"Management Wisdom under the Starlight"
Event debut – 11 January 2008 

To explore and extract from the life experiences of successful entrepreneurs IIM is proud to present in collaboration with the Hong Kong Chamber of Small Business Ltd. (HKCSMB) to members and the public a series of intimate dialogue and sharing functions.  We are honoured to have invited our Hon. President Dr. Dominic Wong, GBS, OBE, JP, former Secretary for Housing of the HKSAR Government, to be the host of this series.  Guests invited to share their experiences and wisdom for the inaugural event were Mr. Eric Ng, Managing Director of China Kong Auto Body Builder Co. Ltd., and Mr. Henry Wong, Managing Director of Honda Machinery Co. Ltd.  They were respectively winners of the 2006 and 2007 SME Award Competition. 

Host, speakers, organizers and guests took a (partial) group photo before the event.

Before dinner started Victoria Room of Regal Hong Kong Hotel, where the event was held, was packed with nearly thirty members and guests.  At 7:15 pm the event formally began.  While the party was enjoying the delicious and delicately presented food, Felix Chan, Deputy Chairman (Operation) of IIM, acting as MC for the event, introduced attendants to the background of the series, the program run-down, and briefly the background of the two guest speakers.  Tommi Wu, task group member and master-mind of the series, also presented to the audience the rationale and objectives of the series.

As the party proceeded to dessert, Hon. President Dr. Dominic Wong, as host/anchor of the event, kicked off the 'meat' of the function by inviting Eric Ng to describe to the audience his business and recent track performance.  In the pursuing dialogue Eric shared his vision and practices in product innovation, risk management, intellectual capital development & protection.  Attendants were bewitched by Eric's story of so progressively starting a business that was so unique and rare among Hong Kong industrialists – coach/bus body building; how he successfully transferred European technologies to China; and how he guarded against his business interest – not by protection per se but rather through continuous innovation, always keeping his business few steps in advance of local competitors (or business plagiarists).

While people were all keenly interested in knowing more the business model and good practices of Eric's operation, Hon. President Wong had to allow a fair share of 'air time' for the other guest speaker of the evening, Mr. Henry Wong, Managing Director of Honda Machinery Co. Ltd.  Henry's success story focused on the 'one-stop'  thorough services that he provided to his clients, and the nurturing of a supporting corporate culture within his enterprise.  Henry impressed the audience as a thinker as well as a doer.  Contrary to most people's belief that corporate culture is a luxury more reserved for larger and more established businesses (e.g. public listed companies and multinationals) Henry considers it vital for uniting the spirit of his employees and in promoting customer loyalty.  Through his perseverance and absolute pursuit over the years he made his company to serve as a convincing real-life model of winning both employee stability as well as customer loyalty despite fierce competition in the Mainland. 

After both gentlemen have completed their 'guided' presentations the session was open to questions from the floor.  Questions from attendants competed for attention and time of the speakers.  Just as experienced in other well received functions of the Institute, time flied and very soon the function was 30 minutes overrun.  Our host/anchor Dr. Wong had to hard-heartedly call the session to a stop so as to squeeze time for wrapping up.

Host/anchor Dr. Wong kicked off the event accompanied by our two guest speakers.

Guests competed for the microphone to raise follow-up questions to the guest speakers.

As usual the Institute's certificate of appreciation was presented to the two guest speakers in acknowledgment of their contribution to the Institute and to the growth of knowledge and wisdom of all present.  

Encouraged by the overwhelming success of the debut function, IIM Council is planning to establish this initiative as a standing function of the Institute.  Members and friends of IIM, watch out for coming attractions!

["Management Wisdom under the Starlight"  series is supported by the IIM Foundation (IIMF).  In fulfillment of the Foundation's goal of promoting and enhancing the professionalism of management (especially cross-border, cross-cultural, international management), funds are being expended in video shooting and subsequent production of video clips to be posted on IIM's website for easy access by members and the public.  Further announcement will be made when the 'Management Wisdom' series excerpts are ready for viewing on the web.]