Some of Hong Kong’s most exciting and ground-breaking start-ups are run by female entrepreneurs. We break into their busy day, asking for advice that will inspire you to make it on your own. Today, we speak to Dorothy Chau, founder of Pretti5.
Young entrepreneurs are on the rise as the new generation looks for more career fulfilment and seeks to make an impact on society – on their own terms. It’s an opportunity to carve out your own niche, and while there’ll always be a level of risk you’ll need to shoulder on your own, nothing beats the joy of finding start-up success and doing something you love.
But what does it mean to be a successful entrepreneur? We ask the city’s strongest Female businesswomen about their scalable start-ups and social enterprises.
Dorothy Chau, Founder Pretti5
With a mission to bring about beauty inside and out and to rekindle busy millennials’ confidence in their own skin, Dorothy Chau started Pretti5 in 2018, a beauty skincare solution fusing traditional Chinese medicinal herbs with advanced skin science. Pretti5 aims to restore the skin’s natural glow through a clean, non-toxic, vegan and sustainable approach.
What’s a normal workday like for you?
Unlike normal retail companies, we start the day very early, before 8.30 am, so everyone can go home early and enjoy time with loved ones. We believe having a good balance is important for maintaining a good vibe in the office. Our customers can somehow feel it too.
What advice would you give someone looking to startup?
Having a good understanding of why you want to start something is very important. There’ll be lots of bumps, setbacks and frustrations during the process. But once it’s started, don’t look back and don’t compare. Just stay focused.
What was your biggest hurdle and how did you overcome it?
The biggest hurdles have always been psychological. No matter what you do, you can easily heed the naysayers and let their words get to you – especially when you’re not 100 percent confident in yourself. While we need to take constructive criticism, it’s equally important to discern whether the naysayers are just projecting their personal fear and issues onto you. We always have to safeguard our dreams, stand our ground and believe in ourselves. Having a positive support system is a must. When I feel stressed or frustrated, I’ll spend time with good friends in nature, soak in the positive energy and restart refreshed.
Why is Hong Kong an important market to you?
Hong Kong is my home. I love the city and I love the people here. I aspire to bring the best products to the city I love.
How do you define success? Do you consider yourself successful?
I think success is knowing you’d never fail in the process. Like the saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” we always learn.