The powerful and Influential Laura Cha
Women's Wednesday
"I hope my Asian business and woman's viewpoint creates additional value in the debate around global businesses, sustainability and diversity."-Laura Cha
Laura M Cha is one of the most influential female business and
political leaders in Hong Kong. She has played an instrumental role in the
development of Hong Kong as a key international financial centre, and in the
continuing evolution of China’s capital markets.
As the first female Chairman of HKEX, Laura leads the board in
setting the strategic direction and has overall responsibility for the
governance of the organisation. HKEX is currently the world’s largest exchange
by market capitalisation, and it has a complex global stakeholder base given
its roles as market operator, regulator and public listed company.
On joining HKEX, Laura established HKEX’s first international
advisory council, consisting of some of the world’s most respected financial
sector leaders, bringing fresh perspectives and insight into international best
practices to the company. She has upgraded the Group’s governance structure,
played an instrumental role in introducing and attracting global talent to the
leadership of the Group, and actively sought to elevate the relevance of Hong
Kong’s financial markets.
She is a passionate champion of good governance, the importance
of board diversity and the powerful role of green finance products in economic
development.
Laura was appointed as the first female Chairman of HKEX since
2018. She is also an Independent Non-Executive Director of HSBC Holdings plc,
and in December 2019 was appointed as the first female Non-Executive Chairman
of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. She is a Non-Executive
Director of Unilever plc; a Senior International Advisor of Foundation Assets
Management Sweden AB; and a member of Sotheby’s International Advisory Board.
Laura is also Vice Chairman of the International Advisory Council of the China
Securities Regulatory Commission, and a Director of the World Federation of
Exchanges (WFE).
On the policy-making front, Laura is a member of the Executive
Council of the Government of Hong Kong SAR (HKSAR), and the only female member
of HKSAR’s Financial Leaders Forum, a group of 11 leaders in the financial and
regulatory community that advises the HKSAR on matters related to monetary
stability, financial safety and prosperity.
Laura became the first, and to-date, the only person outside
Mainland China, to join the Central Government of the People’s Republic of
China at the vice-ministerial rank. She served as Vice Chairman of the China
Securities Regulatory Commission from 2001 to 2004. Laura worked for the
Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong from 1991 to 2000,
becoming its Deputy Chairman in 1998.
Laura was Chairman of the University Grants Committee in Hong
Kong from 2007 to 2011 and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption of
the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in Hong Kong from 2007 to
2012. She was also the founding Chairman of The Financial Services Development
Council of Hong Kong from 2013 to 2018.
Laura earned her BA degree from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison and holds a JD degree from the Santa Clara University in
California. She practised law in San Francisco and Hong Kong from 1983 to 1990.
She received an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Law from the Hong Kong University
of Science and Technology in 2002.
Laura was awarded a Silver Bauhinia Star in 2001, a Gold Bauhinia Star in 2009 and the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2017 by the Hong Kong Government for her public service. She was named as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women International by Fortune in 2020 and was also one of the top 10 most powerful women in China by AOL MAKERS China in 2014.
What and who inspires/has inspired you to achieve your
professional success:
I admire Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB) and Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of US, a lot.
Equipped with legal training, Christine holds numbers of leadership roles in international financial organisations and being the “first woman” in many aspects, including the first woman to head ECB and IMF. She is definitely the source of inspiration for me as I share quite similar background as she does – a lawyer holding managing roles in global financial institutions.
Another inspiration is Michelle Obama. She was the first African American First Lady and also practised law in US. I admire how she is a vocal role model for women, and she shares my passion to promote diversity and inclusion at all levels of business.
Inspired by these female leaders, I have also been involved in many of the global discussions such as the World Economic Forum and Global Reporting Initiative. I hope my Asian business and woman’s viewpoint creates additional value in the debate around global businesses, sustainability and diversity.
I tell women that it’s all about making your own choices at the right time. For me, I studied abroad in the US for my university education and soon after graduation I got married and had children. My first focus in my early professional path was on my family, but as soon as my children were a bit older I went full swing into my career. Luckily enough, I could concentrate on one thing at a time back then, which helped me excel in both my family and my career. Above all, just believe in yourself and commit to achieving those things that are important to you.
Let's all take inspiration from Laura Cha and aspire to be successful in life and never let any obstacles stop us!
Thank You Everyone, See you all next Wednesday with another Influential Woman's Story!
Idea "Andrew tate"
ReplyDeleteSure, thank you for the idea!
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