German Pool V.P. Karen Chan Awarded “2014 Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Hong Kong”

Mr Stanley Chin-ho Lau, SBS, BBS, MH, JP is the managing director of Renley Watch Manufacturing Co. Ltd and the Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. Lau nominated Ms Karen Chan for the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award. Chan is German Pool Vice President and Executive Director; she also holds office as the Chairlady of FHKI Young Executive Council

Ms Karen Chan is a second-generation industrialist. Her father, Dr Edward Chan, has taught her the importance of hard work. Chan strives to give back to the society as she takes active public roles in industry transcendence, youth education and womens’ advocacy.

German Pool Vice President and Executive Director Ms Karen Chan and celebrity swimmer Mr Alex Fong along with seven other winners of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award 2014 attended the results announcement press conference organized by the Junior Chamber International Hong Kong on October 5. The award ceremony will take place on December 7, 2014.

German Pool Vice President and Executive Director Ms Karen Chan has been selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons 2014 on October 5, for her contribution to industry transcendence, education, womens’ advocacy, and her works for the HKSAR Government that involve branding, domestic sales, and the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This prestigious selection was organized by the Junior Chamber International (JCIHK) Hong Kong.

With a life motto of “Embracing challenges with the best efforts”, Ms Karen Chan is a second-generation industrialist who is committed to industry transcendence. While Chan takes it in her stride to invigorate German Pool – her family business – she also actively engages in industry development to facilitate a stable ascension of the Hong Kong economy by creating employment opportunities in the city. Chan business goal is to build a successful century-old business (German Pool celebrates its 33rd anniversary in 2015) that Hong Kongers can be proud of. Chan leaves no stones unturned in her path to ensure markets in China and beyond are conquered.

Ms Chan keen participation in social affairs sees her contributing to the business sector, woman rights groups and youth education organizations. In terms of Chan contribution to the industry, Chan is the Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) Young Executive Council, the Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Young Industrialist Council, the Vice Chairlady of the FHKI Group 10 Wood Products, a member of the HKSAR Commerce and Economic Development Bureau Working Group on Manufacturing Industries, Innovative Technology, and Cultural and Creative Industries, as well as a member of the HKSAR Trade and Industry Department Trade and Industry Advisory Board.

Chan also helps the government to push the envelope on matters regarding branding, upgrading and domestic sales (BUD) in her role as a Member of the HKSAR Commerce and Economic Development Bureau Dedicated Fund on BUD Programme Management Committee Enterprise Support Programme.

In terms of womens’ advocacy and youth education, Chan looks to offer extra-curricular education to help galvanise girls’ and young women full potential by acting as the Vice Chairlady of Hong Kong Girl Guides Southern District Association. Furthermore, Chan has been nominated as the Hong Kong Special Delegate at the 13th Beijing Women Congress to promote the creative and innovative development of women and help them achieve better social standing. Chan is often a guest speaker at seminars and talks where she shares her insights on brand building, managing and running an enterprise, as well as on business and industry transcendence. Recently, Chan ran a talk for JCI Bauhinia to share her tips about the balance between work and family.

The Young Industrialist Award of Hong Kong 2009 has recognized Chan industrial acumen; whereas the prestigious Hong Kong Top Brand Ten Year Achievement award, the Hong Kong Proud Corporate Brand, and Superbrands Award acknowledge Chan achievements in industry transcendence. Furthermore, 2014 is also the 7th consecutive year in which German Pool is awarded the Q-Mark certification.

As a council member at the HKSAR Education Bureau Vocational Training Council, it is evident that Chan is passionate about educating the younger generation. As a successful industrialist and a working mother, she champions the new image of “New Hong Kong Woman”. Chan has been awarded the 2013 APEC Young Women Innovator Award.

Starting up is hard, but keeping up the business momentum is even harder. It is not easy to run an existing family business, let alone expanding it. Ms Karen Chan is bequeathed with the monumental task of furthering her father business legacy. Chan works hard with great patience and brevity; she insists on using a hands-on approach and always gives her 110%. Chan fusion West and East management style, means that she applies the 7P Marketing Strategy – referring to Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process, and Physical Evidence – alongside the Chinese wisdom from The Book of Rites: “When one personal life is cultivated, one family will be regulated and then one state will be well governed; and when all the states are well governed, there will be peace and harmony throughout the world”. Theory and philosophy guides Chan business strategy in expanding into markets in, and beyond Greater China.

Looking forward, Ms Karen Chan will give it her all to foster the expansion of German Pool, in the process building the homegrown brand into a household name that Hong Kongers will be proud of. In the meantime, Chan will carry on her civic duties in the industry, business, and education sectors.

Chan loves Hong Kong; and believes that everyone plays a part in making the city a greener place for all. In private, Chan teaches her son to recreate, reduce, and rethink how he can recycle or upcycle waste.