Zoe Creates Profitable Corporate Events & Helps Businesses Expand
What’s your story?
Curating projects from zero to one and making them sustainable has been my passion. This has led me to follow an entrepreneurial path throughout my career from being a founder of a startup to helping corporates curate new projects and expand businesses to new regions.
I worked in the media and event industry as a sponsorship sales manager where I pioneered a new business line in Hong Kong. In 2017, life brought me to Turkey, and since then, I have embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by founding my own company, Silk Hawk.
My goal is to empower businesses to grow faster and further afield. I help these fast-growing organizations establish the right connections and build business pipelines as part of their expansion plan. One of our main approaches is to help companies transform their thought-leadership events into sustainable and profitable marketing initiatives using our co-creation event initiative.
We are the catalyst to connect great people and businesses by creating meaningful connections. This begins with a conversation to understand the story behind the people and their business aspirations.
What excites you most about your industry?
2020 is truly a water-shed moment for the event industry. For many years, the event industry has been undergoing slow progress towards digital transformation. Though the pandemic has brought many event organizers to its knees, I believe the tectonic shift is indeed a fast-track to new opportunities in building the future of events.
What is your connection to Asia?
I grew up in Hong Kong and still proudly call Hong Kong my home. The conferences I produce are all in the APAC region and that makes me feel even closer to Asia, even though I now spend more time in Turkey with my family.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Greater Bay Area in China. This 1% of land contributing to 12% of China’s economy is full of opportunities and diversity. The GBA region offers the convenience of providing access to major cities and commercial hubs, all within only 3 hours of each other, reaching 70 million people with diverse backgrounds. It is definitely an ideal place to start a business.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Never overlook the power of a small beginning.
Who inspires you?
I am inspired by my mentor, Mr. Ivan Yong. He has been enlightening me about the right mindset of an entrepreneur, listening to my problems, and giving me advice and opportunities to move my entrepreneurship journey forward.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
Other than businesses that are directly related to the survival or basic needs of a person, nothing is truly reliable. Before the pandemic, we all thought that aviation and tourism were strong and that nothing could affect their existence. But, a pandemic has totally disrupted those industries. I think all business leaders need to think about how to build a business that is tied to the basic needs of humans so that even the most disruptive events cannot wipe out the entire company.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I would still choose the same path and do the same things. I believe the steps I have taken and the path I have chosen has reflected my character, which has led me to where I am today. So, I couldn’t imagine what I would do differently.
How do you unwind?
Spending time taking a walk in nature with my husband and son is most enjoyable. As a mompreneur, I always have to find time to work on my two kids, meaning my business and my son. I think time spent on building up the business has taken most of my time and energy. So, when it comes time for family, even simply taking a walk beside the lake are some of the most unwinding moments I can have.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Nepal. Nepal is the best place, not only for scenery, but also for spiritual enlightenment. I once visited a suburb around Kathmandu for a meditation retreat for two weeks. Surrounded by spectacular mountains and greens, it could be the best spiritual quick-fix for the unsettled minds of entrepreneurs.
Everyone in business should read this book:
“Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential For Lasting Fulfillment,” by Martin E. P. Seligman, PhD.
In business, people are always the greatest asset to help the organisation grow. Unlike three decades ago, people nowadays work not merely only for money but also for a meaningful, good life. I believe this book could provide a starting point and guidance to help business leaders align their employees’ personal aspirations with commercial outcomes.
Shameless plug for your business:
Corporate events are undergoing a revolution now. Corporate events should no longer be doomed as a cost-centre. Silk Hawk partners with you to co-pave the path to success by transforming your events into self-sustainable and profitable initiatives that contribute to company revenue while at the same time polishing your brand.
How can people connect with you?
I welcome connections on LinkedIn.
Social Media Links?
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To hear how entrepreneurs around the world overcome their challenges, search your favourite podcast platform for ‘CallumConnects‘ to hear a 5-minute daily breakdown.
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started, built, and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder and CEO of MBH Corporation PLC. He is the author of three best-selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’, ‘Agglomerate’, and ‘Entrepreneurial Investing’.
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Download free copies of his books at www.callumlaing.com
