Motivated by a love of aviation, Jasmine Cheng applied to join the Shadow a CEO programme at low cost carrier HK Express. Under the tutelage of director of human resources and administration Stanley Yau, she was able to witness how he interacted with stakeholders while also learning about the airline’s corporate culture and the various functions of the human resources department, from recruitment to employer branding.
“Jasmine is passionate about the aviation industry and suggested ways to promote our corporate employer brand with her overseas university network,” says Yau. “Along with fellow shadow Cody Poh, she helped energise the team and provided useful business insights into younger markets over the three-day programme.”
Yau was impressed that both shadows were unafraid to ask questions and contribute to company discussions. “We learned more about the way young people think and how to communicate with them, and discovered they are fearless in challenging the status quo. Their positivity, energy and imagination will lead to all kinds of possibilities, and they may both eventually become CEOs one day.”
Shadow Jasmine Cheng says HK Express appreciated the time constraints of the programme, with every moment meticulously planned. “On my first shadowing day, I had back-to back meetings with the HR line managers. Stanley encouraged my participation, especially on the CSR programme planning and the on-board welcoming programme, which made me feel I was making an impact even as a shadow,” she says.
Yau’s attitude towards running a company – to bring together a group of remarkable people to see if they could become something more – was reminiscent of The Avengers for Cheng.
“Team work is an inevitable yet vital part of a large business, and being the leader of the organisation, team building is the first, yet most important step. It is essential to understand each team player’s characteristics, their strengths and weaknesses, and ‘build your own team’, as Stanley put it,” she says.
“HK Express is in its expansion stage, facing unknown challenges as Hong Kong’s first LCC. There is no doubt that the company has faced difficult times, yet the current team has perfectly demonstrated the idea that one plus one can equal more than two,” she continues.
Cheng says that while academic success will help you get a degree, soft skills are in higher demand than a first-class honours in the workplace these days. “It’s important to equip and train yourself through various opportunities, from joining societies to taking on internships,” she advises.
Cheng says that, when applying for the Shadow a CEO programme, it’s also important to be genuinely interested in the industry rather than applying for the sake of it. “A good understanding of the industry and company comes with passion, and this will enhance your shadowing experience by miles.”
The most valuable asset Cheng gained from this programme is the network she has built with the team at HK Express. “They not only provided me with insights into the company and industry but also dispensed advice on careers in general.”
