Turning innovation into leadership

A half tone image of Hong Kong's Octopus card coloured in green.

An image of a Hong Kong Octopus card, this time in its multicoloured form.

Dr Mo Lim 'Paul' Chan is the Managing Director of Smart Ticketing Ltd. As a longtime employee of the Hong Kong MTR (Mass Transit Railway Corporation), Paul is a pioneer of the contactless payment industry. His team of specialists designed the Octopus card, a contactless smart card system that revolutionised the payment systems industry and went on to influence a generation of similar products, including London's very own Oyster card.

Today, Paul manages his own business, is a highly in-demand consultant and a guest speaker on smart card systems across the world. In his spare time, he lectures at local universities and mentors young students.

Join us as we chat with Paul about his unique journey into leadership, unravel invaluable lessons and hear reflections from his career and unforgettable days as a student at King's.

What does leadership mean to you?

'Over my career, I've gone from leading teams of 20 employees to over 200 employees and the principles are always the same. You need to know how to build a good team from the ground up and understand what makes your employees tick. While working on the development of the Octopus card, I led a team of professionals (IT, system engineers and software engineers) in building the requirements to system integrators. Effective leadership requires taking inspiration and insights from past successes. In this instance, we looked to the existing fare system as a foundation, enhancing it into the Octopus system.

'Leadership is a slow learning process. I graduated from university with a good grasp on technology, but I didn't necessarily know how to manage people. I had to learn from my own role models and pick up life experiences that could inform my management style.'

What is your leadership style?

'In 35 years, I've never had to sack an employee. I think that's because I believe in positive management over negative management. I feel strongly that every team member needs to be onboard and working together to achieve a vision. For this reason, I like to uplift my employees and help them realise their potential. I don't criticise their work in public. Instead, I try to identify their obstacles and work closely with them to help bring those walls down. I also believe it's important to socialise with your staff. When I worked at Hong Kong MTR, I used to encourage my staff, regardless of their position, to join me for drinks after work at the Recreation Club underneath our offices. It's a good way to get to know each other and grow closer as colleagues.'

The passport photograph from Dr Chan's College ID.

The passport photograph from Dr Chan's College ID.

How did King's help you along your career journey?

'The university helped me in many ways. It gave me a solid, well-rounded education that I could use as a springboard into my graduate studies at the University of Warwick. The academic reputation has also helped to open many doors in my career. When I returned to Hong Kong in the 1980s, many employers wanted to hire people with a degree from King's College London. In that sense, I was very lucky.'

What do you treasure most about your time as a student at King's?

'Kings allowed me to dream bigger. On reflection, I cherish the social opportunities more than anything. I had a lot of fun as a student and met many of my lifelong friends at King's. I also loved living in London. It's one of the best cities in the world and there is no shortage of things for a young person to do. When I finished my classes, I used to walk all the way from campus to Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Chinatown, taking in the sights and checking out all the pubs and restaurants. Many years later, I encouraged my son to go to university in London because I knew he'd enjoy it for the same reasons I did.'

How did King's help you along your career journey?

'The university helped me in many ways. It gave me a solid, well-rounded education that I could use as a springboard into my graduate studies at the University of Warwick. The academic reputation has also helped to open many doors in my career. When I returned to Hong Kong in the 1980s, many employers wanted to hire people with a degree from King's College London. In that sense, I was very lucky!'

What do you treasure most about your time as a student at King's?

'King's allowed me to dream bigger. On reflection, I cherish the social opportunities more than anything. I had a lot of fun as a student and met many of my lifelong friends at King's. I also loved living in London. It's one of the best cities in the world and there is no shortage of things for a young person to do. When I finished my classes, I used to walk all the way from campus to Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Chinatown, taking in the sights and checking out all the pubs and restaurants. Many years later, I encouraged my son to go to university in London because I knew he'd enjoy it for the same reasons I did.'

What is your favourite memory from King's?

'There are too many to choose from! What stands out is the examination room next to Somerset House. Every time I walked into the room for one of my exams, I'd be so nervous I could barely see straight. If I got a good result, I'd celebrate by treating myself to a bowl of steaming hot noodle soup and roasted duck in one of my favourite Chinatown spots. I also have fond memories of visiting my tutor Professor Turner – this big, friendly guy who knew everything about microwaves – during his open-door hours and picking his brains about radio-frequency engineering. He was a lovely, lovely man and I think about him a lot.'

Has there been a particular challenge or difficult period in your life that you've had to overcome?

'There is a popular Chinese saying, "in life, the road is never smooth". I've been very blessed in my career, but I've had to overcome many personal challenges. Growing up, my parents didn't have a lot of money. When I was a teenager, they sent me to live with my uncle in England so that I could have a better education. Every day after school, I had to work in his restaurant. It was a big shock to my system and I was very homesick. In those days, we didn't have emails and it was too expensive to make an international phone call, so I would record messages on my C60 tape recorder and post the cassettes to Hong Kong.'

What advice would you give to students or graduates for success in life after King's?

'The work is important but don't forget to take time to enjoy yourself. One day, you'll look back on these early days as some of the most important in your life. Secondly, don't be discouraged if success doesn't come right away. If you work hard and be patient, it will come naturally.'

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What is your favourite memory from King's?

There are too many to choose from! What stands out is the examination room next to Somerset House. Every time I walked into the room for one of my exams, I'd be so nervous I could barely see straight. If I got a good result, I'd celebrate by treating myself to a bowl of steaming hot noodle soup and roasted duck in one of my favourite Chinatown spots. I also have fond memories of visiting my tutor Professor Turner – this big, friendly guy who knew everything about microwaves – during his open-door hours and picking his brains about radio-frequency engineering. He was a lovely, lovely man and I think about him a lot.

Has there been a particular challenge or difficult period in your life that you've had to overcome?

There is a popular Chinese saying, "in life, the road is never smooth". I've been very blessed in my career, but I've had to overcome many personal challenges. Growing up, my parents didn't have a lot of money. When I was a teenager, they sent me to live with my uncle in England so that I could have a better education. Every day after school, I had to work in his restaurant. It was a big shock to my system and I was very homesick. In those days, we didn't have e-mails and it was too expensive to make an international phone call, so I would record messages on my C60 tape recorder and post the cassettes to Hong Kong.

What advice would you give to students or graduates for success in life after King's?

The work is important but don't forget to take time to enjoy yourself. One day, you'll look back on these early days as some of the most important in your life. Secondly, don't be discouraged if success doesn't come right away. If you work hard and be patient, it will come naturally.

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Ellie Stone

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Paul Brooks
Hermione Cameron
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