Kenneth She recommends you should skip the corporate world and be an entrepreneur from the outset. He joined Uber HK after a starting out in finance.
What’s your story?
I was the first member of Uber Hong Kong. I’ve been really fortunate to be able to build the business from the ground up. We were just a team of three back in 2014 and now the Hong Kong office has close to fifty people. Before Uber, I was an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, then CLSA, covering real estate and the gaming industry.
What excites you most about your industry?
Thinking of ways to help my fellow Hong Kongers get where they want to go comfortably and efficiently is an exciting task. It’s been really exciting to see how people in HK are starting to embrace the on-demand ridesharing experience as part of their transport option mix and how that is gradually changing the way they live.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I was born and raised in HK. After graduating from university in the UK, I returned to HK to start my career in finance and then Uber.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
My hometown Hong Kong, hands down. It’s not just that it features one of the lowest tax rates in Asia, you also enjoy one of the most diverse and talented mix of the expatriates from all over the world and local Hong Kongers. And the food is incredible.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
“The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man’s foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.”
Who inspires you?
My mother. She migrated from China to Hong Kong when she was 18 and took her first English lesson at the age of 20. She is now a retired English and Mandarin teacher.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
We’ve got over 200 women drivers on the Uber platform in HK! (And what’s more – we target to triple that amount by the end of 2016!)
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Skip banking. Join Uber straight away after finishing school.
How do you unwind?
I play the piano and guitar. I had my own band and we once did a movie soundtrack that sold quite well a few years ago!
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Bangkok – the food, spa, people, night markets, all are simply unbeatable.
Everyone in business should read this book:
How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lownes
Shameless plug for your business:
Want a Tesla ride for less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee? Use Uber.
How can people connect with you?
hk.linkedin.com/in/kennethshe
Twitter handle?
@kenneth_she
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This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:
Callum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries. He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence. A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.
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