Cream of the Crop This is the fourth article in a 10-part series acknowledging the achievements of Hong Kong's most esteemed female entrepreneurs Beauty and the brain Some celebrated personalities may choose to shy away from the limelight after securing a comfortable future. Christie Wo opted for a more dynamic alternative though, and found success in the luxury goods retailing industry, writes Sophie Leung A woman of outstanding business acumen, Christie Wo, president and CEO of Charmonde Luxury Limited and Charmonde Watches Limited, has made a substantial dent in the seemingly male-dominated business domain. Early aspirations When Dr Wo was a child, she accompanied her mother on a business trip which exposed her to the luxury product markets in Europe and America. Growing up, she has always felt a strong desire for innovation. It was therefore not long before she turned to business and began to explore the luxury timepiece market. Perhaps the boldest watch concept Dr Wo and her team have introduced is one from the US. Blending fashion and promoting health simultaneously, the watch contains a microchip that emits a unique signal similar to the frequency released by the human brain in a calm state. "I rely on intuition to select products," notes Dr Wo, who has successfully transformed the novel concept into a popular product. For this particular watch, Hong Kong has become the largest market outside the US. At a promotional event with models Galie Lok (left) and Amanda S (right) Photos: Courtesy of Charmonde Dr Wo understands "star effect" only too well. Artists Jay Chou and Leon Lai were among the many celebrities to wear the timepiece in public, creating mania in the market. "I put a great deal of effort into promoting the first watch brand and the sales results were impressive. However, once that goal was achieved, I felt compelled to set myself new targets." As a trendsetter, Dr Wo always welcomes new challenges and aims to be constantly at the helm of fashion through the avant-garde luxury products she introduces to Asia markets. Combining innovative marketing concepts and commercial flair plus perseverance, Dr Wo broke the male-dominated industry mould and created a sensational image for her fellow businesswomen. Despite her obvious success though, she remains humble. "People conferred the China Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs award on me and it is these people that I am indebted to," she says. Premiere sponsor of the film A Bite of Love to raise concern over stray animals To many, remaining a cut above the rest is ample reason to be considered successful. Dr Wo begs to differ. She explains, "Real success lies in both professional and personal achievement. I compete against myself, so there is no end to the pursuit of success." Beyond the boardroom In seeing each product as a challenge, Dr Wo constantly strives to introduce new ideas and inform consumers of their options when it comes to luxury lifestyle products. Her current venture involves a diamond-embellished plastic watch complete with a lightweight see-through acrylic bracelet. The juxtaposition of simple plastic and diamond detail is key to her decision to launch and market the product because the concept is so incredibly unique. Dr Wo confesses that she approaches her profession with the passion of a workaholic. She states, "I am obsessed with new ideas. I digest strategies even when I'm asleep." She describes herself as an achiever and an explorer of lifestyle luxury products and believes the company can reach even further and build its own brand in the future. Hong Kong's first business personality to appear on CCTV-2 World Business Hour As a Buddhist, Dr Wo is a firm believer in the need for balance to offset her achiever mindset. Similar to any CEO, she negotiates hard in the office and nurtures her feminine side in private. "I enjoy sports, sleeping and cooking and I love to watch Disney cartoons and romantic comedies," she says. Acknowledging the caring and attentive nature of most women, Dr Wo applies her feminine strengths when visiting the elderly and sponsoring the adoption of underprivileged children overseas. She says, "People living in poor conditions are often ignored. My primary concern is to raise awareness of the problem and stretch helping hands out to people in need." At work, Dr Wo sets new targets and strives for perpetual excellence. She is also acutely aware of the need to appreciate the different stages of life. "Lately I have been thinking of becoming a mother and I have discovered many parenting books offer useful advice on creating a harmonious household," says Dr Wo. She recognises the challenge businesswomen with children face as many of them sacrifice career for family. However, Dr Wo believes in the mother's role. She notes, "The cost involved is a give and take process. It is unrealistic that a 40-year-old's skin can be as soft as an 18-year-old's, but maturity in itself is alluring with the confidence and wisdom it gives a woman." Taken from Career Times 22 August 2008 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]