Dr. Rosanna Wong, Senior Advisor of the HKFYG, encouraged participants to be lifelong learners and to embrace new ways of thinking, skills, and networks to flourish in the face of today’s rapidly changing challenges. The willingness to take up social responsibility and serve others for a sustainable future locally, nationally, and worldwide, according to Dr. Wong, is the most crucial attribute of a leader.

Following the keynote addresses, a panel of distinguished speakers, including Ms. Anita Fung, Independent Non- executive Director of Hang Lung Properties; Ms. Jennifer Liu, Founder & Chairlady of The Academïcs Group, Director of The Dragon Foundation; and Ms. Rebecca Lim, Founding Partner of AutoML Capital Limited, expressed their thoughts at the Women Leadership Forum. They shared their own stories of overcoming obstacles and persevering to reach their goals and become the persons they are today. This allows the participants to reflect on how to formulate their future career plans and pave their ways of becoming future women leaders.