Meeting Mr. Lee Kwong Wah – Former LKY student and Founder of Nikko Sports International Company Ltd.

Four 6A students (Elaine Yuen, Winnie Wong, Erin Ma and Cat Wong) paid a visit to Mr Conrad Lee Kwong Wah, a former LKY student and the founder of Nikko International Company Ltd. Nikko products are popular in Hong Kong , China and Europe . Mr. Lee loves Lee Kau Yan Memorial School very much and always offers great support to us.

When did you graduate and why are you so supportive to the school?

I graduated in 1974 after studying at the school for five years. In those five years, I made the best friends of my life there. I had lots of unforgettable memories. The late Principal, Mr. Lee, taught us positive attitudes towards life and work and his speeches at morning assembly were very inspiring. I always paid attention to what he said. I also met two gurus of my life in LKY, namely, Ms Cheung Ting and Mr Yip Shui Hin. They were very respectable teachers to me. Since my graduation, I have kept close contact with my school friends and teachers. That's why I take part in many school functions.

What changes have you noticed to LKY and do you have any advice for fellow students?

Physically, the school campus has become larger and there are more students. We did not have school clubs or extra curricular activities in my time. I think you are luckier than us. As a former student, I can recognize the hard work of the Principal and teachers. As a whole, both the environment and the image of the school are improving. One important tip for students is that they should cherish the opportunity of pursuing education. Hong Kong has a knowledge-based economy. Even if you are not interested in the mainstream formal curriculum, you should further your education in vocational institutes such as IVE.

Were you determined to establish a sports clothing and equipment company when you graduated from university?

My late father inspired me to start this business. He pointed out that the economy of Hong Kong was developing rapidly and that people were getting rich. As a result, people needed time for leisure and sports. Therefore, there was a great potential for sportswear in the market. What he said was very true. At the beginning, there were only three staff members, including me. Gradually, Nikko developed into a large company and our products are now available in many European countries and provinces in China .

What are the major products of Nikko and which markets are you exploring in the mean time?
Apart from sportswear, Nikko also produces camping and outdoor equipment. With the headquarters situated in Hong Kong, we have opened branch offices in Guangzhou , Hangzhou , Beijing , Shanghai and Wuhan to better serve the network of 300 retail outlets located throughout China . Along with our regional agents in Macao , Singapore , Malaysia and Taiwan , our international clientele extends to all reaches of the globe from Europe, Australia , and the Americas . We are seeking opportunities to cooperate with a Norwegian outdoor equipment company in the mean time.

As the company size is growing rapidly, you may face lots of new challenges and problems in management. How can you deal with them?

I have lots of competent department managers to look after different sections for me. Different departments, such as accounting and marketing, have to work closely with each other and departments report difficulties to me regularly. My philosophy in management is choosing the right person and empowering them to manage their subordinates. So far, the system works well. My wife is my important work partner too.

When hiring new employees, what elements are important to you?

Academic qualifications are always important. Special skills and experience are important too. In the interview, we focus on the attitudes and disposition of the applicants. And we tend to choose someone who is easy to work with and suitable for the job. Some people may be very smart but they may not be suitable for the company.

Which attributes and other factors lead you to success?

Persistence is the major factor. I established Nikko 30 years ago and in that time I have experienced many difficulties. Some of my business partners gave up but I did not. Maintaining a business of this size is no easy task and developing it is even more difficult. I also benefited a lot as I received tertiary education in Taiwan . The development of sports equipment was more advanced there at that time than in Hong Kong . I established some connections with mechandisers in the industry, which was very helpful in developing Nikko . At University, I studied International Trade and Finance. The knowledge I received was very useful to me, especially at the early stage.

You are a very successful businessman and I think you must be very busy all the time so how do you balance your time between work and family?

When I was young, I spent all the time on my work and business. My wife worked with me. It is very true that we sacrificed family time and we seldom played with our children. Now, I have my grandchildren, I find spending time with family very important. My wife and I try our best to have dinner and quality time with the family, especially the grandchildren. It is not easy striking a balance between work and family, especially at the early stage.

What is your motto of life and would you please give some encouragement to all LKY students?

My motto of life consists of three Ps: Persistence, Perseverance and Pleasantness. As I mentioned, Nikko ' s success is based on persistence. Both my wife and I worked very hard to establish the business. Being a likable person and having a pleasant relationship with others is also significant. To achieve this, you have to be sincere and modest. In modern terms, it is called high ‘ EQ ' . My motto of life is exactly what I would like to encourage the students in LKY.