Hong Kong is an international Fintech hub characterised by its diversity, resilience, and dynamic developments. Having over 600 Fintech companies and startups, the city offers tremendous opportunities for talents to pursue their career development in this cutting-edge field. 

 

In today’s #MeetTheATeam episode, we have invited Ling Hsu, AQUMON’s HR and Admin Manager, to share her insights on working in a Fintech company and also to provide career advice for aspiring Fintech aficionados. Read on to learn more about Ling’s #AQUMONLife in Asia's leading Fintech company! 
 

 

Questions for Ling

 

1. RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONS!

 

Fun fact about you? 

 

I come from a very diverse and culturally appreciative background.

 

I have lived and worked in more than 4 cities but amongst them all, Hong Kong is my favourite! I was born in Taiwan and moved to Malaysia when I was 3 with my family. After graduating from high school, I travelled to Hong Kong to study Financial Translation at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. I have also been to New York for an internship. Thanks to my unique upbringing, I am fluent in several languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay and Japanese, which is very useful when it comes to interacting with colleagues and interviewees at AQUMON.

 

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

 

I enjoy getting my body moving, especially when it’s outdoors! Recently I have found a new hobby - pilates. I really like the practice because it helps to train up my core and muscles I never really use! To relieve stress, I also love to cook and bring my culinary creations in to share with my colleagues!

 

 

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

 

Time control! 24 hours a day is just not enough sometimes, so having that superpower means that I can turn back time and work on more tasks.

 

 

2. Why did you choose a career in Human Resources?

 

To empower the younger generation.

 

When I first graduated, I thought I would be a diplomat or a teacher since I am interested in bridging different mindsets and cultures. However, I realized that my true passion is to empower the younger generation. I have seen a lot of young talents easily discouraged by making mistakes and put off by difficulties. But I believe failing at something is actually a necessary part of achieving success. It’s okay to make mistakes, as long as we learn through evaluation and improve for next time. 

The role of HR revolves around TALENT. 

 

My mission as an HR Manager is to share my experience and provide guidance to our talents so they can achieve their full potential and to find value in their roles at the company. Talent is the most valuable asset at AQUMON, so finding and recruiting the right talent for a position is very challenging yet fulfilling. 

 

I’d like to visualize AQUMON as a car and I am responsible for allocating the right components to the right part so as to assemble the car precisely. This ensures that AQUMON operates at the highest efficiency and standard so that we can all move forward in the same direction. 

 

 

3. Why did you decide to join AQUMON? 

 

At AQUMON, I really enjoy the team and culture. I am able to shine with my unique personality and skills, such as my ability to unify our colleagues towards a shared company vision and objective. 

 

Another motivation for me in joining AQUMON was to have a strong sense of ownership in my role. All the colleagues here are very young and energetic. The growth mindset and passion to learn more is the driving factor behind our company’s achievements and ultimately encourage us to grow beyond what we imagined we’re capable of!

 

4. What is the most unforgettable experience in AQUMON?

 

Being part of the firm’s biggest fund raising project when I first joined AQUMON. At the time, it felt like mission impossible since I did not have any prior experience and limited understanding of how to operate the fund raising.

 

Thanks to the positive learning environment at AQUMON, we were able to conquer the difficulties and successfully complete the project with outstanding results. I am thrilled that AQUMON successfully raised US$30 million during our last Pre-B funding round.

 

Extended reading: Magnum Research Ltd Closes a USD 30M Pre-B Funding

 

5. Describe each department with one word. 

 

Algorithm Team: Driven 

 

As new challenges emerge every day, the team works endlessly to resolve the problems and to propose innovative solutions. 

 

Business Development Team: Resilient 

Competition is fierce, the markets can also be very volatile and the team has to be determined and resilient in closing the deals

 

Strategy and Operations Team: Vital

As the engine that supports the growth of AQUMON, Strategy and Operations maintain necessary operations. Encompassing finance, legal, admin, HR and Corporate Communications, we have to be detail-minded, measured and diligent when handling our work.

 

Extended reading: Learn more about Algo and Quant. Meet Dr. Don Huang: Breaking out of the Ivory Tower

 

6. Which AQUMON value stood out to you?

 

Do more, do better, create value.

 

Our AQUMON colleagues are always willing to go the extra mile to create value for clients as well as to help one another. As such, we are not only result-driven but we also focus on the process and continuously evaluate our strategies to develop better solutions. 

 

What’s more, the ESG (environmental, social and governance) initiative here also impressed me. In AQUMON, we promote gender equality and diversity hiring to make positive impacts to the society. We’ve grown 7% in terms of female hires in the past year.

 

Extended reading: Know more about our vision. Up Close and Personal With The A-Team CEO: Kelvin Lei

 

7. How do you see the career development in the Fintech industry in Hong Kong?

 

Full of excitement and opportunities.

 

According to InvestHK, Hong Kong is home to over 600 fintech companies and start-ups, which make us one of the top cities globally for start-ups to rapidly scale-up. Hong Kong is also ranked top 5 among the world’s most developed markets for consumer FinTech adoption. If you love innovation and welcome new challenges, the Fintech industry will be a good pick for you. 

 

Other than having extensive career and rapid advancement opportunities, working in the Fintech industry can also develop your mindset for greater adaptability. Due to the rapidly changing industry landscape, you must become flexible and attuned to business opportunities.  We encourage collaborative thinking so we look at the big picture rather than siloed in our own departments, taking on tasks that may be new and challenging to achieve the goals.

 

 

For example, the Business Development team would have to brainstorm new ways to establish trust in a highly competitive market, while educating investors about Fintech. As for the Algo team, the quant researchers not only have to be very sensitive to the market trends but also need to understand the target users’ needs in order to develop appropriate strategies. 

 

Extended reading: Know more about Fintech. Meet Jacky Lin: From a World's Leading Bank to AQUMON

 

8. What advice would you give to talents who would like to apply for AQUMON?

 

Stay hungry for SUCCESS.

 

Show your passion and willingness to go the extra mile. It is common to see talents excel in their own field of study. Yet, going beyond the job description is where the true opportunity lies where you can explore more possibilities and find your true passion. Therefore, do not restrict yourself and be prepared for new challenges, oftentimes you’ll be positively surprised at what you can achieve when you put your mind to it. 

 

Click HERE to check out the current job openings.

 

People are the power driving AQUMON’s success. That’s why we value the uniqueness of each individual and always encourage our talents to achieve their full potential. Eager to learn more about the working culture of AQUMON? Stay tuned for our next #MeetTheATeam interview and follow AQUMON’s Linkedin for more exciting updates!

 

 

 

 

 

 

About us

AQUMON is a Hong Kong based award-winning financial technology company. Our mission is to leverage smart technology to make next-generation investment services affordable, transparent and accessible to both institutional clients and the general public. Through its proprietary algorithms and scalable, technical infrastructure, AQUMON’s automated platform empowers anyone to invest and maximise their returns. AQUMON has partnered with more than 100 financial institutions in Hong Kong and beyond, including AIA, CMB Wing Lung Bank, ChinaAMC, and Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, affiliate of BOC International Holdings Limited, Zheng He Capital Management and Cyberport are among AQUMON's investors. 

 

The brand is held under Magnum Research Limited and is licensed with Type 1, 4 and 9 under the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong. AQUMON is also licensed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC).

 

Disclaimer

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