bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Why did you decide to study computer science?

I did quite well in the subject and chose it because my uncle had worked at Microsoft for more than 15 years. He told me many things about the company and it made me want to work at Microsoft. Also, at that time, IT has just started to develop and I saw the industry had huge potential.

So after finishing my sixth form education, I went to the United States.

Is studying abroad a  good idea?

Yes, as you   will meet people from different countries, your horizons will be broadened.

What did you learn from  your four years in the US?

America is a great place to study computer-related subjects. My university, for instance, received a lot of  funding from the private sector and it had state-of-the-art facilities.

We were also offered many internships to gain real working experience before we entered the business world.

The subject is very practical and needs hand-on experience. The hardest part were the endless projects that took us many nights to finish. I often burned the midnight oil.

Why did you choose   to work for Microsoft first?

I am an  ambitious person. If I am to work for a company, I want it to be the biggest in the field - and Microsoft is. I can learn lots of things at such a big company. If I wanted to work for a start-up company, I could do it anytime, but getting into a big company is not easy.

After one month, I figured there was a more challenging post in another department. I took the initiative to ask for a transfer. You have to be active to survive. Chances do not come by themselves.

So what is it like working for a big company?

Each project is large-scale.  Projects such as software development are so large that it is impossible to complete one all by yourself. You have to work in a team. I enjoy my work because my colleagues are bright and energetic. The team work is really dynamic.

You have to keep working really hard because everyone in the company is so smart. You could easily be left behind if you do not devote yourself to your job. It is positive competition.

Why did you come back last year?

Having worked in the US for four years, I longed for a change in the technical nature of my job. The company told me there was a vacancy in marketing here. I like this dynamic city, so I decided to come home.

I have learned a lot in these six months and my technical background has helped.

What are your duties and what do you get satisfaction from?

I am responsible for marketing the Windows platform. I have to find out the needs of Hong Kong companies and deal with people from all walks of life.

I have launched several community projects for youngsters. Our company wants to contribute to society and the future of Hong Kong. We not only achieved our goal, but also received support from the public.

How do you see the development of IT in Hong Kong?

Many companies are putting resources into promoting IT. Many young people are doing well in IT. Many, surprisingly, have acquired the skills by themselves. But the Hong Kong Government may not have focused enough on the technical side. Technical developments are essential, while marketing is secondary.

What can people do to become successful in IT?

Observe the trend in the market because this is an ever-changing industry.

I always read magazines such as Time  and PC Weekly  to keep up with the industry. Signing up to newsgroups is also a nice way to get information.

If you do not keep yourself up-to-date for six months, you will be left behind.

Name: Prisca Lam Ping-sze

Company: Microsoft Hong Kong

Position: Product Marketing Manager, Desktop Windows Division

Web site: www.microsoft.com.hk

Academic background: Computer Science graduate of the University of Washington

Prisca Lam, a product marketing manager at Microsoft Hong Kong, enjoys her work in the information technology (IT) industry.

Her energetic, challenge-seeking personality is suited to her career.

Switching from the technical side to marketing, Lam's versatile talents have been essential for surviving in the competitive field.

Graphic: YPITSCGLO



Europe’s tech strength lies in deployment, not rivalry

China’s ‘trillion-yuan districts’ reveal gains and gaps of its hi-tech push

OpenAI expects another ‘seismic shock’ from China amid speculation of new DeepSeek release

Lenovo unveils new AI agent, Nvidia tie-up in glitzy show at CES 2026

Microsoft

Challenge-seeker aims for the top in industry