Strive and Rise: How Cathay is fostering a new generation of high fliers with career support and mentorship
Hong Kong Free Press
Recalling a career spanning 28 years, Cathay Director People Patricia Hwang walked students through her line of work, hosted a career talk, and shared nuggets of wisdom from her childhood dream at the Cathay Aviation Exploration Open Day on Saturday.
“I hope this will be a bilateral exchange between myself and the students… The youth are really our future.”
Cathay Director People Patricia Hwang
The event kickstarted the second cohort of a government youth development initiative in which the airline participates. The Strive and Rise Programme pairs students – especially those from underprivileged backgrounds – with volunteer mentors who encourage upward mobility by guiding them to develop personal goals. The quota for Strive and Rise Programme students – who range from Secondary One to Secondary Four – has surged 2,800 last year to 4,000.
Hwang – who is one of the Star Mentors of this year’s Strive and Rise Programme – said the key to success in the sector was open-mindedness, curiosity, confidence, and the ability to thrive in a teamwork setting: “Have the willingness to do the extra work with no return. Hard work, and grit will open the door of opportunity to students.”
Over 600 students and mentors visited Cathay City, the organisation’s headquarters next to the airport, the Cathay Cargo Terminal, as well as the Cathay Pacific Catering Services flight kitchen to see how in-flight meals were made.
Reaching for the skies
The city’s 78-year-old home carrier is on a recruitment drive. It took on around 4,000 new growth of the Group workforce last year – mainly cabin crew and customer-facing employees focussed on airport operations, Hwang said. The Group now employs over 23,800 people globally.
Hwang said she constantly looks to improve welfare and remuneration packages to attract and retain talent. Having joined the carrier in 1995, she has worked in various teams such as sales, revenue, cargo, as well as lining up inflight entertainment programmes, which involves interacting with music and movie firms to negotiate licencing deals.
Hwang said she was drawn to a career in aviation in the first place because of the culture and diversity: “We have got an international footprint, in that we operate in over 70 cities. We get to see, experience, feel [and] live in different cultures.”
Though she joined the airline industry as a recent university graduate with no knowledge of the jargon, aeronautical abbreviations or technical side, she fell in love with her job “from day one.”
She recalled looking up, marvelling like a child, as to how such a “big bird could fly in the sky.”
Tight-knit team of ‘walking encyclopaedias’
Hwang’s colleagues – who she deemed “walking encyclopaedias” – were always available to her. She said their generosity in sharing knowledge was key to helping her grow, as she urged students not to be afraid of asking for help.
Curiosity is essential to success, Hwang said: “Ask yourself, how can I do better next time?”
Hwang noted that having an open mind, communication skills with customers and colleagues, as well as a thirst to learn, were essential. Mastering Cantonese, English and Putonghua were also a plus, she added.
As Cathay Director People, she now oversees all people-related matters within the company worldwide: “The aviation industry is vibrant and full of learning opportunities. It’s important to have a broad worldview and be motivated to learn about different cultures and have a grasp on global news, including both foreign and Chinese Mainland affairs.”
Aside from the Strive and Rise Programme, Cathay has pledged to support young Hong Kong students with cadet pilot training, graduate trainee programmes and workshops in partnership with the Vocational Training Council.
As a first-time mentor for the Strive and Rise Programme, Hwang said she hoped to learn from the students, as well as understand what’s on their minds and their expectations.
“I hope this will be a bilateral exchange between myself and the students,” Hwang said. “The youth are really our future.”
Supporting young Hongkongers
As the Strive and Rise Programme convenor, Chief Secretary Eric Chan officiated Saturday’s kick-off ceremony as the guest of honour alongside Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam.
Chan said he had faith that the airline and the government will extend collaboration and “enhance the competitiveness of the Hong Kong aviation industry.”
“I firmly believe that, with the joint efforts of the government, the business sector and the community, we can support young people to stand tall and reach new heights,” Chan added.
Cathay’s Ronald Lam said Cathay was proud of its deep roots in Hong Kong and remained committed to promoting youth development as a positive contribution to society.
“We will continue to focus our efforts on developing initiatives to promote this worthy cause, aimed at providing opportunities for young Hong Kong people to explore a career in aviation while also strengthening Hong Kong’s international aviation hub status.”
Charlie, a mentor during last year’s Strive and Rise Programme, observed that most teenagers were curious but shy, and sometimes hesitant to speak up at the start of the programme. Many students voiced anxiety about grappling with the weight of selecting the right major “that aligns with their interests, strengths, and long-term goals,” Charlie said.
But she noted a shift in their behaviour as they gradually built trust with peers and mentors: “They started to open up more and became more comfortable asking questions. It was evident that the supportive environment fostered by the group and mentors played a significant role in encouraging their growth and self-expression.”
Paid for by Cathay Pacific.
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