The Quietest Voice
At one of our first art workshops, there was a young student who barely spoke a word. He was immensely talented, but whenever I asked for his opinion, he would just shrug and look down at his work. The pressure to give the “right” answer was paralyzing. Instead of pushing, we just worked alongside him, creating a space where the art itself could do the talking. Weeks later, at our public exhibition, I watched as he stood proudly by his piece, quietly but confidently explaining his vision to a curious visitor. He hadn’t needed a lecture; he had needed a platform.
That experience was a powerful reminder of a simple truth. In a city like Hong Kong, where our youth face immense academic and societal pressures, the journey to success is often defined by a narrow set of metrics. We celebrate the loudest speakers, the highest test scores, and the most assertive leaders. A significant number of young people consistently feel stressed over schoolwork and academic results.
Yet, some of the most profound ideas and incredible talents reside in the quietest voices in the room—those who simply need the right environment to flourish.
This has become the core of my philosophy. True empowerment is not about giving people a voice, but about creating the conditions where they can discover and strengthen their own. It is about leading by listening. It involves building safe, inclusive spaces where young people, particularly those with special needs, feel they can experiment, fail without judgment, and express themselves authentically. The goal is not just to teach a skill, but to nurture the self-worth and confidence that will allow them to apply that skill in all aspects of their life.
Whether it’s through a community art exhibition or a student-led market stall, the outcome we measure is not the artwork sold or the revenue earned. It is the moment a student looks a stranger in the eye and speaks about their work with pride. It is the quiet collaboration between teammates who were once strangers. It is the new sense of self-belief that comes from having an idea and, with support and encouragement, bringing it to life.
Building a prosperous future for Hong Kong is about more than just economics and policy; it is about cultivating resilient, confident, and compassionate human beings. It begins not by telling our youth what to do, but by creating a space to listen to what they are already trying to say. The most innovative ideas for our city’s future may just come from the quietest voice in the room, if only we are patient enough to hear it.of Hong Kong with the world. That, to me, is one of Life’s Wonders.
