Think of property developers, and you most likely picture buildings. However, for the Chinachem Group, they see things differently. They see people.

With a mandate that sets them apart from their competitors, Chinachem Group fulfils a unique role in Hong Kong. Being a developer which places the community and planet on an equal footing with the value being created, success requires people who share that vision. We recently spent time with a few of them to hear their impressions of the company and the work that they’re doing for it.

Business Analyst Manager, Heywood Cheung, who works in the CEO office explains, “The first impression before I joined is old, traditional, but once I joined for the first few weeks, I see a lot of investment in the new platforms. I can tell they are trying to change all kinds of business decisions.”

On a mission to transform the company, CEO Donald Choi has been careful to select new talent not simply on qualification or industry experience, but with a keen eye on attitude and vision.

“Our future relies on nurturing new leaders. People not afraid to fail, creative thinkers, individuals not afraid to speak out. But most importantly, we need people who share our principles, because improving the lives of the community around us is our top priority, and we need it to be theirs too” explains Donald.

Angie Chung, General Manager of Chinachem Group’s hugely successful regeneration project, Central Market, describes the CEO as bringing together like-minded people. Noting that the management team and leadership is able to respond with more agility than most, she notes “I’m so happy, as things get realised at a quicker pace”.

The Group is currently implementing its first structured training programme for recent graduates. The Management Associate Programme (MAP) will recruit young future leaders into the organisation and provide them with a well-defined developmental roadmap. Starting in the CEO office, right at the heart of forward planning, the two successful candidates will tackle a wide range of projects and initiatives, with tremendous scope to contribute to the future shape of the business.

Ed Li, who joined the company in 2021, described the opportunity as “very open to different ideas” and encouraging of everyone speaking out and bringing their own thoughts to the table. In addition, Ed notes a crucial point, “Not everyone will be a hundred percent correct at everything, especially with your first try. But management understand this and encourage especially the younger people to try things out and give you a chance to succeed.”

It’s this entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with the company being structured to do good for the community that surrounds it, that is attracting a fresh form of talent into the business. These are the leaders of tomorrow.