February 9, 2023

On 9 February 2023, the School of Communication hosted the SCOM Talk Series #46 with Ms Onie Chu, Executive Director of HK4As, during which she shared her memories from various experiences in the advertising industry. She also discussed the challenges the advertising industry is currently facing, the potential that the advertising industry has, as well as how she got started in the business.

During the session, Ms Chu disclosed that her first degree was not in journalism, but that she went into the advertising field because she enjoyed it and found fulfillment there. She revealed that the daily interactions with people required by the advertising profession offered her a wealth of experience and boosted her self-confidence. She said that the advertising sector is currently understaffed and that many young people are reluctant to work in the field. She wants everyone to realise how much the business still values talent and that students can join the industry to gain experience without particular skills as long as they are passionate and willing to put in the effort. She chuckled as she mentioned that she was often the last one to leave the office but she did not force employees to work overtime. Now, she likes to stay longer in their newly designed office and looks for inspiration from ambience of the office.

Ms Chu also mentioned that she and her coworkers annually assist with the Kam Fan Awards’ preparations. In addition to the industry category, this prize also includes a student category that has just been established to provide students who are interested in the profession with a taste of advertising design. Students can share ideas and learn from one another at the same time. She emphasised that every year, that she is inspired by the ingenuity of both students and professionals and strongly encourages students to get involved, and to be passionate and creative overall to achieve success in the media industry.