Louis Li
International Affairs Manager − Cathay Pacific
University of Hong Kong − Bachelors of Business Administration, Accounting and Finance Major
Joined the Swire Management Trainee Programme in 2006
I was seeking an international career, so I had a strong interest in working with Swire. The recruiting process was really impressive and the opportunities for travel and leadership roles attracted me. By nature, the airline industry is more international, so I knew that joining Cathay Pacific would require mobility.
In my first posting I was travelling frequently to other countries to meet our airport operations teams and help set standards and measure performance for our airport operations worldwide. My second year was also a whirlwind of new experiences because I was in Beijing right before the Olympics. The career I'd wished for was taking shape as I saw more of the world and tackled new responsibilities.
My final year as a trainee was spent in the Hong Kong Sales office and my department had to deal with the financial crisis head on, devising new promotions to persuade people to fly. I went from combating revenue loss to my next role in Bangladesh where I was managing other people for the first time. It was a completely new challenge, but I was thrilled by the excitement of being in South Asia for the first time.
My current role in the International Affairs department involves a lot of research on government policies. From air traffic policies to legislation of new laws, government policies have a huge impact on every aspect of our business and I enjoy taking part in the company's strategic planning process.
The rotational aspect of the job is challenging, but I am getting to know first-hand how the business runs. I enjoy travelling so that aspect of work is really fun for me. Adapting to a new culture, falling into a new routine with different people, different responsibilities and different food is the really interesting part of the time I've spent with Swire.
On an overseas posting, I will explore the city and do some sight-seeing after completing my work commitments, and often make friends with people I wouldn't have met in Hong Kong. Being open-minded and culturally sensitive is essential to navigating an unfamiliar place. I manage to make use of my time spent in airports and on planes to catch up with my hobby, reading.
Swire is a very strong company, with integrity at the core of its culture. Cathay Pacific is an internationally recognised award-winning airline with a very bright future. If you enjoy new challenges, you'll appreciate a diverse career at Swire. Be curious and be ready to move from country to country along your career: there is just so much to see and learn!