The Institution of Resilience and Curiosity

The Institution of Resilience and Curiosity

At our last joint discovery event of fellowship 2025, we had the honour of not only witnessing the exclusive behind-the-scenes of Cathay Pacific but also engaging in meaningful conversations with leaders who make it all look seemingly too easy and who have been a part of laying the foundation of such a legacy. The fireside chat with Patricia Hwang, Cathay’s Director of People, and Annie Lam, a Swire Management Trainee, was more than just a conversation; it was a transformative experience tapping into the world of aviation.

What really stuck with me was Patricia’s recipe of success – resilience and endless curiosity. When asked about her 20 years of career at Cathay and the reason behind her choice to stick to this career path, Patricia’s answer was really simple but powerful – ‘I remember looking up from the old Kai Tak Airport, wondering how such a big bird could fly in the sky and it incited my curiosity every single time, and that’s where it all started!’. Fast forward 20 years into ‘staying curious’, Patricia now stands at the very forefront leading Cathay, having stayed resilient to endless challenges while redefining the lens to see them as opportunities for learning. And this was it! The reminder we all need sometimes – to hold onto our sense of wonder, to keep asking questions and exploring our interests.

Annie’s sharing further underscored the critical role of resilience. As the project lead for Sales and Distribution at Cathay, Annie touched on how prevalent imposter syndrome is, especially starting fresh out of university. She shared how there is often a profound sense of self-doubt that accompanies being entrusted with great responsibilities when you still feel like you lack in many areas. Annie highlighted the importance of pushing through all these experiences and putting up your best show since you would either reach a new milestone in your career or it would impart a valuable lesson; the concept of ‘failing’ is never really an outcome anyway!

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