From classroom to boardroom: Dicky Lee’s adventure in nurturing bright minds!

“As a graduate of EdUHK, I have a deeply ingrained commitment to cultivating young talent. Although I did not pursue a career in teaching, my passion for nurturing the next generation compels me to share my professional knowledge and work experiences. I believe it is crucial to remind them of the importance of staying current with industry developments and upholding professional ethics,” said Mr Dicky Lee Tik-kee, recipient of the Outstanding FLASS Alumni Award 2023/24.

Mr Lee (CPA, ACCA, Chartered Tax Adviser) completed his undergraduate studies and earned a Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Secondary) degree with a major in Business Studies from the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) in 2008. While still a student at HKIEd, he successfully completed 14 examination papers for membership in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), qualifying as an accountant in the graduation year.

Following his graduation, he entered the auditing field and subsequently joined Deloitte, one of the world’s Big Four accountancy firms, where he worked as an Audit Manager until 2015. After joining Deloitte, he began to gain prominence in the business sector, taking on roles such as Executive Director, Head of Chairman International Management Office, Head of International Business, Chief Financial Officer, and Committee Member of various business and investment committees for several public and multinational corporations. Currently, Mr Lee holds the position of Vice President of Finance at Elitestek Semiconductor Group and serves as Committee Member of the ACCA Professional Development Committee, SME Committee, and Student Affairs Committee.

Mr Lee has encountered numerous challenges and memorable moments that have shaped his achievements. One particularly significant experience was his tenure at Ningbo Boway Group, a top 500 Chinese manufacturing company specialising in the research, development, production, and sales of new materials and new energy. “I was an Audit Manager at Deloitte when the chairman of the Ningbo-based group invited me to join. As part of the top management team at Ningbo Boway Group, my responsibilities were markedly different from those I had as an auditor. In my new role, I was responsible for the group’s international business and strategy, general management and finance including mergers and acquisitions and various other areas,” Mr Lee recalled.

Adding to his challenges was the group’s acquisition of Berkenhoff GmbH. “Berkenhoff GmbH is a German company and a global leader with over 130 years of experience in the high-tech precision wires industry. I was tasked with overseeing the post-merger integration and general management. To familiarise myself with the various businesses within both Ningbo Boway Group and Berkenhoff GmbH, I held regular meetings with different section leaders to understand their operations. I also procured numerous books about the industry for study. This period marked a significant leap in my knowledge,” said Mr Lee.

Reflecting on his career journey, Mr Lee identified self-directed learning as one of the key factors behind his success. To excel at Ningbo Boway Group and other companies, he recognised the necessity of acquiring new knowledge. “The experience of studying for my ACCA qualifications during my time at EdUHK honed my ability to learn independently. Since then, the desire for knowledge has become an integral part of my identity and has proven an invaluable asset throughout my professional career,” he emphasised.

The orchestrated efforts of Ningbo Boway Group’s senior management team have successfully transformed Berkenhoff GmbH. While Mr Lee takes immense pride in this achievement, his greatest satisfaction throughout his business career stems not from financial gains. “In the years working in various financial roles or in the business world, I took nurturing talent and sharing knowledge within the industry as my most important duty,” the business high-flyer said. He added that his commitment to fostering the younger generation is a legacy imparted by EdUHK .

During his time when EdUHK was still referred to as HKIEd, there was a prevalent perception that only aspiring teachers attended the institute. In reality, around 80% of his classmates entered the teaching profession upon graduation. “Even though I have chosen finance, business and auditing as my fields, I still see myself as a bearer of the teaching baton, only in an unconventional manner,” Mr Lee said.

Mr Lee possesses teaching qualifications similar to those of his classmates; however, he chose not to teach in schools, but rather in workplaces. “My alma mater instilled in me that the foremost quality an educator must possess is integrity. As a finance professional and business person, I am deeply passionate about imparting not only professional knowledge, but also strong ethics and positive attitudes in the workplace,” he asserted.

At EdUHK, he learnt that teaching involves setting oneself as a role model. “Since joining the ACCA Young Members Committee in 2021, I have embraced every opportunity to share my expertise in finance with younger generations. I consistently emphasise that in our rapidly changing world, maintaining strong curiosity is essential for absorbing new knowledge and skills. I also remind them that a robust work ethic—adhering to rules and regulations as well as contractual standards—is vital for long term success,” he conveyed.

On 26 August, Mr Lee received his award from Dr Fox Hu Zhiyong, acting department head of the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS). In remarks following the award presentation, Mr Lee told his juniors that life is fundamentally about decisions and studying at EdUHK many years ago was one of the decisions that profoundly changed his life by shaping him into who he is today. “EdUHK graduates can compete with alumni from other prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oxford University, Cambridge University and Peking University. In fact, I still have contact with colleagues and classmates from these universities with whom I have competed in the same field,” he stated proudly.

It has been 16 years since Mr Lee departed EdUHK to embark on his career journey, during which he has achieved remarkable milestones. In 2023, he furthered his education by obtaining an Executive MBA from both Columbia University and London Business School. As he continues to advance professionally, he remains committed to what his education at EdUHK inspired: the belief in continuous learning and leading by example alongside the responsibility of cultivating talent and passing on knowledge.

As he said, one of the most treasurable lessons he learnt here is the importance of creating positive value for one’s family, company, peers, and society at large—an ethos that guides him daily. We wish him every success as he strives to make a meaningful impact within his field and beyond.

Please read related article about Outstanding FLASS Alumni Award.