For the three young people given a chance to spend time with Andy Ann, the founder and CEO of digital media and investment firm NDN Group, there was no disagreement about the highlight of their time on the Shadow a CEO Programme.
All three said that with Ann having built NDN’s portfolio of digital media companies from the ground up, he was able to give crucial insight on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in the digital age, as well as help develop their own ideas for start-ups.
“The highlight of the programme was the interactive sessions with Andy and the other participants, where we had a chance to brainstorm ideas for a start-up,” said Moon Yiu Sik-yuet, who graduated last year from Imperial College London with a BSc in biochemistry. “This allowed us to create a top-to-bottom mind map of what we planned to do and what we needed, and also helped us decide whether or not our values aligned or if we could each play a different role in such a business.”
Arthur Lee Tin-chak, who graduated last year with a Master of Engineering (Hons) in chemical engineering from the University of Birmingham, was deeply impressed by Ann’s entrepreneurship skills. “He started his first company with only two months of work experience behind him, and has now gone on to expand this to nine companies operating in eleven industries.”
Wiva Wei Jiajun, who is currently studying a BBA in accounting and finance at the University of Hong Kong, also prized the sharing sessions they all had with Ann. “He passed on to us the knowledge he’s gained from both his own ‘guru’ and his MBA studies,” he said.
Ann explained that the intensive four-day schedule he’d planned for his three shadows was designed to bring together several “powerful transformation methods”. “These included cutting-edge learning materials, built-in business strategies and a deep-dive into the entrepreneurial journey,” he said.
“In their time with me, I think they all learned how they could use practical tools to build their confidence and excel in their careers.”
There were three elements of the programme in particular that he believed would prove most useful to the trio, he added. “These were the idea-generation session followed by the elevator pitch; the opportunity to meet with two other successful entrepreneurs from our industry; and the demonstration of how to start up a business in an hour.”
The three shadows also picked up a host of other tips and advice on running a business. Wei, who graduates next year, learned from Ann’s approach to tackling challenges.
“Whenever you try to solve a problem, you should first come up with the best method or structure, and then work on the detailed parts,” he said. “Whenever you need to learn something, you should learn from the ‘guru’ in that area. And whenever you come up with a good idea, you should just get on and do it, because ideas are cheap and execution is king.”
Lee recalled how Ann had described how to use sales and marketing techniques to present an idea, and ways in which to construct a speech.
Importantly, the trio also gathered insight into ways to position work in the broader context of one’s life. Yiu said that the values and principles Ann passed on prompted her to think hard to identify what was really important in her life and career. “A valuable takeaway from our time with Andy is the importance of enriching yourself as a person, not just the technical things about the running of his company,” she said.
By the end of the four days, Ann had formed a very favourable impression of his shadows. “All three had a very positive attitude and were passionate to learn,” he said.
For Yiu, Lee and Wei, the journey Ann has been on since leaving university is an ongoing inspiration.
“I happen to be a person who does not enjoy working in big corporates, and I aspire to be an entrepreneur in the future,” Yiu said. “Andy’s sharing of the ups and downs that he has been through has encouraged me to take up that challenge.”
For Lee, this inspiration may one day be turned into something more concrete. “At the end of the programme, we trialled how a start-up could be formed from a tiny idea we came up with based on a specific need in modern society,” he explained. “Turning this into reality has become one of my ambitions.”
This article appeared in the Classified Post print edition as Uncovering start-up success secrets at NDN.
