The Growth Conversation: Tai Kwun’s Kitty Wong
- Wong’s marketing journey began in the fast-paced advertising world, taking her to the role of cultural innovator at Tai Kwun.
- She encourages younger professionals to take ownership of their challenges and embrace growth opportunities.
In the ever-changing world of marketing, few professionals have seamlessly combined creative vision with cultural impact like Kitty Wong, head of marketing and communications at Hong Kong’s historical cultural landmark, Tai Kwun.
From her early days in advertising to her transformative role at the restored Central Police Station compound, Wong’s career is a testament to the power of storytelling, authenticity and bold innovation.
A philosophy for success
Her marketing journey began in the fast-paced world of advertising, where she spent 22 years, including 14 at Ogilvy One. But her approach was never about simply fulfilling client briefs. “We’d always push the bar higher,” she recalls. This philosophy of going beyond expectations earned her quite a reputation at the agency, where she was also the first Chinese woman to take a managing director role.
“I was always the one raising my hand,” she says with a smile. “Sometimes they’d tell me, ‘Stop being the annoying student in the classroom.’” But it was precisely this audacity that defined her success.
A mission to instil pride
Her transition from something of a force in advertising to cultural innovator came with her role at Tai Kwun. The project was much more than a marketing assignment – it was a mission to instil pride in people.
“We wanted to make Hong Kong people proud,” she explains. The name “Tai Kwun” is derived from the neighbourhood’s nickname, and it was chosen to create an immediate cultural connection. “Local taxi drivers already knew this name,” she explains, pointing to how the name comes from a play on Cantonese words for police station, compound, and institution. “It was really about authenticity and resonance,” she adds.
Brand Tai Kwun
Her solution was rooted in strategic storytelling. Guided tours, curated exhibitions and rich narratives brought the space and its history to life. “It’s not just about showing art,” she explains. “It’s about telling the story behind each exhibition, each building, each piece of history.”
The results have been extraordinary. In the wake of its seventh anniversary, Tai Kwun has become a symbol of cultural pride, drawing visitors from all walks of life. Surveys consistently report high satisfaction, and the compound’s vibrant programming has made it a must-visit destination. “We’re not just preserving a space,” Wong says. “We’re preserving stories.”
Brave visions
Her creative ethos is a reflection of her personal life. Coming from a family of artists – her father a neon sign master and her two sons now following their own artistic journeys – Wong sees marketing as an art form in itself. “The best marketers are those brave enough to explore and share their vision,” she says.
As Tai Kwun celebrates its anniversary, Wong’s work stands as a beacon of what marketing can achieve when rooted in authenticity, cultural understanding and strategic vision. Her mantra, “Don’t find excuses. Just suck it up and do it”, has transformed not only her career but also Hong Kong’s cultural landscape.
Illustration: David Despau