Find out how Daniel, currently on the Hub for the Future Leadership Committee (a group of leaders for our community of past and present HSBC Scholars), is actively involved in community engagements and exploring ways to become an impactful leader. 

When you applied for the scholarship, what did you set out to achieve? Have the goals and objectives changed after you received the scholarship?

When I first applied for the scholarship, my primary goal was practical: I wanted to ease the financial burden of pursuing my associate degree and, eventually, my university degree. In 2021, my family’s income was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, making financial support a necessity for my education. 

However, after becoming an HSBC Scholar, my perspective shifted. I realized that the scholarship was more than just financial aid; it was an open door to opportunities for personal and professional growth. Now, my goal is to maximize every opportunity as a scholar, learning as much as possible to identify my strengths so I can contribute meaningfully to society.

Reflecting on your time as an HSBC Scholar, what was your greatest learning experience that contributed to your personal or professional growth?

My greatest learning experience has been the opportunity to connect with the Hub for the Future community — a group of some of the brightest young minds in Hong Kong. Before receiving the scholarship, I was primarily focused on my textbooks and didn’t engage much in extracurricular or professional activities. Interacting with fellow scholars taught me that academic success is only one part of a fulfilling journey. Their encouragement pushed me to explore new horizons and step out of my comfort zone, which has been instrumental in my personal growth and professional outlook.

What is the most memorable part of your journey as an HSBC Scholar? Was there a specific event, interaction, or achievement that stands out to you?

The most memorable moments of my journey are those where I stepped up to engage with others. Serving as the fireside chat MC for the 2024 Scholars Day, hosting games at the mentoring program finale, and even inviting passersby to join the Mums@Play market outside the Hive are experiences I will never forget. Each of these moments required me to be brave and communicative. These hands-on roles significantly built my confidence and presentation skills, which are assets I will carry forward into my future career.

What support have you received through the HSBC Scholarship Program, and how has this assisted you in reaching your professional goals?

I have received immense support and trust from the managers at both The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) and Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI), the past and current secretariat for the HSBC Scholarship Scheme. 

Being given the responsibility to help manage major events enhanced my confidence and validated my potential. While I am still refining my specific professional path, acting as a helper at Hub events has allowed me to be recognized by other scholars. This has opened up countless opportunities to communicate with and learn from future leaders, helping me broaden my horizons and adopt the strategic thinking necessary for my career development.

In what ways do you believe the HSBC Scholarship has equipped you to make a positive impact in your community?

The annual HSBC Scholars Day is a powerful reminder of the impact young people can have. Inspired by the resilience and positivity of the Hub community, I felt a strong urge to give back. In 2022, I provided 80 hours of free tutoring to underprivileged children. During those sessions, I saw my younger self – someone searching for direction. My goal was to offer them the same guidance and encouragement I received. Today, I continue to focus on empowering younger students who are still finding their way, helping them navigate their paths with a positive mindset.

What current volunteer or social impact initiatives are you involved in, and how do they align with the values you embrace as an HSBC Scholar? 

I primarily assist with school activities, serving as the MC for various events, and acting as a mentor for freshmen, guiding them through their university experience concerning internships and studies. Additionally, I aim to be a positive and encouraging presence for those in need. Having received support from HSBC both financially and in terms of personal development, I aspire to give back to the next generation of youth in a similar manner whenever I can. 

How do you intend to apply the lessons and skills you’ve gained as an HSBC Scholar to build a more sustainable and resilient society for Hong Kong?

As I embark on my professional journey, I am committed to looking beyond financial performance to maintain sustainable social impact in my decision-making, through understanding the strength of different people, treating them with respect and kindness no matter their role, and encouraging collaboration and synergies between them.

Inspired by Hub alumni before me, I hope to initiate positive changes personally and encourage a culture of goodwill. Together, we can make meaningful contributions that ensure a brighter, more inclusive future for Hong Kong.

The post HSBC Scholar Impact Story: Building Fortitude and Paying It Forward Through Community Engagement appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

Looking back at the time when he was put in charge of fundraising initiatives, working alongside Soap Cycling Singapore’s management team, Luis credits the experiential learning experience for the values he applies to his current work as an Associate at Goldman Sachs in London, as well as the impact-driven perspective that stays with him today. 

Read our conversation with Luis to find out how his experience with Soap Cycling Singapore inspired him to co-found a social impact consulting company, and why he would recommend Soap Cycling for skills-based volunteers to develop leadership skills or volunteer their skills and expertise.

Tell us about yourself, Luis?

I am currently based in London, working as an Associate at Goldman Sachs, fundraising from corporate investors into our investment funds across Public and Private markets. I started my career as a corporate strategy analyst at HSBC, though, solving problems for the bank globally. 

I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Exeter in southwest England. I studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics there, with a brief stint at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) doing business and finance, and another one in Nanyang Technological University – NTU Singapore doing the same. I then went on to pursue a Master of Science in Management at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Despite the very corporate feel of my profile, I am very passionate about entrepreneurship and have had several (mostly failed!) ventures. One that stuck was a branch for 180 Degrees Consulting that I co-founded and incorporated as a company in Exeter. I still chair the company after around five years of operation, and it’s doing great! We have done lots of great work with 50 to 60 global NGOs.

Tell us about your experience with Soap Cycling Singapore? 

I volunteered with Soap Cycling Singapore in early 2020 while studying at NTU for a few months, from January to April. I worked with Pat Davis (Managing Director), Jeremy Chia (Director), and Jacqueline Tan (Partnerships Director), especially on fundraising initiatives, putting the Soap Cycling story on paper for grant applications and other presentations. Building decks is still what I do to this day!

How did you learn about this experience? 

I studied a few courses with Professor David Bishop (Founder and Director of Soap Cycling) at HKU. Initially, I was going to do David’s Social Venture Management Course (formerly SVM Course, now renamed Impact Lab Course), where I would have the opportunity to work with a social venture under the FSI umbrella. However, in 2019, my home university forced me to move from Hong Kong due to their perceived relative instability caused by the political situation. When David heard that I was going to be in Singapore, he connected me with Soap Cycling Singapore.

Why did you choose to get involved in the work of Soap Cycling Singapore? 

I wanted to help the cause of what is a great organization. I had learnt a lot about social entrepreneurship and initiatives from David’s adventures and wanted to start doing some real work with real impact. Working at Soap Cycling Singapore felt like a great complement to studying at university – you learn while applying it to a good cause.

How did you find the experience? 

It was a very positive experience. It proved that even the smallest help is valued and appreciated, and goes somewhere. I would not have co-founded the social impact consulting company in Exeter upon my return from Singapore if it weren’t for the experience I had at Soap Cycling Singapore. It kicked off a momentum that has not stopped yet!

Were there any memorable moments? 

When I started helping out, Jacqueline kindly invited me to grab some dosas at a local Indian restaurant for us to get to know each other better, talk about life, and also Soap Cycling. I don’t know why it has stuck with me since, but it felt so genuine, and that I was part of the family, even if briefly! 

When I went on holiday to the Philippines with some friends from NTU, I was working on some stuff for Soap Cycling during that trip, in the car, bus, hostel, beach, wherever I could, honestly. It was quite special being in one of the countries that Soap Cycling was helping in, while volunteering for it in a way, seeing the need and impact of the organization firsthand.

Has the experience shaped your perspectives in any way? 

Massively. First of all, it proved that if we all did a little to contribute, the world would be a much better place. Second of all, it gave me the confidence to just go out there and try to do something myself, and I think that first step is a huge one. Who knows how that will influence the rest of my career!

Was there anything you learned from the experience that you are now applying to your professional and personal endeavors? 

Work with purpose. Often, it is easy to lose touch with why we are doing the things we do, especially when we get lost in the day-to-day. Volunteering for Soap Cycling taught me to remember why I do the things I do, and whether I am having the impact I want to have.

One of Soap Cycling’s missions is to empower youth to become impact-driven leaders. How do you think that has applied to your case? 

Hugely! I think an experience like Soap Cycling is invaluable, and I would recommend it to anyone. Even if it feels like the impact you have on the ground isn’t changing the world immediately, I like to think about how it has made me so much more self-aware and conscious of the fact that impact happens over time, and is exponential. Without step one, there isn’t a step 100, and perhaps without Soap Cycling, in my case, there wouldn’t have been a 180DC Exeter, and who knows what else to come.

Would you recommend Soap Cycling to others as a place to develop leadership skills or volunteer their skills and expertise? 

Definitely. You learn about impact, you learn from the people around you, and you learn about yourself. If you want to develop skills, it gives you the opportunity to drive your own initiatives and ideas to create meaningful impact in doing so. If you want to share and apply your skills as a more tenured professional, it provides a platform for you to empower others to learn from you, and in the process, benefit real communities of people. 

The post Luis Surroca Llorens: Volunteering for Soap Cycling Taught Me to Work with Purpose appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

Read about Jessie’s journey from the dance studio to the clinic, and how the HSBC Scholarship has inspired her to shape a healthier future for Hong Kong. 

When you applied for the scholarship, what did you set out to achieve? Have the goals and objectives changed after you received the scholarship? 

When I applied for the HSBC Scholarship during my second year at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2021, my goal was to pursue excellence in my training while broadening my horizons beyond the studio and performing stage. 

Receiving the scholarship encouraged me to dream bigger, to connect with people from different disciplines, and explore how I could create a positive impact beyond dance. After graduating from HKAPA, this mindset inspired me to pursue a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy in the UK, stepping into a completely new discipline. While I have moved into a new field, the motivation to strive for excellence and create a positive impact has remained unchanged throughout my journey. 

Reflecting on your time as an HSBC Scholar, what was your greatest learning experience that contributed to your personal or professional growth?

One of my most valuable learning experiences as an HSBC Scholar was being encouraged to step beyond my comfort zone and pursue opportunities with confidence. The Hub for the Future community inspired me to think broadly and embrace interdisciplinary learning. This mindset proved invaluable when I pursued a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy in the UK after graduating from HKAPA. Entering a totally new field required curiosity, resilience, and initiative. “Don’t be afraid to ask and try!” became my biggest takeaway. I actively sought mentorship and even had the chance to observe orthopaedic surgeries, which further strengthened my curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning. 

What is the most memorable part of your journey as an HSBC Scholar? Was there a specific event, interaction, or achievement that stands out to you?

One of the most memorable aspects of my journey as an HSBC Scholar has been the opportunity to connect with other scholars at volunteering events. Through gatherings and exchanges, I was constantly inspired by people who were passionate about their own fields while also striving to make a positive contribution to society. These interactions broadened my horizons and encouraged me to think beyond the boundaries of my own profession. They reminded me that making a meaningful impact often comes from collaboration and openness to new ideas. The Hub community continues to motivate me to dream bigger, pursue excellence, and remain curious about opportunities that extend beyond my original path. 

What support have you received through the HSBC Scholarship Program, and how has this assisted you in reaching your professional goals?

The HSBC Scholarship Program provided both financial support and an inspiring community that played an important role in my development. The scholarship allowed me to focus on my studies and pursue excellence during my training at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Beyond financial assistance, the program offered opportunities to connect with individuals from different disciplines, which broadened my perspectives and encouraged me to explore new possibilities. This support strengthened my confidence to pursue further education overseas – I later completed a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy in the UK with Distinction, carrying forward the same drive for excellence and curiosity that the scholarship inspired in me. 

In what ways do you believe the HSBC Scholarship has equipped you to make a positive impact in your community? 

I believe the HSBC Scholarship has equipped me with skills that are valuable both in the community and the workplace. I have participated in volunteering events, including working with SEN children, where I applied my collaboration and leadership skills to create inclusive and supportive experiences. These opportunities taught me how to work effectively with others, communicate clearly, and achieve shared goals that are directly transferable to professional settings. The scholarship continues to inspire me to give back, reminding me that the knowledge, skills, and support I have received can be used to empower others and make a meaningful impact. 

What current volunteer or social impact initiatives are you involved in, and how do they align with the values you embrace as an HSBC scholar?

I am currently teaching dance while promoting well-being through movement, creating an inclusive and supportive environment for local students. This initiative reflects the values I embrace as an HSBC scholar: striving for excellence while positively contributing to the community. Drawing on my background in dance and physiotherapy, I emphasize safe and mindful practices, helping students build confidence, improve their physical abilities, and enjoy the benefits of holistic well-being. For example, I recently promoted safe warm-up techniques at community events supported by the Hong Kong Association of Dance Medicine and Science. Through this work, I also strengthen my leadership and collaboration skills, empowering others while fostering personal growth.

How do you intend to apply the lessons and skills you’ve gained as an HSBC Scholar to build a more sustainable and resilient society for Hong Kong?

The journey as an HSBC Scholar has taught me the importance of resilience, curiosity, and contributing to the community. I hope to apply these lessons through my future work in physiotherapy by promoting injury prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term physical health. 

I am also passionate about bridging performing arts and healthcare, particularly by promoting safer training practices within dance communities. Through education, collaboration, and continuous learning, I hope to contribute to a society where individuals are empowered to care for their well-being and pursue their ambitions sustainably.

The post HSBC Scholar Impact Story: Bridging the Arts and Healthcare for a Resilient Community appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

On 11 April, we engaged Kevin Farley, an AI trainer and consultant, to host an informational workshop for 18 HSBC Scholars and four FSI staff on the language of Large Language Models (LLMs), why AI matters in their careers, how AI can be used in career applications, as well as the risks, integrity, and professional standards when it comes to AI applications. 

Treating AI As An Assistant

With experience in delivering AI workshops to clients in Taiwan, Canada, South Africa, and the UK, helping people save time, reduce frustration, and move from idea to AI execution faster, Kevin kickstarted the workshop by teaching HSBC Scholars and Hub for the Future community members how to set up their personal Gemini profiles, to ensure more tailored responses from Gemini as it remembers preferences and past queries as well as accessing data across Google apps. 

Mindful about AI as a powerful tool encompassing areas from work task execution to personal schedule planning, Kevin stressed the importance of treating AI as assistants or interns to augment the users’ capabilities. 

“Think about what information you would share with your interns on the first day of work,” prompted Kevin. “This could include their role in the team, what to be aware of and avoid, such as relevant policies and regulations. With the appropriate prompts and input, AI would be able to generate the information you need.”

HSBC Scholars Using A Gemini Custom AI Assistant to Refine and Review CVs

Next, Kevin demonstrated ways to create prompts for the AI to think from the perspectives of a career coach and a recruiter, in order to help HSBC Scholars and Hub members refine their own CVs. 

By providing HSBC Scholars and Hub members with a guide on writing and refining CVs, Kevin enabled them to tailor and rate the CV with the help of a “Gem” – a Gemini custom AI expert for specific tasks. 

“The prompts can provide an analysis of the CV, flag any gaps, and highlight any skills on the CV that would be helpful to proceed to the next round of assessment to a specific job application,” instructed Kevin. With Kevin’s tips on what to include and avoid when writing AI prompts, HSBC Scholars and Hub members tested out and practiced using these prompts on the CVs. 

To equip HSBC Scholars and Hub members with the AI skills for their career planning, Kevin guided them on creating personalized Gems that can be used outside of CV writing and job applications, specific to their professional needs, while highlighting that with the suitable prompts, AI can provide assistance to repetitive tasks and enhance efficiency. With that, HSBC Scholars and Hub members went on to create their own Gems and tested them out to see if they were suitable for the purpose.

Kevin also shared a prompt library with HSBC Scholars and Hub members that can be used on AI tools to avoid any hallucinations and ensure a certain level of accuracy, such as editing the original prompt, and prompting AI to ask questions to clarify on the task before proceeding to the next steps.

Concluding the workshop, Kevin introduced other useful AI tools, such as Notebook LM, Beaver, and Granola, that can be helpful to the HSBC Scholars’ personal and professional development.

An Educational AI Workshop Supporting HSBC Scholars’ Personal and Professional Growth

The AI workshop proved immensely useful for the participating HSBC Scholars and HUB members. 

Said Hubert Wong, recipient of the 2023 HSBC Hong Kong Scholarship: “I got useful tips on how to improve the effectiveness of my prompts, as the workshop provided a useful framework for prompting. My biggest takeaway was the ‘ask me first’ strategy, which forces AI to ask me clarifying questions. This improves the quality of the response and makes it more consistent with what I expect.”

“I really enjoyed the workshop because it helped me learn more about different types of AI,” said Natalie Ng, recipient of the 2022 HSBC Greater Bay Area Scholarship. “Since AI is an inevitable trend, this workshop was very meaningful.”

“I learned how to actually maximize the use of AI, and avoid common mistakes like trusting their response without any verification or without counterthinking,” said Zach Koo, recipient of the 2021 HSBC Vocational Education Scholarship. 

Said Pui Kwan Lam, recipient of the 2024 HSBC Vocational Education Scholarship: “I used to get very frustrated trying to use AI for daily tasks, but this training section taught me useful skills to use AI more efficiently now. The workshop was organized well, and the content selection is perfect. I learned a lot and feel more confident in using AI to help with job seeking.” 

As the secretariat of the HSBC Scholarship Scheme and the coordinator for Hub for the Future – a community of past and current recipients of HSBC Scholarships – Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) works to transform the Hub community into a force for good. Since July 2024, we have provided the Hub community with opportunities for mentorship, leadership development, skills acquisition, and community service activities. Learn more about our youth empowerment work here.

The post FSI Equipping HSBC Scholars with Essential AI Skills for the Workplace appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

On 15 March, 13 HSBC Scholars and Hub for the Future members participated in the inaugural Inclusive Sports Day, hosted by RunOurCity Foundation Limited and initiated by SENSportsAlliance, which looks to pool together the resources of founding member organizations to build a sustainable platform for SEN youths, to increase their confidence and realize their potential through sports, and to develop an inclusive education ecosystem.

Seeing Sports Through an Inclusive Lens for SEN Youths 

Coordinated by one of our HUB Leaders, Daniel Lee, HUB members volunteered as event helpers at the Inclusive Sports Day to provide assistance at activity booths and guide participants through games and wayfinding, while interacting with SEN youths and their families to ensure they could safely enjoy the day. 

Aiming to promote and raise public awareness on the importance of movement and sports for SEN youths and to create a safe environment for them to enjoy movement in, the Inclusive Sports Day also planted a seed for advocating for the right of every youth to enjoy movement and sports, regardless of their background and abilities.

Collectively hosted by the Alliance’s founding members – RunOutCity Foundation Limited, Zone A, Snaildy, Hong Kong Special Needs Sports Institute (HKSNSI), and HK Roller Skating School – the event featured a wide range of sports activities such as Boccia, Mölkky, Karate, Brompton Cycling, Virtual Cycling, obstacle courses, roller skating, VR Fencing, rope skipping, exergame, stretching, and mobility. 

To ensure holistic wellness, there was also a booth for Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment consultation.

In addition to sports activities, a panel discussion convened subject matter experts and academic professionals, as they weighed in and exchanged knowledge on the benefits of sports for SEN youths, with topics including the mental and physical health of people with disabilities; the importance of multi-sports; sports participation for holistic children development; making sports accessible for SEN youths with technology like AI; as well as ways to integrate a 10-minute exercise regimen into daily routines.

HSBC Scholars Witnessing Inclusion in Action

As Hong Kong’s first-ever Inclusive Sports Day concluded with success, HSBC Scholars and HUB members reflected on their participation and the event itself with gratitude and learning.

“What initially drew me to the Inclusive Sports Day was its uniqueness — an event that brings together people from diverse backgrounds to experience sports in a truly inclusive way,” said Daniel Lee, recipient of the 2021 HSBC Vocational Education Scholarship 2021 and the Hub Leader who coordinated the Hub’s participation in the event. “My connection with the organizer also made this experience personally meaningful, as it opened up potential opportunities for Hub scholars to get involved.” 

Daniel continued: “This event highlighted the growing societal support for the SEN community and how collective efforts can bring together previously dispersed resources into a more integrated support network. Beyond physical activity, it offered participants a chance for self-discovery — enabling them to build self-discipline, confidence, and self-esteem over time through positive sporting experiences. 

Equally important, it provided caregivers with a valuable opportunity to de-stress under the guidance of professionals trained in both sports and SEN education. For Hub members, the event provided a new perspective on inclusivity in sports and deepened our understanding of the SEN community. It also created a platform for ambitious scholars to connect directly with practitioners from the sports industry, opening doors for future collaborations.

From this volunteering experience, I was reminded that sports are a powerful and universal language,” said Daniel. “Whether someone is SEN or not, sports can engage people positively and bring out the best in them.”

Also finding the volunteering experience rewarding was Wendy Jian, recipient of the 2025 HSBC Greater Bay Area Scholarship. “This past Sunday, I traded my usual therapy room setting for something far more dynamic. As a SEN therapist, my work often involves structured, one-on-one sessions focused on building specific skills. So, when I volunteered at the Inclusive Sports Day, I was curious to see their philosophy of using ‘the power of running to help youth find their focus in life’ applied on such a grand, community-wide scale.

From the strategic precision of Boccia to the playful skill of Mölkky and the rhythmic joy of rope skipping, every activity was an open invitation. There were no barriers to entry, just a genuine welcome to experience the joy of movement. This, I realized, is inclusion in action. It is not just about making a sport accessible; it’s about creating a space where a young person feels empowered to simply try, to connect, and to belong.

The event reinforced a vital lesson for me: therapeutic progress doesn’t only happen in clinics. It happens on playgrounds and starting lines. It happens when families feel welcomed, when young people are seen for their potential, not their diagnosis, and when an entire community comes together to say, ‘This space is for you.’”

The post HSBC Scholars and HUB Members Volunteering Their Support at Inaugural Inclusive Sports Day appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

With the committed support and generous knowledge exchange of her mentor, Naman Tekriwal, Co-founder of Breer and long-time mentor since the inauguration of FSI’s Mentorship Program, and ICF Hong Kong Chapter coach, Sam Yu, Kaylini transformed from someone with an idea with a partial prototype to a founder with a structured plan by the end of the six-month journey. 

Read our interview with Kaylini, Naman, and Sam to find out more about why they joined FSI’s Mentorship Program as a mentee, mentor, and coach, respectively, as they celebrate the incredible growth of Kaylini as an early-stage entrepreneur as well as the resourceful FSI program and community in empowering under-resourced, ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in Hong Kong. 

How and why did you become an impact entrepreneur, Kaylini? 

Kaylini: I don’t feel like I set out to be an impact entrepreneur. 

I’m originally from South Africa, a country where food waste is considered a sin. When we moved to Asia, and now specifically Hong Kong, I observed imperfect and surplus fruit and veg at my local supermarket getting binned on a daily basis, knowing that this was being sent to landfill because it didn’t meet donation standards. 

I then started looking into the food waste statistics of Hong Kong, and the statistics were shocking. Living in a city that imports almost everything we eat because there’s not enough land to farm our own, it just didn’t reconcile. To me, this was a problem I feel could be solved. I also felt that if I was going to pour all my energy into building something from scratch, it had to matter.

Tell us about your business – its name, its vision and mission, and why it is needed in Hong Kong?

Kaylini: The business is called Upeeling – a combination of the words “upcycle”, “peel”, and “appealing”.

We turn imperfect and surplus produce (currently pineapples) into clean-label snacks, locally crafted in Hong Kong. Our first product is dehydrated pineapple partially coated in premium dark chocolate and topped with toasted coconut. Our flavor pipeline aims to celebrate authentic 

Asian tastes like: Sichuan Spice, Sesame, and Matcha.

Our mission is to divert surplus food waste from landfills by transforming it from a perishable to an upcycled product that is good for you and the planet. 

Our vision is to eliminate surplus produce food waste in Hong Kong and beyond, and be a brand rooted in Hong Kong that proves Asian flavor innovation and food waste diversion can live in one product that tastes incredible.

Upcycling is needed here because this city has a massive food waste problem, and the snacking culture is dominated by imported, over-processed options. Hong Kong imports over 95% of our food, yet we discard around 3,300 tonnes of food waste daily. Upeeling offers something that feels local, tastes indulgent, and carries a sustainability story people can feel good about without being preached at. Sustainability is a bonus; the deliciousness comes first.

Why did you join FSI’s Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs? 

Kaylini: I joined FSI’s Mentorship Program because I lacked an entrepreneurial background. 

My background is in audiology and healthcare. Although I had the idea and concept for Upeeling, I felt scattered with tasks and direction, and I didn’t know what or how to prioritize. Also, being relatively new to Hong Kong, I felt completely alone navigating this journey. I needed structure and clarity. I wanted to connect to someone who had done this before to look at my scattered thoughts and say, “Here’s what matters first. Here’s what can wait.”

Being new to Hong Kong and from an ethnically diverse background, I also craved a community with people who were also building their businesses. FSI offered that from day one.

Sam – Why did you join FSI’s Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs as an ICF Hong Kong Chapter coach? 

Sam: First of all, a big thank you to the ICF HK Chapter for lining up us coaches and the Foundation for Shared Impact. 

I have joined many NGO coaching programs in the past 10 years. This FSI Mentorship Program is the most structured one that supports ethnically diverse, under-resourced entrepreneurs. I appreciate that those entrepreneurs started their businesses not just for money but also to bring a positive ESG impact to society. Therefore, I joined without hesitation.

What was your first impression of Kaylini as your coachee? 

Sam: In our first coaching session, I found Kaylini to be an energetic person who was passionate about the business she was going to start. Most importantly, Kaylini appeared to be taking this coaching opportunity seriously. For example, she thought through a couple of questions I sent her prior to the session. From her sharing, I believed that was the outcome of deep reflection.

How has serving as a coach to an early-stage entrepreneur helped you grow as a person and a coach? 

Sam: Every coachee’s story is unique! Coaching an early-stage entrepreneur provides me with lots of “nutrition”. For example, I get to know many great ideas, the ways of thinking, how such an entrepreneur sees things, etc. These broaden my perspective and help me become a more inclusive coach.

FSI’s tripartite coach-mentee-mentor approach perfectly covers the hard and soft issues a mentee could face. 

Hard issues are the business-related, technical ones. A mentor who has solid expertise in similar business areas could provide the mentee with practical advice and shorten the mentee’s learning curve. The mentee may also come across intangible, psychological challenges, such as blind spots, lack of confidence, self-limitation, etc. I call these soft issues. A coach could support the mentee to build self-awareness and figure out the solution to break through.

Naman – What was your first impression of Kaylini as your mentee? 

Naman: My first impression of Kaylini was that she had a lot of fire in her. She came prepared, took notes throughout our sessions, and had a very clear sense of conviction about what she was building with Upeeling. 

What struck me most was her personality. She is eccentric in the best way possible, and that came through right from the start. She had her own way of seeing the world and her own way of doing things. I knew pretty early on that she was not going to be the kind of mentee who simply nods along and follows instructions to the letter, and honestly, that made me even more excited to work with her. 

There was also something really refreshing about how she approached every challenge head-on rather than shying away from it. That combination of ambition, curiosity, and a willingness to take on hard things told me a lot about who she was going to be as an entrepreneur.

Kaylini – What are the things that you did not imagine you could do but have now become possible due to your experience of the Mentorship Program? 

Kaylini: Two things stand out. First, I didn’t imagine I would be able to articulate and plan my business model with such clarity to people who aren’t in my head. My mentor, Naman [Tekriwal], pushed me to simplify and get the messaging right when talking about Upeeling, so that someone can nod and say, “I get it” within 30 seconds. That felt impossible before, and now I’ve pitched confidently to startup program panels and commercial partners. 

Second, I didn’t imagine I would have the courage to treat the business as a real, serious venture rather than a side project. The FSI program created accountability structures that forced me to stop treating Upeeling like a “one-day dream” and start acting like a founder with a timeline, production plan, and unit economics. 

Within weeks of completing FSI’s Mentorship Program, I went on to complete the Hong Kong Jockey Club Social Innovation Global Launchpad, and now I’m entering the HKSTP Ideation Programme in May. That momentum started with the FSI Mentorship Program.

Naman – What knowledge and expertise did you share with Kaylini as a fellow entrepreneur focusing on repurposing food waste? 

Naman: Having co-founded Breer, I was able to share a very direct and lived experience with Kaylini rather than just textbook advice. 

We talked through the real challenges of building in the sustainability space, from finding the right go-to-market approach, to working with food waste supply chains, to figuring out how to communicate value in a way that actually lands with consumers and potential partners. I shared both the strategic thinking I would have applied and the mistakes I personally made along the way, because I think the mistakes are often more useful than the wins. 

What made our dynamics particularly interesting was that Kaylini would sometimes take my guidance, go in her own direction based on what she believed in, and then come back having discovered through firsthand experience what I had tried to point her toward. It was one of those moments where I could have said, “I told you so!” but instead it was just great to see her learn it in her own way, because that kind of learning sticks.

Kaylini – What were the milestones you were able to achieve, as a person and an entrepreneur, as a result of the support of your mentor and coach?

Kaylini: As an entrepreneur, I moved from “idea with a partial prototype” to founder with a structured plan. With the help of Naman, a mentor who has literally walked this path, he helped me hone in on the details and taught me to prioritize. 

Through this, I created my core recipe, did market research with 200+ samples and feedback, finalized packaging design, ordered our first minimum order quantity (MOQ), secured our first shared commercial kitchen space with a food factory licence, sent our prototype for nutritional analysis, and built a milestone-based roadmap. 

Even more tangibly, I completed the HKJC Social Innovation Global Launchpad program and secured a place in the HKSTP Ideation Programme, both of which felt like distant goals when I first joined FSI.

As a person, I learned to trust my transferable skills. I spent years thinking my audiology background was a strange detour from entrepreneurship, but my coach Sam [Yu], helped me reframe it as my superpower: diagnostic thinking, active listening, building trust with people, designing protocols. 

With the help of my mentor and my coach, I learned the power of ask. So often during this process, I had times where I didn’t reach out for help when I should have, thinking I should have known this myself or I could have figured it out, but this is the precious moment when you need to put your own internal thoughts aside and decide to reach out for help or advice. 

I stopped apologizing for my non-traditional path and started owning it. I also became far more comfortable with imperfection. I used to need everything figured out before I would act. That it needed to be perfect, but truly, nothing will be perfect the first time. Now I operate in “progress over perfection” mode without any shame.

Sam – How would you describe Kaylini’s growth in the six-month journey? 

Sam: Kaylini demonstrated strong learning agility, which means she rapidly learned from experience and effectively applied the learning to deal with new challenges. Throughout the coaching journey, she became more confident and increasingly believed in herself. She changed her perspective and dared to ask for advice and support. These are critical qualities for a young entrepreneur. 

Naman – How would you describe Kaylini’s growth in the six-month journey? 

Naman: Kaylini’s growth over these six months was genuinely impressive to watch. She came in with a lot of ambition and raw energy, and over time, she developed real structure and discipline in how she approached her business and her learning. 

She always showed up with her homework done and her questions ready, which told me she was treating every single session as a real investment rather than just another calendar slot. She was not waiting for me to lead the conversation. She was driving it. 

What I am most proud of is seeing her get accepted into multiple programs during this journey, alongside building Upeeling and her attempt to be active on all social media platforms. That does not happen by accident. That is a reflection of how seriously she took her growth and how she put herself out there consistently. She also got better at something that is genuinely hard, which is learning not just from guidance but from her own decisions, including the ones that did not go as planned. Watching her close that loop on her own was one of the highlights of the journey for me.

Kaylini – Were there any memorable moments for you as a mentee entrepreneur of the program?

Kaylini: For me, doing the goal-setting plan and timeline with my mentor was a powerful moment, because it truly felt like I was creating the action plan to bring this concept to life. 

My other favorite and most memorable parts of the program have been the group learning sessions we had together as a cohort. I looked forward to our Saturday morning sessions, as every week I got the opportunity to meet and connect with fellow mentees and hear their wins, challenges, and feed off their energy and enthusiasm, which truly has been a highlight for me and this program. 

Describe the support that FSI offers to you as an early-stage entrepreneur beyond the Mentorship Program? 

Kaylini: FSI’s support hasn’t stopped. They have continued creating visibility for us, like this interview, which helps me reflect on our brand journey and founder story. 

FSI has been incredible in creating many opportunities for upskilling and learning for new entrepreneurs, like the legal contract and pitching workshops with their partners. 

Their website also has a wealth of resources for entrepreneurs, but it’s truly the people in the organization that are the greatest resource. Knowing there’s a community that wants to amplify us and what we are building gives me confidence when I walk into rooms where I might be the only founder who looks like me. Isolation has turned into connection, and that matters in this stage.

What’s next for Kaylini Naidoo and Upeeling?

Kaylini: I officially entered the HKSTP Ideation Programme in May. Q2 and Q3 are all about market validation: Completing my first-batch production run, and launching pop-up tastings in corporate and co-working spaces, paired with educational moments about food waste and better-for-you snacking. The goal is to secure my first two to three paid B2B pilot partners and start gathering real willingness-to-pay data. 

I’m also laying the groundwork for a soft Direct-to-Consumer launch. In the longer term, it’s about the HKSTP Incubation Programme and scaling production. I have got my hands full, but the ability to learn and grow every single day is truly something I wouldn’t change.

Will you continue to stay connected with and contribute to the FSI community? Why or why not? How?

Kaylini: Yes, without hesitation. I plan to stay connected by sharing my progress milestones so the FSI team can see the downstream impact of their work, and by showing up, virtually or in person, for future cohorts who might be exactly where I was six months ago. 

As Upeeling grows, I hope to return as a mentor or speaker to share my skill sets and the learnings from this entrepreneurial journey. Representation isn’t just seeing someone succeed; it’s seeing someone with a story that echoes your own. If I can be proof that this path is possible, I want to be that for someone else.

What advice would you give to people who are looking to start their own impact business? 

Kaylini: Start before you are ready. I didn’t have everything figured out when I made my first batch of pineapple bites in my home kitchen. I didn’t have suppliers lined up, a food licence, or packaging designed. But I started.

The second thing: find your people. Entrepreneurship is glorified as this solo hero’s journey, but it’s not. It’s lonely and hard, and you need mentors, coaches, and peers who believe in you before you believe in yourself. That’s what FSI gave me.

And finally, impact doesn’t require perfection. My brand is not perfect; there is a lot I still need to figure out. But I’m honest about it, and I’m moving forward. Progress, not perfection. That’s my current mantra.

Would you recommend FSI’s Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs to others – fellow early-stage entrepreneurs, seasoned entrepreneurs, and coaches? Why or why not? 

Kaylini: Absolutely! If you are an aspiring entrepreneur or early-stage founder in Hong Kong, this program is designed for you. It understands the challenges you face, the network and skill gaps, and the impostor syndrome. It’s good business support. You get a mentor who has walked the path, a coach who strengthens your mindset, and a community that celebrates your wins like their own. I came in feeling scattered and alone. I’m leaving with clarity, confidence, and genuine friendships. It’s been an incredibly successful experience for me.

Naman: Yes, and I would recommend it to both aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs without hesitation. 

For aspiring entrepreneurs, this program gives you access to people who have genuinely been through the grind of building a company, and that kind of guidance is hard to find and incredibly valuable in the early stages when you need both practical advice and someone in your corner. You are not just getting theory here. You are getting real experience from people who have made the mistakes, so you do not have to repeat all of them. 

For experienced entrepreneurs, it is a genuine opportunity to give back, to stay connected to the energy and hunger of early-stage building, and to keep growing through the mentoring relationship itself because you learn more than you expect. 

FSI has built something rare with this program. It is not just another networking event or a series of workshops that feel disconnected from reality. It actually creates impact on the ground and has real success stories to show for it. My simple recommendation is to come, join, learn, and grow. You will not regret it.

Sam: Definitely, yes. To the potential mentees who have great ideas and passion, the FSI Mentorship Program, which has fruitful resources, is a great platform to back you up, just like you are jumpstarting from a giant’s shoulder. What you need to do is dare to dream! 

I also encourage experienced young entrepreneurs to join as mentors. Your expertise and success (and also failure) stories serve as a lighthouse to the mentees. This is also your practical way to contribute to society. I believe you will get paid back more than you give away.

Naman – At FSI, we truly appreciate the time and effort you put into mentoring the mentee entrepreneursof our Mentorship Program throughout the past years. What makes you keep coming back as a mentor? How has mentoring early-stage or aspiring entrepreneurs helped you grow as a person and entrepreneur? 

I keep coming back for a few reasons. At the most personal level, this is my way of giving back to a community that gave me a lot when I was building Breer. 

But honestly, beyond the giving back part, this is one of the very few spaces where I get to relive the zero-to-one journey of building a startup, every single time, through completely fresh eyes and new experiences. Every mentee brings a different context, a different set of challenges, and a different way of thinking, and that keeps me on my toes in ways I did not expect when I first joined as a mentor. 

I also deeply value the fact that mentorship is never one-directional. I always walk away from these six months having learned something from my mentee, and I think that mutual learning is something really special about this format. And then there is FSI itself. This is genuinely one of the only programs I have come across that creates real, tangible, on-the-ground impact and has given birth to so many success stories over the years. That track record and that community are a big part of what keeps pulling me back each cohort.

The post FSI Mentorship Program: Leveraging Cross-sector Collaboration to Empower This Entrepreneur to Turn Food Waste into Healthy Snacks appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

Charities in Hong Kong: Section 88 Tax Exemption Status and Related Matters

If your charitable organization holds tax exemption status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, it is important to be aware of the ongoing compliance requirements that must be fulfilled to maintain that status. In addition, a charity’s Section 88 status does not guarantee that all of its income will be tax-exempt, so it is important to understand the specific conditions for tax exemption before embarking on revenue-generating activities.  

With the contribution from Ernst & Young (EY), PILnet has created a practical guide on these topics, covering the ongoing compliance requirements for Section 88 organizations (e.g. notification and reporting obligations owed to the Inland Revenue Department), the conditions for income to be tax-exempt, and practical tips for charitable organizations. 

powered by Advanced iFrame

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On 13 April, the 2026 Spring cohort of Impact Lab students gathered for the final seminar focusing on systems change. Building on previous sessions around impact-driven entrepreneurship and learning from failure, this seminar encouraged students to shift their perspective from solving individual problems to understanding the broader systems that shape them. The session opened with a thought-provoking question:

If you had access to a time machine, would you choose to live in another period of time?

While it seemed simple, this question prompted students to reflect on how societies evolve as well as how the systems we live in today, from education and technology to finance and capitalism, are shaped by historical decisions, constraints, and collective behaviors.

When Systems Are Tested

To understand how systems change, the seminar explored moments in history where existing structures were disrupted.

One example examined the 1967 Hong Kong riots, a period marked by violence and instability, where over 1,500 bombs were placed across the city, including in everyday objects. This moment highlighted how fragile systems can become under extreme pressure and how social, political, and economic forces are interconnected.

Another example examined how Singapore responded after separating from Malaysia, particularly in securing its water supply. Faced with uncertainty, Singapore developed independent systems to reduce reliance on external resources, showing how constraints can drive long-term structural innovation.

Students also reflected on Hong Kong’s economic growth since the 1960s, recognizing that while GDP has increased significantly, this has not always translated into social innovation or a willingness to take risks.

Systems Change in Practice

The discussion then shifted to one of the most well-known examples of systems change: the US Civil Rights Movement.

Students explored how systemic inequality was not only maintained through laws and policies but also through deeply embedded mental models: the beliefs that shape how people think and act. Through collective action and sustained dialogue, the Civil Rights Movement demonstrated that meaningful change requires not only policy reform but also a transformation in how society understands fairness, access, and equality.

Understanding Systems in Hong Kong

To apply these ideas, students examined a real-world issue closer to home: housing in Hong Kong.

The discussion revealed that systems are shaped not only by policies and structures, but also by mental models. One of the dominant beliefs identified was that property ownership is one of the most important and reliable forms of investment. This perception continues to drive high demand and influence market behaviour.

At the same time, several structural factors reinforce the system:

• Only around 25% of Hong Kong’s land is developed
• Approximately 45% of the population lives in government housing, with long-term targets aiming higher
• Government revenue is partially linked to real estate activity, creating complex and sometimes conflicting incentives

Students also discussed how housing supply is concentrated in specific areas, further intensifying demand and limiting accessibility. These interconnected elements highlighted how policies, incentives, and public perception interact, making systemic challenges difficult to address through isolated solutions.

Tackling Problems at the Root Causes

A key takeaway from the seminar was that systems operate on multiple levels. While policies and regulations shape outcomes, bigger change often requires addressing the beliefs and assumptions that sustain these systems in the first place. Students were encouraged to think about root causes, rather than symptoms, and to recognize that meaningful change often requires collective effort and long-term thinking.

In one discussion, the idea of collective action emerged as important, as without open dialogue and collaboration, systems tend to remain unchanged. However, when individuals and communities come together, they can challenge existing structures and drive transformation.

Empowering Youth to Envision and Drive Collective, Long-term Impact

As the last one of the Impact Lab series, the seminar on systems change marked an important conclusion to the students’ learning journey. Rather than focusing only on building solutions, students were encouraged to ask broader questions:

What systems shape the problems we are trying to solve?
And how can we begin to change them?

By understanding how systems function and where their constraints lie, students are better equipped to design solutions that are not only innovative but also sustainable and impactful.

Entrepreneurship does not happen in isolation. It exists within systems that influence access to resources, opportunities, and outcomes.

By exploring how these systems are formed, maintained, and transformed, the Impact Lab seminar empowered students to think beyond individual success and towards collective, long-term impact.

In many ways, systems change begins with a shift in mindset – from working within the system to questioning how it can be improved. 

*This blog post was drafted by Sofia Becerra Liang, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Spring 2026 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

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Spanning from February to April 2026, four ethnically diverse youths were matched with ethnically diverse micro and small businesses, including restaurants, grocery shops, and small traders, based on their interests and language or cultural fit. 

From providing ethnically diverse entrepreneurs with support in branding, design, digital marketing, and community outreach, the interns were tasked with increasing the visibility and professionalism of the businesses that they were matched with, while introducing FSI’s Project GuideFong and Google Business listings to neighborhoods like Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai.

Meet the 2026 Spring Cohort of CBI Interns 

Comprising ethnically diverse youths who grew up and studied in Hong Kong and speak multiple languages native to the ethnically diverse communities, the Spring 2026 cohort enriched the program experience with a mix of academic backgrounds (e.g., education, social work, and social science) and lived experiences in neighborhoods like Jordan, Yuen Long, and Tin Shui Wai. 

Before reading about the youths’ internship experience and the impact they created, meet them here:

Gurung Bharosa 

• Ethnicity: Nepalese, born and raised in Hong Kong
• Education: Year 3 student at The Education University of Hong Kong, studying English with the goal of becoming an English teacher.
• Self-intro: Her motivation comes from childhood experiences of not being understood when she could only speak her native language, which showed her how limiting language barriers can be. She brings strengths in writing, community engagement, and cultural sensitivity, and hopes to develop project management, social entrepreneurship, and leadership skills. In the long term, she aims to empower ethnically diverse communities by helping them build confidence and reach through language.

Khan Soha

• Ethnicity: Pakistani, raised in Hong Kong
• Education: Year 2 social science student at HKU SPACE Community College.
• Self-intro: A social science student passionate about social issues and community engagement. She brings skills in graphic design, social media marketing, writing, photography, and research on social problems, and is curious about social entrepreneurship and community projects. As a side goal, she hopes to build her own website on social needs, and sees this internship as an eye‑opening way to explore community‑driven change.

Hajira Batool 

• Ethnicity: Pakistani, born and raised in Hong Kong
• Education: Currently a Year 1 social work student at The University of Hong Kong.
• Self-intro: Hajira loves reading, journaling, cycling, and hiking. She works part‑time at an NGO, where she organizes activities and handles admin, and has already completed two internships, including a previous FSI Community Business Internship in summer 2024. She brings experience in community engagement, writing, public speaking, photography, videography, and project management, and is eager to deepen her skills in marketing, entrepreneurship, and leadership while giving back to ethnically diverse communities. She is motivated by “helping and giving back to the community so that they can thrive in what they do,” and sees CBI as a way to deepen both her professional skills and her connection to ethnically diverse businesses through the lens of a prospective social worker.

Olly Carter Manson

• Ethnicity: Mixed Ethnicity – Chinese and British, born and raised in Hong Kong
• Education: Year 1 student in a foundation program at HKU SPACE Po Leung Kuk, at an early stage of his tertiary journey.
• Self-intro: Very devoted to helping all communities in Hong Kong, with personal interests in gaming and sailing alongside community work. Brings and wants to deepen skills in public speaking, social entrepreneurship, cultural sensitivity, and community engagement, and is eager to grow in leadership and business consulting.

CBI Program: Empowering Ethnically Diverse Youths to Clarify Career Interests by Supporting Under-resourced Entrepreneurs

Describing themselves as still early in their respective professional journeys and unsure how to work with business clients at the beginning of the CBI Program, the four interns were nonetheless enthusiastic about supporting ethnically diverse small businesses, especially those that are lesser known or under‑recognized, by gaining an in-depth understanding of the challenges facing the business owners.

With preliminary skills in communication, graphic design, social media content creation, and research, the ethnically diverse youths were looking to improve existing skills and learn new skills through listing new businesses to the GuideFong Directory, engaging with business owners, and providing bespoke support such as digital branding. Through the experiential learning internship, they also hoped to clarify career interests in marketing, community engagement, social entrepreneurship, and design.  

Serving as business consultants, the interns had conversations with ethnically diverse business owners about pricing, customer flows, scams, location issues, and renovation costs etc., to gain a more realistic understanding of their operating environment and challenges. 

The interns then translated these insights into practical actions: listing businesses on the GuideFong Directory, creating Google profiles for the businesses, improving visual communication, and creating content for outreach. 

With their work outputs, the interns were able to increase the online and offline visibility of participating ethnically diverse businesses, allowing them to reach new and more diverse customers. 

Collectively, the four ethnically diverse youth interns: 

• Participated in five in‑person outreach visits to ethnically diverse micro and small businesses in districts such as Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai, identifying new “hidden” shops for direct business support.
• Added 15 new ethnically diverse-owned businesses to the GuideFong Directory.
• Created two new or improved Google profiles for selected ethnically diverse‑owned businesses, increasing their visibility in local search and map results.
  • KebabIx
  • Zaitun
• Designed and improved three menus and leaflets for ethnically diverse-owned businesses, including a polished Cantonese menu and leaflet for Shalimar Indian Restaurant and updated menus for other restaurants and shops.
• Developed logos and other brand identity elements for one new small business, giving them clearer, more professional visual identities.
• Created two business card designs and other marketing materials for selected businesses, making it easier for the business owners to share their contact details and brand with customers.
• Curated four social media‑ready content (reels, posts, templates) to showcase ethnically diverse-owned businesses and supported ongoing digital promotion on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

Measurable Personal and Professional Growth for Ethnically Diverse Youths 

While the interns entered the CBI Program with ambivalence about their employability, they rated their employability at 7 to 8 out of 10 by the end of the program, simultaneously reporting significant skills gain in stakeholder communication and outreach, confidence (especially among more introverted youth), branding, graphic design, using digital tools, storytelling, copywriting, and social media content creation.

“I’m happy with how I have been thoroughly pushed out of my comfort zone when going on outreach sessions,” said Gurung Bharosa. “Usually, I would keep talking to strangers at a minimum, but during this time, I was properly challenged to do an in-person version of cold calling. Undoubtedly terrifying, but also undeniably useful.” 

Crediting the CBI Program as a way to gain consulting‑style experience and a portfolio of real‑world outputs, the interns gained a thorough understanding of the ethnically diverse business ecosystem and the challenges facing entrepreneurs, including fierce competition and the pressure to keep prices low, lack of online presence and marketing capacity, heavy emotional and physical labor, falling victim to scams, and various hidden operational costs. 

Said Hajira Batool: “One key takeaway would be that reconnecting with my community through helping them is always going to be an enlightening experience for me, as not only do I get to know more about those ethnically diverse businesses, but I also assist them to help their businesses grow.” 

An Empowerment Program Equipping Youth with Community-based Experiences and Essential Skills

With real work experiences and a work portfolio under their belt, all four interns said they would recommend the CBI Program to their friends, especially to youth seeking hands‑on, community‑based experience and ways to build soft skills (teamwork, confidence, communication) that are otherwise hard to acquire or practise.

“During the internship, I improved my soft skills, including communication and confidence,” said Hajira Batool. “As I’m more of an introverted person, this internship allowed me to communicate with business owners and ask them questions about their business. I recommended this internship to my friend and we both joined this cohort. In the future, I would also like to recommend it to more of my friends, since I believe it is a great way to learn soft skills, such as teamwork, confidence, and communication.”

“I would recommend this program to others,” said Khan Soha. “I think it is a great way to learn and engage with the community and gain relevant skills related to business development and marketing. It’s also a way to meet and network with new people.” The impact we create to empower disadvantaged youth would not have been possible without the dedicated support of funders and skilled volunteers. If you would like to support our youth empowerment initiatives by engaging your employees or leveraging your professional skills and expertise, get in touch with us at info@shared-impact.com!  

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With the funding support of the Hong Kong Club Foundation, we were able to inaugurate our Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs in 2022, to empower Hong Kong’s under-resourced, ethnically diverse entrepreneurs to build capacity, develop personal and professional skills, and scale their businesses through high-quality mentoring and coaching, and thoughtfully curated training, seminars, and workshops. 

Our Mentorship Program has since become a widely acclaimed entrepreneur empowerment program in Hong Kong, with seasoned and aspiring entrepreneurs alike calling it the go-to initiative for hands-on entrepreneurial support, crediting it for growing and scaling their businesses in ways they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do. 

The compassionate, robust, and reciprocal entrepreneurial community we intended in the first year of the program has also grown as planned into a thriving circle of mutually beneficial knowledge exchange and mutual aid. 

The spirit of paying it forward to expand our shared impact is manifested in former mentees returning to the program to serve as mentors, such as Jerwine Que and Maryam Khan, the latter also running a digital marketing workshop for program participants; seasoned entrepreneurs generously sharing their knowledge and expertise with early-stage or aspiring entrepreneurs through mentorship, such as Naman Tekriwal, Innocent Mutanga, and Wilson Tai; and the ICF Hong Kong Chapter coaches who return year after year to volunteer their invaluable coaching service to help ethnically diverse entrepreneurs grow personally and professionally, such as Cynthia Lai, Philbert Chin, Mag Wong, John Azzo, Pam Birkett, and Hamid Naseem. 

How Trust-based Philanthropy and Broad Collaboration Drives Long-term Impact

With the funding support from not just the Hong Kong Club Foundation but also the Drs Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation, the fourth iteration of our Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs matched 11 mentees with 10 mentors and 10 ICF Hong Kong Chapter coaches in September 2025, with the aim of empowering another cohort of under-resourced ethnically diverse entrepreneurs to build impactful community businesses that drive sustainability, community resilience, and social and economic inclusion in Hong Kong.

By facilitating broad cross-sector collaboration and free sharing of knowledge, information, and resources, we were able to support the mentee entrepreneurs through 85+ hours of direct mentorship, 51+ hours of individual coaching, and eight cohort-wide workshops that benefited 153 participants, including 15 members of the FSI community outside of the cohort.

An Effective Program Enabling Personal and Business Growth

Similar to previous years, the 2025-26 Mentorship Program garnered a high satisfaction rate from participants, who gave an average rating of 4.76 out of 5 for overall satisfaction, and 4.37 out of 5 for the relevancy and usefulness of the program’s training workshops and support. 

The growth of mentee entrepreneurs and their businesses has witnessed noticeable improvements as a result of the program. While 50% of mentees entered the program with just a business idea, all 11 mentees have progressed to either prototypes, pilots, or revenue-generating activities by the end of the program in March 2026. Additionally, the number of mentee entrepreneurs who described their businesses as financially sustainable increased from one at the beginning of the program to five by the end of it. 

Incidentally, whereas 70% of mentee entrepreneurs struggled to find a sense of connectivity and belonging to the entrepreneurial ecosystem at the beginning, the percentage dropped to 20% by the end of the program, with 80% of mentees now feeling “somewhat” or “very” connected to the ecosystem. 

Amongst the business aspects that mentees thought they had gained the most knowledge on are personal development and growth (80%), mental resilience (60%), and pitching and storytelling (60%) – all essential to the development of the entrepreneurs and their businesses in the long run. 

Said Anita Jaho, Founder of AFRIKA Kitchen ( Heritage Essence Company Limited): “The program helps me to understand how to measure where I am right now in my entrepreneurial journey, and it also helps me to get this community that I have always needed.”

“As a result of the Mentorship Program, I was able to successfully register my business, develop confidence and skills to navigate challenges, complete my rebranding, run workshops, and systemize production and inventory management,” said Nisreen Muchhala, Founder of Nourish Vibes. 

Also crediting the program for building confidence to navigate challenges is Rabia Aslam, who described the six-month journey as “transformative and empowering”. “Through the program, I gained a deeper understanding of my goals and refined my strategic approach to achieving them. This clarity has helped me prioritize effectively and align my efforts with long-term objectives. The mentorship experience significantly enhanced my confidence to navigate challenges and embrace opportunities. I have developed a growth-oriented mindset, allowing me to view obstacles as learning opportunities and approach problem-solving with resilience. I also acquired valuable insights and skills in areas like decision-making, leadership, and effective communication, which have had a lasting impact on both my personal and professional growth. These learnings will continue to guide me in future endeavors.”

“Because of the Mentorship Program, I was able to validate my business concept and distribute 200+ sample packs of my products to diverse demographics in Hong Kong, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback on taste and the upcycling concept,” said Kaylini Naidoo, Founder of Upeeling. “I also developed the product foundation by completing essential R&D. I was able to build a strategic network by connecting with industry peers, potential collaborators, and fellow entrepreneurs through internal and external FSI events, gaining invaluable advice on key fundamentals in building a business and brand.”

Also leveraging business as a solution to waste reduction is Junimay Cortes, Founder of Revamp Hong Kong. “In the past six months, I made connections and collaborated with other small businesses. I gave back to the community by supporting charities and organizations, such as those supporting the Tai Po Fire relief efforts, the International Care Ministries, and the Refugee Union. I learned that consistency is key. As long as you keep showing up and you schedule what needs to be done, there will be progress, no matter how small it seems.”

A Testament to the Power of Shared Impact in Driving Systems Change

As an experienced designer and provider of mutually beneficial experiences, we know that mentee entrepreneurs are by no means the only beneficiaries of our Mentorship Program. From the mentors and coaches, we learned the areas where they felt they were able to make the most effective contributions: process optimization, pitching and storytelling, and communication skills. 

Perhaps one of the most resounding affirmations of the effectiveness and success of our Mentorship Program is this: 100% of mentees, mentors, and coaches said that they would absolutely recommend the program to others, and continue to engage with and give back to the FSI community. Moreover, 93.3% of mentees, mentors, and coaches agreed that FSI has created a safe space for under-resourced, ethnically diverse entrepreneurs to support each other’s growth.

This is more than just a unanimous recognition of the impactful work we do at FSI; it is also a testament to the power of shared impact in driving systems change.  

FSI Entrepreneurial Community: Uplifting Hong Kong’s Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs Through Shared Impact

When we asked mentees, mentors, and coaches of the 2025-26 cohort to reflect on their respective experiences of the six-month journey, one theme inevitably emerged: the invaluable power of community.

Indeed, the sheer amount of impact we created in empowering under-resourced entrepreneurs through the Mentorship Program and other FSI initiatives wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated support of funders like the Hong Kong Club Foundation and Drs Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation; mission-aligned partners such as FundFluent, ICF Hong Kong Chapter, Africa Center Hong Kong, the Hive Hong Kong, Johnson Stokes & Master, Linklaters, PayPal, and more; and the event coordination and communication support provided by Impact Lab Course interns working with FSI’s Community Business Support and Communications and Marketing teams.

Said Rabia Aslam: “My biggest takeaway from joining the Mentorship Program since September 2025 has been the value of being part of a community of like-minded individuals — people who are genuinely eager to turn their ideas into real-life, impactful products and solutions. Being surrounded by that energy and ambition has been incredibly motivating, and it has shifted my mindset from simply thinking about ideas to actively working toward making them happen. Through the program, I gained the clarity, confidence, and practical steps needed to start shaping it into something real. The combination of mentorship support and community encouragement has been exactly what I needed to transition from ideation to execution.”

“Entrepreneurship can be a lonely island,” said Jerome Bautista, Co-founder of Sacred Space Therapy and Wellness. “There is so much to do and learn, and you can easily be overwhelmed. Having a supportive community has really solidified my belief that community is a strength and that building community is a gift. I am so grateful to have a community to lean on.”

“I’m in awe of the community, which is so strong and supportive!” said Ruth Benny, Director of Top Schools Ltd and mentor to Latha Chandrakant, Founder of Minmini Early Learning Solutions. “If only I’d had this when I was starting out. It’s been a very worthwhile experience, and I have become fully emotionally invested in my mentee’s fledgling business.”

The worthiness of sharing knowledge and experiences as a mentor is echoed by Wilson Tai, Co-founder and COO of FundFluent, a third-time program mentor and mission-aligned partner of FSI, who has been supporting FSI’s mentee entrepreneurs since our inaugural Mentorship Program. “Since joining the program as a mentor, my biggest takeaway has been how valuable this community is in bringing together people who are genuinely willing to share experiences and support each other. Mentoring also reinforced for me that structured, consistent conversations can make a real difference for mentees, even when it is simply providing a sounding board and practical perspectives.”

“My biggest takeaway is: how immensely useful this community is in helping early-stage entrepreneurs!” said Deepti Mehra, an ICF Hong Kong Chapter coach who supported Latha Chandrakant. “Connecting with people in the same boat, having the support of coaches and mentors, can make a world of difference for mentee entrepreneurs to move ahead with their ideas and dreams!”

Get Involved

To quote Philbert Chin, serving as a coach for the second year, supporting Jerome Bautista for the 2025-26 program, “The noticeable improvement of the program was incorporating feedback from previous years to help fine-tune the assistance delivered and valued by the entrepreneurs.” 

As we continue to enhance our program design and offerings by gauging and incorporating participants’ feedback, our doors are open to individuals or organizations interested in sponsoring our Mentorship Program or other Community Business Support initiatives, designed to build equity, sustainability, and resilience in the long-term development and growth of the Hong Kong society. 
Email us at cbs@shared-impact.com or drop by our office near the HKU MTR Station to explore ways to leverage each other’s strengths to create greater shared impact for Hong Kong.

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