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Sustainability Meets Tradition: HKBU School of Business Hosts Seminar with Chicks Lifestyle's 4th Generation Director

5 Mar, 2025

Ms. Jennifer TAM inspired students with her insights on balancing tradition, innovation, and sustainability. Ms. Jennifer TAM inspired students with her insights on balancing tradition, innovation, and sustainability.

Have you ever considered how to balance tradition with innovation in a family business? On 24th February 2025, as part of the “Kickstarting Your Career” series,  The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre (EIC)  of the HKBU School of Business hosted Ms. Jennifer TAM, Director of Chicks Lifestyle (Chicks), a heritage clothing retailer in Hong Kong specialising in thermal and innerwear. Ms. TAM shared her journey of leading the fourth generation of her family business. Inspired by her grandmother, she prioritises sustainability and community engagement while adapting to market changes. The seminar attracted a strong turnout of 173 business students.

Ms. TAM discussed the complexities of transitioning from a traditional business to a sustainable model, focusing on ethical sourcing and consumer education, which are crucial for future business leaders. She inspired the audience with her journey of balancing family legacy with innovation, emphasising sustainability and community engagement. She shared how her family's support motivated her to continue leading the family legacy and refine the brand as the fourth generation.

Balancing tradition with innovation, Ms. TAM maintains core values like community engagement while fostering open communication and employee empowerment. Her journey offers practical advice for students: embrace sustainability, value employee input, and be adaptable to market needs.

The seminar was moderated by Dr. Marta DOWEJKO, Director of the EIC, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to Ms. TAM for her inspiring journey and valuable lessons shared with the students. Dr. DOWEJKO remarked that Ms. TAM 's story is a powerful example of how future business leaders can successfully navigate the complexities of modern entrepreneurship.

Established in September 2016, EIC supports the School’s entrepreneurial education through seminars, workshops, startup pitches and community outreach activities. For more information about the Centre, please visit: https://eic.hkbu.edu.hk/.

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