Cream of the Crop This is the third article in a 10-part series acknowledging the achievements of Hong Kong's most esteemed female entrepreneurs Clearing every hurdle It has taken two years to arrange the equestrian events of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and as deputy chief executive officer and venue manager of Equestrian Events (Hong Kong) of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad Company Limited, Miranda Chiu is ready to surmount any hurdle, Sophie Leung writes Forming a company upon which the eyes of the world will gaze after only two years is a challenge many people would never take. However, Miranda Chiu and her team are diligently working in partnership to make history. "When confronted with our own stumbling blocks in life we can opt to conquer or capitulate," Ms Chiu says. "Life goes on whether we clear obstacles or tumble." To minimise failure though, she feels a comprehensive strategy and close team relationships are crucial. Similar to the partnership between a rider and a horse in equestrianism, people can work together to achieve what is unachievable individually. Relatively unpublicised in the equestrian sector is the fact that Hong Kong has, in the process of preparing for the Olympic equestrian events, convinced the International Equestrian Federation to cast a vote of confidence in the territory as a world-class equestrian venue. Though horse racing is popular in Hong Kong, the city has no prior experience of hosting equestrian events of this magnitude and duration. The 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events is a significant opportunity to complete the gap and Ms Chiu has found both team collaboration and the private company model invaluable to overall success. She explains, "We streamline sourcing and recruiting procedures benefitting from the flexibility they create. Simultaneously, we uphold the principles of fairness and openness, setting a public and global example." Making a wish for the equestrian events at a volunteer gathering Photos: Courtesy of Miranda Chiu Due deference A winner of the "China Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs" award by the China Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Ms Chiu leads her team as the first private company in the history of the Olympic Games to organise the equestrian events. Embodying the entrepreneurial spirit she notes that she works hard to perfect every single task and never shies away from challenges. By grasping opportunities and making accurate judgments, Ms Chiu has leapt many barriers on the path to success. For instance, Ms Chiu served on the Hong Kong government team negotiating with the US government on textile exports to the US in the 80s. Through tenacity and tact, she secured high export quotas for Hong Kong. "Not only did I protect the interests of Hong Kong, I also respected my overseas counterparts to create a win-win situation," she adds. Presenting souvenirs to equestrian athletes at the Paralympic Games On a daily basis, Ms Chiu and her team aim to motivate all related parties to work towards the common goal of staging a successful world-class equestrian event. Having worked in the civil service for more than three decades, Ms Chiu is adept at consolidating group efforts and aligning different interests. "Everyone is a piece in the jigsaw puzzle. Regardless of size and shape, all pieces are crucial to making up the complete picture and realising the vision. I respect everyone involved in the project and I am also one of the pieces in the tableau," she explains. To familiarise herself with the equestrian world, Ms Chiu visited Aachen in Germany —a city that boasts a solid track record in staging world equestrian events. She acquired basic horse handling skills and spoke with riders and trainers to better understand the sport. Back home she promotes excellence by keeping her knowledge of equestrianism up to date and projecting a positive image for the sport in Hong Kong. Presenting souvenirs to equestrian athletes at the Paralympic Games Lasting legacy Optimistic about the future, Ms Chiu is also looking beyond the Olympic Games towards promoting the Olympic spirit and raising public interest in equestrian sport. "We hope to nurture a sense of participation and encourage everyone to share the Olympic spirit," says Ms Chiu. To this end, Equestrian Events has recruited 1,800 volunteers for the Olympic and 600 for the Paralympic Games. This experience and participation will no doubt become an inspiration to others and the sport will flourish as a result. Though equestrian sport was historically not popular in Hong Kong, the nine equestrian schools have long waiting lists filled with the names of enthusiastic riders eager to learn in response to the increasing prominence of the sport locally within the last two years. Ms Chiu says, "It is encouraging to see more parents and teachers going with their children and students to horse riding lessons on a regular basis." Ms Chiu is grateful for the support and understanding of her family and friends. She notes, "I used to work 15 hours a day in my previous job. But now I must stay contactable 24 hours a day, seven days a week when organising the big events." Despite a demanding schedule, she is always poised to perfect minute event details to guarantee success and this personal touch is perhaps her greatest strength. Ms Chiu concludes by reiterating her current mission, "Let's get this show on the road and showcase this exciting sport and our cohesive community to the world." Taken from Career Times 9 August 2008 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]