To kick off the seminar, participants received a friendly reminder from Shitong Wu, FSI’s Youth Empowerment Intern, to take action for the planet by recycling their trash. Students were given refreshments and encouraged to place their used items into the recycling bins — a fitting start to a session centered on mindful innovation and sustainability.

Unlocking the Creative Mind 

The session’s facilitator, Professor David Bishop, Co-founder and Director of Foundation for Shared Impact and Impact Lab Course Instructor, began by sharing how he moved from a structured legal career in the US and Hong Kong into teaching at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), where he said he could finally let ideas “flow like crazy”. His colleagues even joke that the phrase they worry about most is when he says, “I have an idea.”

This moment set the tone for the day’s key message: be open to ideas, and always record them the moment they come. The brain is like a muscle: it grows stronger the more creatively you exercise it.

The Four Stages of Design Thinking  

David then walked students through the four stages of design thinking — Clarify, Ideate, Develop, and Implement — highlighting that innovation is rarely a straight line, but an ongoing process of exploration, failure, and refinement. 

In the Clarify stage, he stressed the importance of fully understanding the problem before jumping to solutions, reminding everyone to “think inside before outside the box” and to see failure as a natural part of the creative journey.

Moving into Ideate, participants were encouraged to generate as many ideas as possible without self-censorship. Echoing a familiar Cantonese saying, 好記性不如爛筆頭 — a good memory is not as reliable as a bad pen — he urged students to write everything down and capture every thought. 

The Develop stage subsequently focuses on combining, testing, and refining those raw ideas into more practical, workable solutions. 

Finally, in the Implement stage, David emphasized that execution should always be accompanied by reflection, asking repeatedly, “Are we solving the right problem?” so that teams remain open to revisiting earlier stages when needed.

Sustainability: Rethinking Systems and Mindsets

Next, students broke into groups to tackle a thought-provoking challenge: “How can we get Hong Kong citizens to lead a more sustainable life?” This brainstorming session illuminated a range of innovative proposals. Teams had to mind-map solutions in just five minutes, but many quickly realized the hardest part was defining the problem itself.  

For instance, when one group identified “people are lazy to recycle” or “lack of awareness” as the main issue, David encouraged them to dig deeper. Eventually, teams reframed the central issue as solid waste— whether from fast fashion or overpackaged food. One group proposed vending machines for vegan meals that reward users for returning packaging, but David reminded the class that sustainability isn’t only about the environment — it’s about rethinking systems and mindsets on a larger scale.  

Ethics, AI, and Purpose  

The seminar closed with an insightful presentation from Diego Eugenio Uribe Rodríguez, an Impact Lab student, who introduced Ethics Lab, an ongoing project and digital platform designed by David and a few Impact Lab students, to help users understand their values and lead more purposeful lives. The presentation illustrated how technology, ethics, and empathy can come together to create genuine social good within everyday decision‑making.

David ended the session with a reminder: “Don’t be afraid to do crazy things. Go wild. That’s when your brain truly opens up.” His words encapsulated the spirit of the seminar: creativity isn’t confined to design; it’s a mindset, a willingness to fail, learn, and try again with greater clarity.  

Stay Tuned

Through our Impact Lab Course, we support students to develop themselves and enhance essential human skills through experiential learning internships with impact startups as well as thematic seminars. Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming seminars on “Learning from Failure: Mastering Risk Management” and “Systems Change”. 

This blog post was drafted by Cheung Hoi Ching Karina, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Spring 2026 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

The post Impact Lab Cultivating a Sustainability Mindset in Youth Through Design Thinking appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

“There is a Chinese proverb that goes, ‘Hide the bad; glorify the good’”, said Lucia as she opened the seminar.  “But in entrepreneurship, we must do the opposite. We need to look at our failures clearly — because that’s where the learning begins.”

Her words set the tone for an honest and energetic exploration of why startups fail and what entrepreneurs can do to prevent it. The students, encouraged to participate actively, filled the room with raised hands and rapid exchanges.

Understanding Why Startups Fail

“Why do startups fail?” Lucia asked.

Hands shot up immediately — “Lack of funding”, “Poor market research”, “Regulations”, “Burnout”. Each answer sparked a deeper discussion. David added, “Interestingly, burnout and lack of passion rarely cause failure. It’s usually disharmony among the team or investors.” He emphasized that most investors don’t just invest in ideas — they invest in people. When values and working styles clash, even the best ideas can collapse.

David also shared other common causes of startup failures: mismatched products and markets, flawed business models, and regulatory challenges. Students were surprised to learn that pricing, location, and cost management — often seen as operational details — are also top contributors to failure. “No one mentioned it yet,” David said, “but being outcompeted is one of the most common reasons. Success depends on being in the right place at the right time, and being better than the rest.”

The lecture soon shifted from theory to a debate when Lucia asked: “Why do you think that so many Hong Kong startups fail?”

What followed was an intense, thought-provoking dialogue about Hong Kong’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Students argued that the city’s high costs, limited investors, and conservative culture stifle innovation. David countered passionately, insisting that Hong Kong continues to attract some of the best global talent. “The problem,” he said, “isn’t people. It’s the system — a lack of connection between capital and creativity.”

He explained how Hong Kong’s dominance in finance creates both opportunity and constraint: “We have capital markets, but we don’t invest in startups. It’s crazy.” Students nodded as he described how the city’s real estate costs, slow banking processes, and rigid regulations create barriers to innovation. “Hong Kong is stuck in the middle of competing forces,” he said. “There’s no real competition in the banking space, and opening a business account can take months. That kills startup momentum.”

From Systemic Challenges to Personal Lessons

To illustrate how even promising ventures can fail, David shared a series of case studies from real companies, each with powerful lessons.

One of them was Evergreen, founded to make Hong Kong’s energy consumption more sustainable by switching to LED lighting. Despite clear long-term savings, the project failed because building owners, who were typically older and risk-averse, saw no short-term incentive to invest in energy-efficient lighting. “The people paying for the power aren’t the same people using it,” David explained. “So no one takes responsibility for change.”

Learning from Failure

In the final part of the seminar, students broke into groups to discuss which company they believed failed most critically and why. Many chose Evergreen, noting how structural incentives, rather than technical flaws, prevented success. “Green energy is great in theory,” one student argued, “but if no one is responsible for the initial cost, nothing changes.”

David walked around the room, listening and engaging with each group. “Remember: failure isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s the seed of success. If we never fail, we never really learn.”

As the discussion closed, he added a personal reflection: “I’m trying to be the example of what you want to be in the future. I’ve failed more times than I can count — and that’s exactly why I can stand here today.”

By the end of the two-hour seminar, students had gained more than an understanding of risk management. They had seen firsthand how resilience, ethics, and humility shape the entrepreneurial journey.

Through the Impact Lab Course, the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) continues to encourage young changemakers to see risk not as a threat, but as a pathway to create lasting impact. Learn more about our youth empowerment initiatives and get in touch with us at info@shared-impact.com if you would like to support our work in nurturing tomorrow’s impact leaders.

*This blog post was written by Toshiya Oh, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Fall 2025 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

The post Impact Lab: Empowering Youth to Learn from Failure and Master Risk Management appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

Lucia began by introducing the essence of Design Thinking — a human-centered approach to problem-solving built around empathy, creativity, and experimentation. “It’s about understanding people, observing their behaviors, and redefining problems in a way that lets us imagine what’s truly needed,” she explained.

Lucia further elaborated with a famous quote by Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company: “If I’d asked my customers what they wanted, they’d have said a faster horse.”

“The point wasn’t the horse,” Lucia continued. “It was about finding faster ways to travel from A to B — using imagination to meet real human needs.”

Throughout the seminar, students chimed in with questions and reflections, turning what could have been a monologue into an energetic dialogue about creativity and practicality.

Thinking Beyond the Box

Before diving into group activities, Lucia posed a playful yet revealing challenge — the Nine Dots Game. On a sheet of paper, students faced nine dots arranged in a 3×3 grid and were asked to connect all of them using only four straight lines without lifting their pens.

At first, the room filled with murmurs and quiet sketches, then bursts of laughter as students realized how tricky it was.

Lucia smiled as she watched the ideas unfold. “Remember,” she said, “sometimes, the only way to solve a problem is to step outside the invisible box you’ve drawn for yourself.”

Soon, creative solutions began to surface. One group proposed tearing the paper and aligning the dots into a single line before connecting them. Another student found a way to connect the dots by alternating between their top and bottom edges, cleverly avoiding the need for a straight path through each center. The classroom buzzed with laughter and applause at each inventive attempt.

It was a vivid reminder that creativity isn’t about finding the answer, but about seeing possibilities others might overlook.

Ideation in Action

With that spirit, students transitioned into the group ideation exercise, tackling a shared challenge: How might we make Hong Kong more sustainable?

The Executive Director of GREEN Hospitality, which works to transform the hospitality industry into a catalyst for sustainability, Lucia encouraged them to brainstorm freely, reminding everyone that quantity can eventually be distilled into quality in ideation. “No idea is too wild,” she said. “Start with as many as possible, then converge on the ones that truly resonate.”

In small groups, students began defining problems and jotting down ideas at a rapid pace. The discussion soon grew animated, and one topic in particular sparked an active debate.

One group proposed decentralizing Hong Kong’s business hubs, arguing that “Central is too packed, too many people are using the MTR to get to Central. We should build more business centers and housing in the New Territories.”

At that moment, David Bishop, Co-founder and Director of FSI and Impact Lab Course Instructor, leaned in with a thoughtful question: “But why do we even need offices? Can’t we work remotely?”

A student quickly responded, prompting laughter from the group: “Because Hong Kong homes are so small! It’s actually easier to work in an office than to stay in our tiny apartments.”

Their exchange reflected the heart of design thinking: challenging assumptions, uncovering human truths, and balancing practicality with creativity.

From Ideas to Impact

Nearing the end of the seminar, groups of students began converging on their most promising solutions. Each team presented two or three ideas worth developing further, ranging from infrastructure redesigns to lifestyle innovations. Some focused on policy, others on technology, but all were rooted in empathy and human insight.

Lucia walked around the room, listening to discussions and offering prompts for deeper, harder thinking. “Don’t stop at what’s realistic,” she encouraged. “Ask what could be possible.”

By the end of the two-hour session, the worksheets were covered in colorful notes and diagrams. What began as scattered thoughts had evolved into seeds of tangible, sustainable change — and, just as importantly, into stronger bonds among the participants.

Looking Ahead

The seminar concluded on a high note, with Lucia reminding students that creativity thrives in collaboration. “Design Thinking isn’t just a process,” she said. “It’s a mindset — one that begins with empathy and ends with action.”

As students packed up their notes and chatted about their favorite moments, the energy in the room was unmistakable: a shared sense that innovation begins not with answers, but with better questions.

Through the Impact Lab Course, FSI continues to nurture this mindset, helping students turn creative thought into meaningful impact through experiential learning and collaboration with purpose-driven startups.

Stay tuned for the upcoming seminars on  “Learning from Failure: Mastering Risk Management” and “Systems Change”.

*This blog post was written by Toshiya Oh, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Fall 2025 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

The post Promoting Sustainability Through Design Thinking Seminar for Impact Lab Students appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

Titled “Rethinking Sustainability Actions for Hong Kong SMEs”, our workshop kick-started with a panel discussion, where Jerwine Que, Co-founder and Managing Director of The Blomstre; Pia Wong, Founder and CEO, Purpose Impact Action; and Dennis Ngai, Senior Vice President Sustainable Finance, Institutional Banking Group DBS Hong Kong, shared their knowledge and insights on the current landscape of sustainability actions by Hong Kong SMEs, the challenges facing SMEs when implementing and communicating meaningful sustainability actions, as well as the solutions, resources, and tools available to help them accelerate their sustainability agendas and actions. 

The Rising Trend of SME Sustainability Actions and Consumer Preferences

Drawing on his professional experience in supporting companies of various sizes to achieve sustainability actions, Dennis shared the findings from a 2024 DBS Bank survey on Hong Kong SMEs’ sustainability readiness. 

“A majority of Hong Kong SMEs (70%) aspire to integrate sustainability into their business operations, in which 28% have already taken action,” said Dennis. “Meanwhile, 68% of consumers actively seek out sustainable options when choosing F&B outlets or retailers. What we also found is that 60% of SMEs said that they adopted a sustainable business model due to social and ethical responsibility, 51% said it was to create a positive brand image, 47% did so to comply with government regulations, while 31% said it was in response to demand from customers and other stakeholders.” 

Encouragingly, consumer preference for sustainable businesses is on the rise. Said Dennis: “According to the DBS survey, 91% consumers said they had a positive impression of businesses embracing sustainability, and 88% considered sustainability important in their purchasing decisions. 79% of the consumers said they were willing to pay more for sustainable options, with 13% expressing that they were prepared to pay a premium of 10% or more for sustainable options.”

This is corroborated by the observation of Jerwine, who co-founded The Blomstre with her husband, Aaron Que, and set out from the start to create positive social and environmental impact through their social enterprise: “When we started The Blomstre, our mission was – and still is – to capture, illuminate, and celebrate moments of human connection with scents that anchor us. From day one, we have built sustainability into how we work, and I have seen firsthand how much it matters to customers. More SMEs in Hong Kong are now embracing sustainability. Sustainability isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’ anymore; it is what helps SMEs like us grow and stand out.”

Challenges Facing Hong Kong SMEs

However, SMEs face numerous challenges when it comes to implementing and communicating their sustainability actions. This is reflected in a white paper released by Purpose Impact Action in May this year, which zoomed in on the social impact measurement gap in Hong Kong. 

Said Pia, who founded Purpose Impact Action to help purpose-driven businesses and social impact organizations evaluate, improve, measure, and communicate their social impact. “One of the key sector challenges we see is measuring output versus measuring outcomes, the latter of which signifies actual behavioural changes and meaningful impact. While two-thirds of the respondents said they measured their impact, the majority of them (83%) tracked outputs and only half (57%) measured outcomes. 

“In general, SMEs struggle to quantify their social contributions alongside financial performance. But when done well, impact measurement shifts the conversation from ‘prove your worth’ to ‘let’s amplify your impact’, or from ‘compliance cost’ to ‘competitive advantage’.” 

On the challenges, Jerwine readily agreed. “Growing a sustainable business in a practical way is tough. Some of the biggest challenges I have faced as a social entrepreneur are financial constraints and higher operational costs. Many social entrepreneurs would agree on the same struggles: limited manpower, resource constraints, and not enough know‑how to truly integrate ESG goals. Sometimes I wish SMEs could tap into a fractional Chief Sustainability Officer to guide us in scaling more meaningfully!” 

From his experience in supporting SMEs’ sustainability journeys, Dennis observed two major challenges facing SME owners when integrating meaningful sustainability actions into their business operations. “There is a lack of knowledge and capacity within SMEs. Many small business owners simply don’t have the time, resources, or expertise to navigate the complex world of ESG reporting and compliance. They may not fully understand the benefits of ESG, or how to effectively integrate it into their operations. This knowledge gap can be a significant barrier to implementation. 

“Another challenge is the fragmented bargaining power of SMEs. Unlike larger corporations, SMEs often lack the clout to influence their suppliers, customers, or industry associations when it comes to ESG-related matters. They may need to rely on these external organizations or even banks to help them navigate the ESG landscape. This can make it more difficult for SMEs to implement ESG practices that are tailored to their specific needs and challenges.” 

No Better Time than Now to Integrate Meaningful Sustainability Actions

These challenges are further compounded by the rollback of sustainability regulations and policies in some parts of the world, namely the US and parts of the EU. 

At the same time, however, opportunities abound. For example, since January this year, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has required listed firms to disclose their Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the indirect (Scope 3) emissions that occur in their supply chains. The rigorous standards of the ESG Code have prompted more companies to work with suppliers that are equipped with climate-related data tracking systems. 

Moreover, the Hong Kong government’s launch of the Roadmap on Sustainability Disclosure in Hong Kong: Ambition Assurance Enablement in December 2024, outlining the government’s vision for Hong Kong to be among the first jurisdictions to align the local sustainability requirements with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), marked a significant step forward for ESG reporting in Hong Kong. 

The increase in sustainability and ESG efforts in the Hong Kong business sector is reflected in the HKTDC ESG Index 2025 survey, where 90% of respondents said that ESG considerations are integral to their business decision-making, and ESG-compliant products and services can both command higher prices and deliver wider profit margins. 

This is largely because people are increasingly demanding more sustainability actions from businesses and governments. According to the 89 Percent Project, a year-long, global journalistic initiative launched in April this year, 80-89% of people all around the world demand stronger climate actions from their governments.

Amidst seemingly conflicting forces, the panelists were nonetheless optimistic about the continuous upward trend for sustainability actions by SMEs. 

Said Jerwine: “I see this as a real window of opportunity for SMEs. With the HKEX disclosure rules, larger companies are under pressure to track emissions across their supply chains, which means they are actively looking for SME partners who can provide climate‑related data and sustainable solutions. This creates a competitive edge for small businesses that invest in ESG readiness, and it is very encouraging for purpose‑driven brands like The Blomstre. In general, it is clear: people want stronger sustainability actions, and SMEs that step up now can position themselves not just as suppliers, but as trusted businesses.”

“The HKEX ESG disclosure requirements, though only applied to listed companies, have a wider impact due to the Scope 3 and supply chain disclosure requirements,” said Dennis. “This will cascade down the supply or value chain, affecting a broader group of businesses, including SMEs. This presents both risks and opportunities for SMEs. For those who are less prepared or lack the necessary resources, the ESG disclosure requirements may feel overwhelming to keep up with. However, in the long run, as the economy continues transitioning towards greater climate and ESG awareness – an inevitable trend – this ‘initial pain’ can benefit those SMEs who are able to effectively integrate ESG into their business. By doing so, these SMEs can better future-proof themselves and unlock new business opportunities. Companies that excel at ESG implementation will be well-positioned to meet the evolving expectations of customers, investors, and regulators. They may also gain a competitive edge by demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and responsible practices.”

In agreement was Pia, who added that SMEs in Asia, in particular, have a huge opportunity to leverage the evolving social impact landscape to redefine sustainability development on our own terms. “Where Western frameworks tend to be more structured and rigid, according to research by the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), Asian ecosystems thrive on informal networks, trust, and long-term partnerships. Businesses, social entrepreneurs, and nonprofits can collaborate more effectively by adopting outcomes-based frameworks, aligning on shared goals, like the UN SDG goals.”

Pia encouraged companies to consider working with nonprofits and charities to help these organizations build capacity while achieving sustainability goals for their companies. “For example, Bring Me a Book Hong Kong, a nonprofit, entered into a partnership with EPAM, a tech solution and consultation provider, where EPAM helped the nonprofit revamp its website, enhance its digital programs, and create the world’s first bilingual search engine for kids’ books. This partnership not only enabled EPAM and Bring Me a Book Hong Kong to achieve SDG Goal 4: Quality Education, but it also boosted operational efficiency and employee engagement for EPAM.” 

Empowering HK SMEs to Accelerate Sustainability Agendas and Actions

From their respective experiences and perspectives, Jerwine, Pia, and Dennis have discovered and developed effective solutions, tools, and resources that can empower Hong Kong SMEs to accelerate their sustainability agendas and actions. 

Said Jerwine: “Collaborating with larger companies and stakeholders through strategic partnerships can provide SMEs with insights into their customers’ ESG data requirements, sustainability expectations, and opportunities for growth. For example, at The Blomstre, we have worked with corporate partners and clients who not only support our products but also share their sustainability and compliance requirements. This has guided us in refining our processes and made our offerings more relevant to both business and community needs. Partnerships like these turn sustainability from a challenge into a real growth solution.”

Additionally, various grants such as government funding or private funding, like those offered by the DBS Foundation focusing on social enterprise and purpose-driven SME, can be helpful too. Said Dennis: “DBS also offers sustainability capacity building initiatives for SMEs from time to time. In Singapore, DBS is running a large-scale ESG SME capacity building program called ‘Queenbee’ to engage SMEs, leveraging a local government initiative. In the Hong Kong context, DBS contributes to SME sustainability development through the SME Sustainability Bootcamp. This program is designed to equip SMEs with the knowledge and tools needed to integrate ESG practices into their business operations.”

Cross-sector Roundtable Discussions on Sustainability 

The panel discussion was followed by roundtable discussions, where participants at the seven tables shared the challenges they faced and solutions they found when integrating meaningful sustainability actions into their business operations or supporting SMEs to do so. 

Representatives from MYSC, a South Korea-based initiative that offers outcome-based no-strings financing to impact-driven enterprises, shared a vision for changing the impact financing system, including here in Hong Kong, not least by attracting more like-minded funders through the success of MYSC’s model. 

Yulia Kim, Founder and Floral Designer of Blooms Forever, which specializes in sustainable, handcrafted, preserved, and dried flower creations, said that while it is hard to be connected to large corporates to build strategic partnerships, being connected with organizations like FSI helps expand Blooms Forever’s network. 

Pauline Dutertre, GEFE Project Manager and Head of Marketing and Communications at the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, said that there is generally a high level of awareness among SMEs to implement sustainability actions, but they often don’t know where to find relevant information and support services, highlighting the importance of consolidated information. 

This is echoed by other participants, who emphasized the importance of broad collaboration, sharing of resources and information, as well as cooperation to achieve greater sustainability actions despite challenges such as a lack of human and financial resources, and a lower pace of digital transformation. 

Joining one of the roundtables, Jerwine added her vision for the Hong Kong government to consider creating a system to audit businesses for their sustainability practices. 

Work with FSI to Achieve Sustainability Goals

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Jerwine, Pia, and Dennis for sharing their invaluable insights to help participants plan and implement lasting sustainability actions through their companies and organizations. We would also like to thank all those who participated in our roundtable workshop, and we are glad to hear that the workshop was informative and helpful. 

Said Kaisha Woo, Founder of the social enterprise, Gowld Art Centre: “Sometimes when you are just figuring out how to implement sustainability initiatives and creating on a personal level from the bottom up, it can be overwhelming to consider the statistics and regulations and work backwards. The session served as a good reminder to think more on a societal level to scale the impact.”

Johit Das, Managing Director of Atlas Plastics, named innovative collaboration, knowledge sharing, resource management, co-creation, and human-centric design and development as some of the actionable plans to be implemented after the workshop. 

Kaylini Naidoo, Founder of Upeeling and a mentee entrepreneur of our 2025-26 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, said: “An incredibly insightful roundtable, thanks FSI and to the panelists for the thoughtful discussions and practical resources to look into!”

If you are a corporate looking to create win-win solutions to achieve ESG and sustainability goals while engaging and developing your talents in fun and interactive ways, get in touch with us at info@shared-impact.com. 

If you are a small business owner or startup founder looking to up your sustainability and impact measurement game and expand your network to build strategic partnerships, contact us at cbs@shared-impact.com. 

If you are new to sustainable business practices and ESG, sign up for the online course, HKUx: ESG Essentials: Sustainable Business Strategies for a Changing World, to learn how today’s business leaders must navigate the complexities of ESG to align their company’s economic, financial, and ethical purposes with its overall performance. This course is produced by some members of the FSI team in collaboration with some of our social impact partners, using real-life examples to help learners explore corporate governance practices that align with ESG materiality, develop leadership skills to make positive changes through ESG integration, and understand how ESG relates to ethical business models, both now and in the future.

*Photo Credit: Gigi Cheuk Chi Ng

The post Rethinking Sustainability Actions for HK SMEs appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

To kick off the seminar, participants received a friendly reminder to take action for the planet by recycling their trash, simply by cleaning and sorting them into designated bins for different recyclables. Students were encouraged to embrace this practice on their way out, reinforcing that every small action counts in our shared journey toward a healthier planet.

Empathy in Action: Finding Inspiration

The first section of the seminar introduced the first phase of the design thinking cycle: inspiration. Using Seekr, an innovative app designed to assist visually impaired individuals and the elderly, as an example, Lucia Loposova, the Education Manager of FSI, ignited a spark among students by emphasizing the significance of drawing inspiration from observation. “If you’re working with people who have disabilities, consider how to improve their lives,” she urged.

As Lucia encouraged the Impact Lab students working with Seekr to reflect on the specific challenges their app aimed to address, one student shared insights about the daily hurdles faced by visually impaired individuals. Lucia further steered the conversation toward the critical role of empathy in developing effective solutions. “To truly understand what people need, we must engage deeply with their experiences,” Lucia said, inviting students to brainstorm ways to cultivate that empathy.

One student suggested a way to empathize with individuals with visual impairments: wearing blindfolds to experience the struggles firsthand. Understanding the real-world challenges they were aiming to tackle allowed the students to connect more deeply with the lives of those they hoped to assist.

Generating Ideas: Embrace the Chaos

With inspiration flowing, the seminar smoothly transitioned into the ideation phase, where creativity reigned supreme. What is ideation, you ask? It’s all about letting loose of blue-sky thinking to generate ideas, concepts, and strategies to solve problems.

Lucia encouraged students to throw caution to the wind: “Don’t hold back for the sake of one fantastic idea. Instead, push yourself to produce as many ideas as you can—even the outlandish ones!” David Bishop, Co-founder and Director of FSI and Impact Lab Course Instructor, added to the excitement, asserting that we should leverage advanced technology like generative AI to innovate, not just to quicken mundane tasks.

Idea generation, he noted, is a skill that requires practice. “Always carry a notebook to jot down ideas as they come,” he suggested. “You’ll start noticing gaps and inefficiencies in the systems around you.”

As participants embarked on this ideation journey, they embraced two critical principles: diverging and converging. Initially, they let their imaginations run wild—everything was on the table—before refining their ideas through collaboration. Lucia reminded everyone that during brainstorming, “No judgment is allowed—everything goes!”

Brainstorming for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Next, students broke into groups to tackle a thought-provoking challenge: “How can we get Hong Kong citizens to lead a more sustainable life?” This brainstorming session illuminated a range of innovative proposals. 

One group suggested placing more recycling bins in housing estates to encourage responsible waste management while providing opportunities for the elderly to earn from recycling. Another idea proposed offering discounts on MTR fares, which would promote public transport use, reduce carbon emissions, and make commuting more affordable and climate-friendly.

Participants also stressed the importance of impactful government policies, drawing on Scotland’s success with electronic passes and cycling infrastructure as inspiration. Additionally, a suggestion emerged to use AI to help citizens visualize the long-term consequences of pollution, prompting a deeper understanding of the need for sustainable practices. 

David raised an important point, challenging the group’s focus on recycling alone. While recycling is essential, he argued that it creates a false sense of individual responsibility without addressing systemic issues, urging critical thinking and broader definitions of sustainability that include lifestyle choices and social responsibility.

Turning Ideas into Action

Students continued refining their ideas in collaborative sessions. The ideation process produced a tapestry of proposals aimed at addressing various social and environmental issues in Hong Kong. 

One group focused on raising awareness about PFAS, or “forever” chemicals, and advocated for public education campaigns, stating, “We need to educate people about these harmful chemicals in their everyday products.” Another group highlighted the importance of creating collaborative learning environments to reduce competitive pressures affecting students’ mental health, suggesting, “Let’s create spaces where students can learn from each other.”

Financial literacy training for underprivileged graduates emerged as a vital theme, which underscored the importance of empowering people with financial knowledge and, as a result, enhancing their access to better opportunities. 

Furthermore, a tech-savvy group proposed developing a scam prevention app designed to help users recognize and avoid scams, noting, “Using real-life stories can help others recognize and avoid scams.” Finally, another group discussed creating an app to track food inventory aimed at transforming linear food systems into circular ones.

The design thinking seminar not only sparked creativity but also encouraged students to think critically and collaboratively about solutions that could enhance sustainability and improve the quality of life for everyone, knowledge that they can apply to their work at the Impact Lab Course’s partner companies.

Charlotte Pak, a student working with GREEN Hospitality, said, “This seminar helped me look at ideas from different perspectives through the exercises that we did.” Vy Vu, another student working with GREEN Hospitality, echoed, “Hearing the different ideas was the best part of the seminar.”

Stay Tuned

Through our Impact Lab Course, we support students to develop themselves and enhance essential human skills through experiential learning internships with impact startups as well as thematic seminars. Read up on our recent Developing a Resilient Mindset for Success workshop and stay tuned for updates on the “Learning from Failure: Mastering Risk Management” and “Systems Change” seminars. 

*This blog post was drafted by Kabita K. Sahteli, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Spring 2025 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

The post Promoting Sustainability Through Design Thinking Seminar for Impact Lab Students appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

Recognizing this challenge, as part of our six-month-long “2024-25 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs” program, the Foundation of Shared Impact (FSI) collaborated with FundFluent to co-host a funding readiness workshop on 15 February 2025 at the Hive Poho to equip mentee entrepreneurs with the resources and knowledge to become funding-ready. 

As a platform that helps startups and small businesses access funding through a comprehensive database, expert consultation, and tailored resources to enhance their chances of securing grants, loans, and startup programs, FundFluent has been a long-time partner of FSI, our partnership preceding the inauguration of our Mentorship Program due to our shared mission in creating shared impact. 

FSI Entrepreneurial Community Among First to Access Latest FundFluent Resources

A total of 26 attendees participated in this workshop, including 10 mentors, 12 mentees, and one ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter coach, Cynthia Lai, from the 2024-2025 Mentorship Program cohort. Also present were aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs from the FSI Entrepreneur’s Hub Community, including former mentees, mentors, and coaches of our Mentorship Program from previous years, as well as other under-resourced entrepreneurs who benefit from our bespoke direct business support, such as those listed in our GuideFong directory.

Said Robin Wong, Owner of Bizwizpartnership Ltd. and mentor: “I do a lot of mentoring and advice for NGOs and funding is always an important area. I joined this workshop because I wanted to see if I could learn more and help people.”

Nisreen Muchhala, Founder of Nourish Scrubs and part of FSI’s Entrepreneur’s Hub Community, said, “I have been working on my skincare product for three years and wanted to learn how to budget. If I want to start a business, I need to know the first steps.”

In this workshop, the FundFluent team led participants on an exploration of funding fundamentals and showed how small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can leverage the FundFluent platform to become funding-ready. 

The workshop was divided into three key sections:

• Know Your Funding Options: Participants identified and explored various funding options tailored to different stages of the business lifecycle, including the idea, scaling, and expansion stages.
• Deep Dive Topic 1: Budget Plans: This segment covered how to create detailed and realistic budgets that demonstrate financial preparedness, which is crucial for attracting potential funders.
• Deep Dive Topic 2: Starting Your Business: Participants learned to assess capital requirements, break down initial expenses, and evaluate market viability and the commercial potential of their business ideas.

As members of the 2024-25 cohort of the Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, participants were invited to join as early users of the FundFluent journey by requesting designated playbooks for the funding they were targeting. They could choose to get a “Free+” subscription to access FundFluent’s funding database with over 100+ funding opportunities, and their Playbook for Funding Success, which contains insights, tools, and templates that capture the collective knowledge from hundreds of successful applications and more.

Crucial First Step: Knowing Your “Why” and Understanding Funding Options

Jenny Au, Founder and CEO of FundFluent started the session with a quick exercise to get the entrepreneurs to contemplate the three stages they are currently in: the idea stage, scaling stage, and expansion stage. Knowing their “why” was the first step to successfully access funding, explained Jenny. Funding shouldn’t be approached without a plan, a breakdown of needs, and priorities, and every dollar is needed. Realizing which stage they are in, therefore, will help entrepreneurs understand and identify the different funding options available. 

To help with the thought process, everyone was given an activity worksheet to ponder and write down their business stage and their “why” on the first page.

Pamela Moyo, Program Manager at Africa Centre Hong Kong and mentee, initially thought that she was in the expansion stage. However, after Jenny elaborated further on the topic, Pamela realized that it was not a one-size-fits-all situation and that some programs were in the idea stage, some in the scaling stage, and some in the expansion stage. 

Another mentee raised a question on how to get the seemingly hard-to-get Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund), established by the Hong Kong government in 2013 to alleviate poverty and social exclusion as well as foster the well-being and cohesion of the society by promoting social innovation and nurturing social entrepreneurship.

Jenny emphasized the need to research what the government is interested in funding, which can vary annually, and that entrepreneurs should be able to produce measurable impact to stand a higher chance of getting the competitive SIE Fund.

During the session, mentees mentioned other similar funding options by foundations such as the HSBC Foundation, DBS Foundation, Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF), and Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Wilson Tai, Co-founder and COO of FundFluent, added that knowing what the funders are looking for is important since they have their own Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Jenny and Wilson then went on to explain their journey with FundFluent, including their experiences with enabling the multitude of applications, which has given them invaluable insights into the common mistakes entrepreneurs would make when applying for funding. This prompted them to launch FundFluent’s Playbook for Funding Success to help entrepreneurs in all industries in Hong Kong and overseas discover and gain an in-depth understanding of funding options.

Wilson and Jenny encouraged the workshop participants to reach out for queries related to fundraising and financing their businesses, as a way to further improve FundFluent’s products and services and subsequently, the quality of support FundFluent’s clients can benefit from. As a recommendation, a mentee suggested adding funding information for student startups. 

Deep Diving into Budget Plans, Cash Reserves, and Salary Considerations

Amongst entrepreneurs’ top priorities is budgeting. Here, Wilson broke down the basic flow to think through budgeting. Everyone was then asked to work on the worksheet by thinking through their financial resources and various necessary expenses in the past 10 months.

Wilson went on to elaborate on the budgeting support provided by FundFluent. Although a subscription-based platform, FundFluent provides bespoke professional help such as reviewing a presentation pitch.

Sneha Roy, Co-founder and Director of A Collective Space and mentee, asked, “In personal finance, we often hear about the importance of maintaining six months’ worth of cash reserves for emergencies. Would you recommend a similar approach for businesses? Should we consider having a longer reserve, like 12 months, especially if things are going well?” 

In response, Wilson explained that cash reserves allow businesses to focus on growth without the constant worry of financial instability. For early-stage businesses, maintaining cash reserves is essential. While the recommendation of six months’ worth of reserves is common, it isn’t always necessary. In addition to elaborating on a more conservative approach, Wilson stressed the importance of having enough reserves to navigate cash flow fluctuations effectively.

Another mentee, Yulia Kim, Founder and Floral Designer of Blooms.Forever, raised a question: “For a sole entrepreneur who has been in the idea stage for two to three years, should they consider their own salary?” To which Wilson replied, “Yes, think about your salary from day one but make it a conservative number. This will help sustain your living expenses as you develop your business.”

Eeshaanee Shandilya, Co-founder of Curiouslyoga and mentee, posed a question: “How do you decide the Return on Investment (ROI) on variable costs, like subscription costs?” Following his response to Eeshaanee on determining an appropriate margin percentage to make the business viable, Wilson introduced a slide on “finance rituals“, emphasizing the importance of conducting monthly, quarterly, and yearly reviews, especially in the early stages of a business. He noted that even in FundFluent’s fifth year, it is still considered an early stage.

Starting Your Business

In this segment, Wilson and Jenny encouraged everyone planning to start their own businesses to understand the actual capital requirements, break down the initial expenses, and evaluate the market viability and commercial potential of their business ideas.

Jerwine Bonafe-Que, Managing Director of THE BLOMSTRE and former-mentee-turned-mentor, posed an important question to the group: “Aside from government funding, what adjustments can startups make in their budgeting to attract investors? For example, should they allocate HK$10,000  to hire a marketer? What key factors do investors typically look for?”

In response, Jenny and Wilson emphasized the importance of returning to a bare-bone structure. They advised mentees to identify market signals and clearly articulate their solutions. 

This discussion highlighted the need for startups to be strategic and clear about their financial planning, ensuring that they present a compelling case to potential investors.

Creative Funding Options and Leveraging GenAI for Funding Literacy

The queries posed by the workshop participants reflect a growing interest among entrepreneurs in exploring niche avenues for financing their ventures and low-cost and efficient methods for identifying suitable funding options. 

Additionally, despite the abundant freely available tools and resources online, many entrepreneurs still have burning questions that often go unanswered without expert guidance. Addressing the inquiry of Emeline Sandt, Co-founder and Director of A Collective Space and mentee, about resources for understanding funding—especially for those without a business background—Jenny suggested using Generative AI, such as ChatGPT. “But make sure you are good at asking the right questions to get good follow-up.” 

A Practical Business Workshop

As a capacity builder long committed to equipping under-resourced entrepreneurs and community leaders with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to grow and scale their endeavors, we at FSI are delighted to see that this workshop was beneficial to the participants. 

Said Belinda Wong, Director of Leader Corporate Services Limited and mentor, “The session provided practical advice from Wilson and Jenny on how to get funding and run a business.”

Robin Wong, Owner of Bizwizpartnership Ltd. and mentor added, “I learned about various funding sources, which will help me assist others more effectively.”

“It was very enlightening,” said Yulia Kim. “I learned a lot of things I hadn’t thought about regarding funding before. Big thanks to Wilson and Jenny for making this session so interesting, informative, and useful.”

“I cannot express how validating it was to learn about Jenny and Wilson’s funding journey,” said Sneha Roy. “I really liked the budgeting part! I wish we could have spent more time on it, but I feel validated in the approaches we have been following.”

Join Us to Drive Systems Change through Broad Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange

Currently in its third iteration, FSI’s Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs aims to drive systems change in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Hong Kong. We do this by enabling equitable access to resources, knowledge, and information critical to the startup and growth of small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as micro-businesses, especially those owned by ethnically diverse entrepreneurs, as we believe in the power of entrepreneurship in alleviating intergenerational poverty.

The program’s impact in uplifting under-resourced entrepreneurs wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our long-time partners and supporters such as FundFluent, Africa Center Hong Kong, ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter, the Hive Poho, and The Hong Kong Club Foundation.

A big shout-out to our dedicated Impact Lab Course interns, including the four FSI interns from the Spring 2025 cohort, Nathan Cole Saavedra, Mohammad Abdul Rehman, Hsu Latt Shwe Yi, and Kabita K. Sahteli, who assisted with the planning, coordination, and coverage of the workshop. 

We are equally grateful to FSI’s vibrant community of entrepreneurs. Initially connected by FSI through the direct bespoke business support we offer through the Mentorship Program, Project GuideFong, and Community Business Internship, these ethnically diverse entrepreneurs have continued to share their resources and knowledge with each other, initiate mutually beneficial collaborations, and reinforce a reciprocal community characterized by diversity of various kinds.

The finale of the 2024-25 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs journey will take place on 8 March 2025. Get in touch with us at cbs@shared-impact.com if you would like to join us to celebrate the resilience and success of our community of entrepreneurs at the event or provide ongoing support to the entrepreneurs!

*This blog post was drafted by Kabita K. Sahteli, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Spring 2025 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

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The meet-up gave all mentors and mentees an opportunity to share what they have been working on and the progress they have made since the program commenced in September. 

Ruchi Bhave, Founder of The Mind Talk, shared an exciting update: “In terms of money, I earned my first small amount! I consulted Wilson, my mentor, about how to go about doing sales. He told me to set a very small amount so it feels achievable. I spoke to a couple of people that my magazine covers everything related to mental health and wellbeing. A small startup approached and said they would write an article and pay for the backlink.”

Wilson Tai, Co-founder and COO of FundFluent, said, “One piece of advice I would give is don’t do things for free. The hours you spend to provide the service need to be considered when you sell something.”

Youth-led Discussions to Support Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs

To help mentee entrepreneurs better identify their needs, FSI’s Community Business Support team’s Impact Lab Course student interns prepared several group discussions for the mentees and mentors around time management and setting priorities; financial management; using technology, data, and automation; and relationship building and networking.  

In the time management group discussion prepared and led by Anh B., a year one student studying Business Administration, participants completed a questionnaire about their time management styles, before they were asked to consider different ways to schedule tasks efficiently. Wilson said, “The way the FundFluent team works is that we would book each other’s time on the person’s calendar. Even family time can be put on there so we can respect everyone’s time. I also reserve some buffer time for anything sudden.”

Sunny Li, a first year student studying Business Administration in International Business and Global Management, led a session with the participants on financial management. Emeline Sandt, Co-founder and Director at A Collective Space shared, “We recently went through all our costs and got a good figure, including the absolute minimum hourly rate. Based on that and the market’s willingness to pay, we can work out a profitable charging model.”

Sneha Roy, also A Collective Space’s Co-founder and Director, added, “We adapted FSI’s bookkeeping template to the nature of our business and the different services we provide. ”

The group explored financial management solutions for some common issues, including understanding how costs can pose limitations to operations and adopting a new mindset to balance  cost and profit. Sunny also introduced some resources from FSI that could help entrepreneurs manage finances more efficiently. 

Across the room, Darren Lee, a year one student studying Business Administration, led the exploration of the use of AI to enhance work efficiency. The mentees and mentors talked about using technology and built-in systems on e-commerce websites for accounting and bookkeeping. Some of the softwares mentioned were Xero, which simplifies financial management with features like automatic reconciliation, and platforms like Wix or Shopify that can easily track customer data. 

In the relationship-building and networking group, prepared and led by Adriel Heng, a first year student studying Business Administration and Law, participants discussed how to use their LinkedIn profiles to improve their online presence and increase networking opportunities. Adriel suggested finding relevant communities like university groups or an entrepreneurial community. Participants in this group also talked about what their elevator pitch could include to make a good first impression, and how to follow up on initial meetings to foster a long-lasting relationship.  

Midpoint Check-in: Growth and Learning for Both Mentors and Mentees

As a midpoint check-in on the mentees’ and mentors’ learning journeys, they were asked to fill out a midpoint survey for the Program. 91% of the participants indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their experience. For the mentees, the areas showing the most improvement were personal development and growth, mental resilience, and communication skills.

Pamela Vuyisile Moyo, Program Manager at Africa Center Hong Kong, said, “Always ask for help and form some collaborations.” The sentiment was echoed by Wendy Zhuang, speaking on behalf of Curiouslyoga as their Business Development Lead. Wendy said, “The FSI community is very supportive. We don’t feel like we’re alone in the boat. The more I go through the journey, the more I feel that I want to meet these energetic people.”

As is with other mutually beneficial programs by FSI, mentees aren’t the only ones who benefited from the Mentorship Program. Jerwine Bonafe Que, Managing Director of The Blomstre, said, “As a first-time mentor after experiencing being a mentee, this was a good refresher. With fresh eyes and accumulated experiences, I was able to advise my mentee much better than I expected.”

Reflecting on her journey so far, Wendy added, “I saw the growth of the startups and projects from the first cohort and was really inspired. I also wanted to meet like-minded people to see how they’re navigating the challenges.”

“I think I felt very disconnected and lonely with the financing, but then I realized there is help and support to be found in people’s feedback and FSI’s resources. The websites, links, and resources are really useful. We didn’t know these services and support existed in such an affordable way.”

Yulia Kim, Founder and Floral Designer of Blooms.Forever Atelier, shared her positive experience as well. “My first goal was to work with big companies, and I saw that as the main way to have big orders. During this program, my approach to achieving my goal has changed. I’m considering working more B2C, or with small and medium businesses.”

“I learned that I’m responsible for my company and for my product,” continued Yulia. “I make the final call. You can have so many different perspectives from people, and sometimes they contradict each other. But as the owner, you’re working with your products every day. You know what’s best for your business and your customers.”

An Enriching Experience for FSI’s Impact Lab Course Interns

In addition to our venue partner the Hive Poho and long-time partners like FundFluent and Africa Center Hong Kong, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Impact Lab Course interns working at FSI’s Community Business Support and Communications and Marketing teams, whose dedicated hard work throughout their three-month internship enabled us to provide under-resourced entrepreneurs with bespoke direct business support. We are glad to hear that the student interns found the experience rewarding, too.

Said Sunny Li, an intern working with the Community Business Support team: “It’s truly inspiring to see the community being built surrounding and supporting ethnically diverse entrepreneurs and witnessing how they learn from their mentors and mentees.”

“It was an honor for me to work alongside our mentees and be a part of their entrepreneurial journey,” added Anh B, who also worked in the Community Business Support team. “I gained valuable insights not only in building a business but also networking, overcoming failures, and setting priorities in both my professional and everyday life.” 

Adriel Hang, another Community Business Support intern, added, “The Program was an incredibly enriching experience that exposed me to the challenges faced by small ethnically diverse businesses in the competitive Hong Kong market. The mentees proved that perseverance and determination in challenging times will bear a fruitful outcome. It’s inspiring to see such strength and persistence.”

Similarly, Darren Lee said, “I found it amazing. I was able to experience different cultures and help out many different small business owners. This exposed me to a wide range of perspectives that I would have never gained in a classroom!”

Tasked with recapping the Mentorship Program’s several workshops throughout the past two months, Hyewon Lee, FSI’s Communications and Marketing intern, said, “It was lovely to see so many dedicated people share their goals, achievements, and experiences. The Mentorship Program and community encouraged me to find my own passion as well.”

“The Mentorship Program provides an amazing opportunity for beginner entrepreneurs to consult professionals,” said Hayden Fong, who also worked in the Communications and Marketing team. “The tight-knit community allows each mentee to receive personalized guidance, without the burden of high costs, and empowers them to succeed.”

Dong Woo Kim, another Communications and Marketing intern, said, “I greatly appreciated the Program which allows entrepreneurs to share their problems and views, fostering a collaborative environment that broadens everyone’s perspectives. I believe this aligns perfectly with FSI’s mission.”

As of now, participants of our Mentorship Program will break for the year before meeting for the New Year celebration in January 2025 and a collaborative workshop with FundFluent in February on every entrepreneur’s priority: fundraising and financing. 

*This blog post was drafted by Hyewon Lee, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Fall 2024 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

The post Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs Celebrate Success and Growth Half-way Through FSI’s Mentorship Program appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

In addition to facing a higher likelihood of investor rejection than their male counterparts, and spending the longest time (an average of 9.7 months) to raise capital compared to their peers in Asia, women entrepreneurs in Hong Kong are also less likely to feel confident prior to pitching their businesses than their male counterparts, despite undertaking a comparable level of rigorous research and due diligence before approaching investors.

This is why, at Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI), we endeavor to provide under-resourced women entrepreneurs with more equitable access to resources and professional expertise through bespoke direct business support and our Impact Jams.

Challenges Facing Hong Kong’s Women Entrepreneurs

On 8 November, we collaborated with our long-time Impact Jam partner, Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks, to organize a business clinic for six women entrepreneurs of five businesses. 

As clients of our direct business support and former and current mentees of our Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, Senchu Chemjong (founder of Nepcha), Eeshaanee Shandilya (co-founder of Curiouslyoga), Maryam Khan (founder of Foodie Explorerz), Yulia Kim (founder of Blooms.Forever Atelier), and Emmy Sandt and Sne Roy (co-founders of A Collective Space) brought to the business clinic their respective challenges.   

Following the opening remarks by Claudia Anticona, FSI’s Community Connections Program Manager, and Dmitri Potishko, Partner and Head of Equities at Goldman Sachs, a panel was set up for the six women entrepreneurs to discuss the business challenges they faced and their respective reasons for persevering through their entrepreneurial journeys. 

To kick-start the panel discussion, the 14 Community TeamWorks volunteers were polled on what they thought were the main business challenges facing women entrepreneurs. To the surprise of the volunteers, the majority of whom thought fundraising was the main challenge, the entrepreneurs highlighted difficulties in product or service pricing and burnout as the most challenging experiences. However, despite the challenges, the women entrepreneurs persevere as they want to create a bigger positive impact on the community, challenge their creativity, and be their own boss. 

Fresh Perspectives and Insights to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

In the business clinic session, the volunteers were matched with each of the five businesses to gain a thorough understanding of the entrepreneurs’ respective business challenges, and provide practical recommendations and support ranging from reviewing pitch decks as well as brainstorming new growth strategies, partnership and collaboration opportunities, and marketing strategies. 

“I just want to say a big thank you to FSI for setting up the business clinic with Goldman Sachs and including me,” said Yulia Kim, founder of Blooms.Forever Atelier. “Today’s session was really insightful and inspiring, offering a fresh take on my business. Claudia’s advice and recommendations were invaluable in helping me prepare effectively for the meeting. Thanks a lot!”

The Impact Jam was not only beneficial to the entrepreneurs but also Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks volunteers, all of whom said they gained new knowledge and skills that they could bring back to their workplace. Said Emily Kim: “My key takeaway is that there are so many new businesses with good intention that don’t get enough attention or help to grow to the next level. I am so happy we have been able to give entrepreneurs a different point of view from our diverse backgrounds and skill-sets.”

Her sentiment was echoed by another volunteer, Janice Chung: “Meeting the entrepreneurs and seeing how they found our advice helpful was very rewarding!”

The enthusiasm of the Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks volunteers and the mutually beneficial nature of the Impact Jam was not lost on those who participated in the session. Said Adriel Heng, an Impact Lab Course intern working with FSI’s Community Business Support team and joining the Impact Jam as a helper: “What struck me in particular was the raw, authentic, and genuine passion the Goldman Sachs volunteers were in earnestly providing advice to the mentees. Further, it was inspiring that the mentees responded with equal enthusiasm and measure in soaking and digesting the fruits of wisdom they gave. That was really the highlight for me!”

“Participating in the business clinic for women entrepreneurs was by far the most eye-opening and educational experience I have had in my internship at FSI,” said Viet Quynh Anh Bui (Anh B), another Impact Lab intern with the Community Business Support team. “The advice and support that our mentee, Curiouslyoga, received from the Goldman Sachs CTW volunteers were incredibly inspiring.”

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks volunteers, the women entrepreneurs from FSI’s community of ethnically diverse entrepreneurs, and our Impact Lab Course interns for enabling yet another successful Impact Jam, connecting people across sectors to create positive social impact. 

Are you interested in participating in our mutually beneficial Impact Jams to provide essential capacity-building support to Hong Kong’s under-resourced entrepreneurs and social impact leaders? Whether it is to kick-start your personal social impact journey, engage and develop your talents, or achieve your corporate ESG and CSR goals, FSI’s Impact Jams are customizable, impactful engagements conducive to creating lasting shared impact. Get in touch with us at communityconnections@shared-impact.com to learn more!

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To kick off the session, Lucia Loposova, FSI’s Education Manager and Teaching Assistant of the course, asked the students what it means to be a changemaker. One student said, “It’s seeing yourself as someone who can take initiative to act and make the change you want to see.” 

Another student added, “As an entrepreneur, you’re solving a problem, however small it may be. I think any entrepreneur is already a changemaker.”

Understanding Systems and Change

The students identified several systems, including education, labor, energy, finance, and food. “A system is an intricate web of connections, relationships, and power,” explained Lucia. “To change systems, we have to think in a complex way, understanding the relationships and finding the levers to pull in order to change the system.” 

David Bishop, Co-founder and Director of FSI and Impact Lab Course Instructor, added, “There are layers to the systems. To tackle problems in these systems, you have to understand who and what provides power and sustenance to hold these systems together.”

Patrick Davis, former General Manager of Soap Cycling, has extensive experience leading and managing projects since the early years of the company. He emphasized the connection between starting a new project and the first step in driving systemic change: “When trying to create new projects, you have to identify the stakeholders: who are affected and what are the factors you can change?”

David then shared the 1967 Hong Kong riots as an example of social unrest that was followed by significant economic growth. He stressed the importance of understanding the context to appreciate the current situation and how social innovation can emerge when people look for solutions in difficult times. 

“The challenge is that we don’t know what’s around the corner,” David said. “In Hong Kong, I think we understand that if we want change, we have to do something ourselves. Often, the system makes people comfortable. Being a changemaker involves breaking things, which is uncomfortable, especially for those that have power.”

The Six Conditions of Systemic Problems

David introduced the students to the six conditions that keep systemic problems in place: mental models, power dynamics, relationships and connections, policies, practices, and resource flows. These conditions represent the implicit and explicit changes needed to change an entire system.

The first step to systemic change is identifying how each of these conditions sustain the problem we want to address, and brainstorming alternatives that can solve the issue. Using this model, the Impact Lab students examined the current status of Hong Kong’s housing crisis and discussed potential solutions. 

The students proposed new mental models that can drive change, such as the belief that everyone deserves affordable, safe, and dignified housing. One student noted that power dynamics exist not only in the administrative process but also within the public sphere. “Some communities can raise their voice more than others,” he said. 

Tyler Tam, a student working with GREEN Hospitality, said, “The workshop helped a lot because it sets a framework for me to follow and see how I can make my way through solving problems in the world.”

Another intern at GREEN Hospitality, Jiwoo Kim, added, “What we learned today can be applied to understanding how people act and why certain policies are there even if they aren’t very helpful for us right now. We have a better base to know what are the different levels that make up that policy.” 

“From this workshop, I learned that, sometimes, just one effective policy could improve or fix a problem,” said Mario Chandra, a student working with FSI. “I found the session very interesting, especially the discussion about public housing, because I didn’t know Hong Kong had such a similar system as Singapore’s.” 

*This blog post was drafted by Hyewon Lee, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Fall 2024 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

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This is why we at Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) organized a Social Media Marketing and Branding workshop for participants of our 2024-25 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs on 19 October. What made the workshop special is that it was a collaboration with Maryam Khan, Founder of Foodie Explorerz and former mentee of our Mentorship Program. 

With over four years of experience in content creation, branding, and social media management, Maryam gives back to the FSI community of ethnically diverse entrepreneurs by generously sharing her knowledge and expertise with entrepreneurs who are at a similar stage as she was just a year ago. 

Led by Maryam, the workshop was an interactive session where entrepreneurs engaged in activities and discussions to evaluate the current status of their social media pages and explore ways to improve them. 

Said Yulia Kim, Founder and Floral Designer of Blooms.Forever Atelier: “Most flower shops in Hong Kong have professional photos, but I don’t have the budget for that. There are certain rules for content in the flower market that I want to follow, but I also want to stand out. My goal isn’t just to gain followers. I think it’s more important to connect with the audience and build my brand identity.”

Challenges, Consistency, and Self-care

To help the entrepreneurs solidify their learning from the workshop, Maryam prepared a booklet for the entrepreneurs to complete during the day. She began by explaining digital content marketing strategies for both Instagram and LinkedIn, using examples from her own social media accounts. She also provided feedback on mentees’ pages throughout the session, highlighting their strengths and offering specific advice. 

Maryam also shared her personal experience with social media in her career. “In the beginning, I struggled with taking good pictures and producing reels when they first appeared. Recently, it’s been about staying consistent. Your content gets better with time, but you need to post continuously to figure out what really works,” she said. 

Even as she emphasized that consistency is the most important aspect of growing a brand’s account, she agreed that content creation sometimes feels like never-ending work. “It’s important to take breaks in between. I usually post three times a week, but there have been times when I posted less. Recently, I would post twice a week, but I don’t beat myself up for that because I know I need to look after my health,” she said. “You need to balance it out even while pushing yourself.”

Growth Strategies for Social Media

In the next session, Maryam talked about growth strategies, helping fellow entrepreneurs understand how they can increase engagement, respond and interact with the audience, and evaluate the success and reach of their content on social media. The entrepreneurs then spent time revisiting their own social media posts, analyzing the content that performed well and those that did not. 

Philbert Chin, an ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter coach paired with the mentee, Karl Baboucarr Sarr, reflected on a challenge he faced before: “We tried posting on different days of the week and at various times of the day. We tracked every post for six months. When we thought we got the pattern right, it changed again. We really have to constantly adapt to the changes.”

Creating Real Content 

The entrepreneurs’ desire to enhance their social media presence was so great that their enthusiasm carried through the short break. When they returned, Maryam led a hands-on activity where mentees planned actual content to publish on their social media channels.  

With inspiring examples from Maryam’s Instagram and LinkedIn pages, the mentees chose one platform to focus on for the day, with the mentors and coaches assisting them in brainstorming content and selecting photos and videos for the post. Here, Vivian Seo, FSI’s Executive Director, reminded the entrepreneurs that the FSI team and interns are always ready to offer advice, tips, and direct support for any content they need to create to drive visibility and growth for their businesses or organizations. 

A Successful Workshop on Marketing and Branding

The collaborative workshop was a success, with 100% of the participating entrepreneurs agreeing the training was well-organized and delivered effectively, while 91% said that they gained useful and relevant information.

Amongst those who expressed gratitude was Yulia: “Thank you, Maryam, for the presentation and highlighting how important it is to post regularly. It was insightful to see how she uses different social platforms and it has motivated me to finally build my LinkedIn account!”

Another mentee, Tinotenda Muzariri, Business Development and Marketing Manager of Africa Center Hong Kong, commented, “Content creation is an art, it can be very beneficial for a positive trajectory in terms of growth and branding.”

The next cohort session will take place on 23 November, which will serve as a mid-point check-in for the mentees, mentors, and coaches. If you’re an entrepreneur looking for tips and guides on digital marketing, visit our Entrepreneur’s Toolkit to find out how you can increase your Instagram engagement, list your business on Google, set up Google Ads, and more. Stay tuned for more updates on the entrepreneurs’ six-month journey!

Our Partners

Big thanks to the Hive Poho for being our program’s venue partner, and the Impact Lab Course interns for their support in event coordination and coverage.  

Our annual Mentorship Program wouldn’t have been possible for the third year running without the long-time support of The Hong Kong Club Foundation, ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter, Africa Center Hong Kong, and FundFluent. If you would like to support our work in empowering under-resourced entrepreneurs, email us at cbs@shared-impact.com! 

*This blog post was drafted by Hyewon Lee, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Fall 2024 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

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