Margaret Leung - Chief executive, Hang Seng Bank
Margaret Leung Ko May-yee never settles for less. 'Throughout my career, my good friends and competitors have told me to take an easier path. But I don't give up easily. Nor do I accept stereotypes,' says Leung, the first female CEO of Hang Seng Bank - or any listed bank in Hong Kong - and the first woman to be in command of a leading blue-chip company.
Driven and determined, Leung has blazed a trail for women in the cut-throat banking world since graduating from the University of Hong Kong in 1975. She landed her first job at Bank of America and in 1978 joined HSBC, where she worked in various departments, including retail, commercial and investment banking. She became head of Hang Seng Bank in 2009.
Leung has embraced changes with gusto. 'You won't develop new thinking if you remain in the same spot for 10 years. It's important to learn from different people, reflect on your work and find ways to improve it,' she says.
Which was why, in 1985, Leung relocated to Melbourne with HSBC, where she spent three years as a credit controller.
'I was told it would not be right for a woman to leave her family in Hong Kong. If I hadn't gone to Australia, I would likely have stayed on in my job, comfortable until retirement and becoming part of the bank's furniture.'
Returning from Australia, Leung started working with clients with investments on the mainland. She visited factories and projects there and gradually developed an understanding of the way business was conducted. 'I can now apply my experience in working with international, mainland and Hong Kong companies at Hang Seng,' she says.
Leung wasn't initially sure if she could bring positive changes to the bank. 'Many people said Hang Seng was a local bank with a traditional culture, where staff called one another 'brothers',' she says. 'You can't expect everyone to like you, but I think I've been leading the bank [in the right direction] so far.'
When Leung joined Hang Seng Bank, she was the only woman on the board. Two years down the road, the number has increased to four, making up about 28 per cent of the bank's board members. She also hopes to have more women in senior management.
Leung says leaders should nurture talent around them. She says: 'You can't be jealous. Let them have success by giving them a target and stretching their limits.'
Meanwhile, aspiring banking professionals should always enrich themselves and sharpen their competitiveness. 'The world is changing every minute. Keep your mind open, accept new things and evolve with the world,' Leung says.
