In a rare turn, Roman Chao opens up about life after his MBA, his favourite childhood memories and where his love for live music comes from.
Gigi and Cecil Chao need no introduction. The father-daughter duo and Tatler September cover stars are some of Hong Kong’s most well known residents. But how much do we know about Cecil and American-Vietnamese model Terri Holladay’s son, Roman? The youngest Chao and tycoon in-the-making lives a relatively low-key life despite the fame that has surrounded his family since he was a child. But, with an MBA from City University of Hong Kong with a concentration in information systems, the 27-year-old is destined to carve his own path without resting purely on the Chao name.
Here he discusses his new role, what he thinks about joining the family business and why Macklemore and Ryan Lewis may be the best live act he has seen so far.
See also: Meet The Hong Kong Scions Who Are Making Their Mark
What does Hong Kong mean to you?
I see Hong Kong as a Swiss army knife on a geographic and personal level. There are so many opportunities in terms of city, beach, party and business life. Culinary possibilities are definitely more diverse than anywhere else I’ve been to in the world. On a personal level, I’m fortunate to have good friends still around from various stages of my life (school, university and work). I’m the kind of guy who likes hosting events and gathering friends to celebrate the times that we’ve had together.
Tell us about your current role.
I’m currently a recruiter that specialises in the fintech sector. I’ve had the opportunity to learn about various cutting edge technology such as payment systems, crypto and trading technology. We like to call it a 360-degree job as the function of my job isn’t only to find the right candidates, but also to find and cultivate relationships with clients. It’s a job that always teaches me to push past my limits in terms of understanding people and networking, as well as be resilient and learn from failure.
What are your aspirations for your career?
I’m quite fascinated by how software can revolutionise businesses and make a psychological impact on customers. I’d like to work on an app that will make a positive impact to society. I know that’s idealist thinking, but as Steve Jobs once said “Stay hungry, stay foolish”, so I’m going to keep aiming for positive impact technology that goes beyond the zero sum game [the notion of one person's gain being equal to another's loss] fallacy.
See also: 10 Minutes with Honey Pro Handheld UV Sanitiser Founder, Carmen Yim