Dr Lai, Hon Weng, John
| Serving CUHK since 2007
| Affiliated to United College
| Birthday: December 29
About your profession
Why did you choose management as your profession?
Management is not just a profession but something that ALL students need, not only managers. Great management starts with self-management. We wanted to inspire students to internalize this concept before they proceed to manage others in the workplace.
What made you decide to become a teacher?
It just happened that one day I had this dream of becoming an unconventional teacher even before starting my undergraduate studies. This idea was further reinforced by my professor / mentor while at University. She was a great teacher but had to retire early due to disability. It’s the best career I could have chosen and I have never looked back.
Generally speaking, are there any common character traits for a successful leader in management?
Able to articulate their vision and inspire followers; have courage, energy; learning to fail forward; generosity in helping others to achieve goals and giving back to society.
About CUHK
What is your favorite corner at CUHK?
The Garden Café! It’s really a great spot to meet friends and students over coffee or lunch.
Can you share with us an unforgettable moment during your teaching at CUHK?
Wow, that’s difficult as each day is special, but it would be any e-mails I receive from grads or current students where they define success in their own way that is not all about getting money, power, and fame – instead, doing what they really love and believe in. This may sound very Steve Jobs-like but this is something I always talk about in class as well.
About yourself
Could you share with us one of your most emotional moments?
My colleagues throwing a huge farewell party for me while I still worked in industry. It was totally unexpected. I seldom weep but that was one moment where I did!
If you could meet with your idol, dead or alive, who would it be?
Peter Drucker, over a casual lunch.
Any book you wish to recommend to the students?
I would recommend The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey for first year business school students to develop good habits to aid personal and professional development.
Is there anything you are good at that would surprise us?
Um, I can actually cook – Asian, French, Italian. In fact, I was featured in newspaper food column some time ago as judge and food critic.
(First published in CUiBUS, CUHK Business School Undergraduate Office eNewletter)