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In the upper echelons of financial management, money can distort and power can corrupt. But for Lau Ka-shi,  managing director and chief executive  of the Bank Consortium Trust Company, it has always been about what she can contribute, not what she can get.
That is part of the reason why the American Chamber of Commerce's Women of Influence awards judging panel chose Lau for its Professional of the Year award this year, recognising her professional accomplishments, social engagement and commitment to the community.
Lau has been breaking the glass ceiling for women for much of her career. She was the only Asian woman on the management trainee programme at American Express, the job that  started her financial career. 
In 2008, she became the first woman to win the Director of the Year Award from the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, in the private companies' executive director category.
Though the banking veteran, who graduated from Cornell University in the United States, acknowledges it is flattering to be recognised, she downplays her achievements.
'I never realised I had influence and some power,' she says. 'Once I did, I was even more cautious. I wanted to guard my influence well and use it responsibly and positively.'
Her sensitivity and acumen  have had a profound impact on the way she conducts business.  In the  past decade she has built Bank Consortium Trust (BCT) into one of the largest trust companies -  and a leading MPF service provider - in Hong Kong, with  more than HK$65 billion of assets under administration as of September this year. 
Lau has also implemented a barrage of family-friendly initiatives designed to ensure a good work-life balance. 
'Being a locally grown company, I had to work twice as hard on all fronts to compete with the multinationals on an equal footing because people tend to prefer the big international names,' she says. 
Her efforts are evident everywhere throughout the organisation. They range from its framework of best  practices to an emphasis on corporate governance focusing on elements  such as accountability and clearly defined reporting lines, and the empowerment and care of staff. 
Lau  spent decades working for major international banks in New York and Hong Kong and  for local regulatory bodies  such as the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation. When she first joined BCT, her vision was to use her knowledge and skills to affect change. 
'I took on this role to make a difference,' she says. 'I wanted to show that, regardless of whether you are a local or international company, you can be the best in class in what you do. It's been a difficult, uphill battle. It isn't enough to be 100 per cent. As a local firm, we have to be 160 per cent in order to stand out.'
Her motivation to give back to the community  marks all that she does inside and out of  the boardroom. She volunteers her time at industry level - working with organisations such as the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority,  the SFC and the Hong Kong Trustees'  Association  to improve the city's retirement planning system - but is equally active in other areas including working for the Hong Kong Society for the Aged, the Women's Commission  and the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund.  
'I try to do what I can,' she says. 'It is just a drop in the bucket, but I tell people not to underestimate the value of each effort. Little things add up and build momentum that will eventually gather force.' She has extended this ethos to her own backyard, galvanising a team in the office to focus on issues involving corporate social responsibility.
The company holds special-interest talks for employees, runs open days for  family members and offers employee  counselling to manage stress. Lau also ensures regular meetings  with all her employees.
In balancing her traditional Chinese upbringing with an American outlook, Lau has  created a balanced work environment that remains a rarity  among local companies. Staff can request  leave on the grounds of compassion, marriage and paternity,  take extra days off for community service work, and those with children get priority booking summer leave.  
'We do these things because we care about our staff,' she says. 'If you don't care about them, how can you expect them to care about others?'
Lau attributes her  values and commitment to others to her Christian faith and her mother, the single most influential person in her life.
'My mother gave me many of my values: integrity, respect, honesty and responsibility,' says Lau, the second-youngest of eight children. 'Growing up, she was always very clear about the difference between right and wrong, and was adamant that we do not let society dictate our values.' 
She has incorporated many of those values into her corporate life. Lau would be  the first to take responsibility and be held accountable;  is never too proud to admit mistakes; treats everyone the same from the tea lady to board members; and is unyielding about matching her actions to her words.  
Lau has seen women make extraordinary strides in the workplace during her career, but she knows   much more needs to be done.
'At the end of the day, women shouldn't try to be anything other than themselves,' she says. 'There is no need to be rough or to act like a man. With the right knowledge, competency and soft skills, women can stand on their own.'
Judge's comments
Lau Ka-shi impressed the  judging committee by her balanced, high performance in all three categories. She demonstrates a combination of extraordinary achievements in her profession combined with social engagement. She has shaped her own company for the better by adopting  family-friendly employment policies,  grooming female talent and  focusing on corporate social responsibility. She has  influenced her industry towards higher standards and serves  on various community bodies.
Ingrun Alsleben  
Chairwoman of the  Women of Influence Awards' judging panel



Banking veteran shatters glass ceiling