Management And Leadership for Education and Health

Covid-19 disrupted business and trade worldwide, seriously undermining the global economy – but hasn’t it also helped to create new opportunities? The business environment shaped by the pandemic has reinvigorated management models and leadership styles as a result of increased digitalisation in sectors such as education and health, especially mental health. How have these sectors in the Asia Pacific been impacted by this ‘new normal’? How have managers working in these areas utilised new opportunities creatively and strategically?

CMI Hong Kong recently hosted a webinar to explore these questions.  Among the panellists were:

• Dr Paulina Chan, Regional Chair of CMI Hong Kong and Trustee on the Board of CMI
• Dr Maggie Palmer, Associate Director of UK Department for International Trade (DIT) in Hong Kong
• Dr Leon Lei, E-learning Technologist at the University of Hong Kong (HKU)
• The Chair of CMI Singapore, Mr Tay Woon Teck
• The Chair of CMI Sri Lanka, Mr Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa
• Hon Secretary of CMI Sri Lanka, Ms Kamaya Perera
• CMI Hong Kong board member, Mr Derek Choi
• CMI Hong Kong board member, Mr Michael Chi On Wong

During the webinar, speakers across the regions acknowledged the pandemic’s adverse impact on both people and business from the education and health sectors.  In order to overcome the challenges and barriers arising from changes in working styles and lifestyles, it was suggested that managers must acquire new skill sets and also make use of technological resources.  Citing cases and examples from Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore and Sri Lanka, the speakers discussed the ways people in different regions have practised management and leadership in their respective contexts.  The common fundamental ingredients for success identified by the speakers were: resilience, agility, creativity, innovation, care, evolution, enthusiasm, and passion.