In this edition of Tatler’s Secrets of Success series—the all-access pass to the city’s most notable business magnates and entrepreneurs—Michael Yue talks to us about “Googleyness”, his love of Marvel and why reverse mentoring is key to building a great team
Michael Yue isn’t your run-of-the-mill boss, as you might expect for someone who leads a team for Google. The general manager of sales and operations for Google Hong Kong, Yue has over 20 years of experience in the field.
Yue joined Google from Hewlett Packard Canada in 2011, and has accelerated digital transformation for businesses in retail, ecommerce, media, entertainment and finance across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
Passionate about coaching, Yue emphasises mentoring young people, inspiring and empowering the next generation, and his belief in how technology and efficiency makes life easier. Here, he tells Tatler about the value of customer relationships, launching Google Pay in Singapore, and his affinity for the great outdoors.
Describe what you do in one sentence.
I lead the Google team in Hong Kong to help digitise Hong Kong for good.
How does your business make a difference?
We contribute to Hong Kong’s growth by focusing on developing its economic opportunities, education and ecosystem. We help local businesses find new ways to sustain and scale, make information accessible for everyone, and help people develop digital skills. We also seek out new collaborations that foster a more inclusive ecosystem that engages businesses, academia, policymakers, creators and developers. And my priorities here are always to inspire and get people and businesses ready for a digital future.
What do you put your success down to?
Being unconventional. My team and I like to tackle business the way our engineers tackle computer science: with data and a willingness to try new things and think outside the box. Launching and iterating is how we innovate.
What are the top three ingredients for a successful business?
Inclusivity, trust and employee engagement. These form a framework for a positive and supportive culture in which we interact with respect, consideration and empathy.