The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has triggered discussions among professionals such as "Will I be replaced by AI?" or "Do I have enough professional knowledge to cope with challenges and enhance my competitiveness?" Regarding these concerns, the successful experience of alumnus Adonis Cheung can serve as a reference. Adonis, currently the Assistant Vice President of Lenovo PCCW Solutions (LPS), a cloud service and enterprise solution provider, leads his team to provide system innovation, maintenance, and other services for large enterprises and institutions. He particularly focuses on tailor-made solutions for clients to enhance efficiency and deepen the commercial value of high-tech applications. He serves as an example and emphasizes that in this rapidly changing era, continuous learning and advancement are crucial for maintaining the cutting-edge of hard skill knowledge. Meanwhile, soft skills need to be constantly honed through practice and time. Adonis firmly believes that employees who possess both professional knowledge and soft skills are more favored by employers. Therefore, he believes that IT professionals should always enhance their skills sets, enrich their soft skills such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving, and learn to apply both "soft" and "hard" skills appropriately to stand out in the new era.
Exploring New Knowledge and Planning for the Future
Having grown up in the millennium era where the internet flourished, Adonis realised the importance of technology even in his early years. He bought a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with internet access as his first "mobile phone" when smartphones were not yet widespread and mobile phones were only used for making calls and sending text messages. With his part-time earnings, he delved into the device. Adonis, full of curiosity and enthusiasm for new technology products, turned his passion into a career starting point by choosing to enroll in the Higher Diploma in Internet Computing and Applications at IVE. He studied the architecture of network information systems and explored future technological applications, laying a solid foundation for his future career development. Adonis is grateful to the articulate teachers he encountered during his studies at IVE, who inspired him to plan his career well and understand that the value of information technology lies in its market practice. Products or services must be "household" and "people-oriented," as technology should serve to enhance the quality of life.
Eloquent and Good at Grasping Opportunities
After graduation, Adonis found customer relationship management and communication more challenging than developing computer programs. Therefore, he joined a telecommunications company to work in sales, honing his marketing and interpersonal communication skills. Facing customer rejections, he remained optimistic and persistent, taking "never fear failure, never give up" as his motto. To further enhance his professional skills, he took a part-time Bachelor's degree in Applied Computing, constantly strengthening his soft and hard skills.
Later, Adonis continued to broaden his horizons and joined an international entertainment and gaming group as a technician. Working with colleagues from diverse nationalities not only enhanced his cross-cultural communication skills and broadened his horizons, but also allowed him to seize a crucial development opportunity. At that time, the company was preparing to adopt the globally leading SAP brand to upgrade its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and was looking for employees to undergo training to assist various departments in applying the new system and integrating databases to improve operational efficiency and productivity. Adonis saw this as a rare opportunity for self-enhancement, so he volunteered to join the team, gaining access to the company's core business. He later successfully obtained SAP professional certification, becoming a highlight in his resume.
Flexible and Skilled for Career Success
He later joined another technology company and rose to the management level, responsible for opening the marker of enterprise-level cloud service. With his rich work experience, refined interpersonal wisdom gained over the years, and solid professional knowledge base, he has become increasingly adept at understanding customer needs, proficient in upselling strategies, and skilled in enhancing the commercial value of technology products. Therefore, customers have increasingly regarded his team as "problem-solving partners" rather than mere "salespeople," thus establishing a solid and good cooperation relationship.
Once, due to poor communication by an intermediary, a customer misunderstood the company's capabilities. Adonis remained calm and led his team to prepare carefully, clarifying responsibilities beforehand and preparing detailed data and information. At the meeting, he calmly and convincingly proved that the company was not at fault in the incident. He was also flexible in tactics, and utilized the company's backup resources to immediately provide a solution for the customer, successfully turning the business crisis into a win-win deal and bringing considerable profits to the company.
A few years ago, he joined Lenovo PCCW Solutions (LPS), a cloud service and enterprise solution provider, and has now been promoted to Assistant Vice President, leading the department of Managed Services. He leads his team to provide services such as system innovation and maintenance for large enterprises and institutions, and tailors solutions to meet customer needs to improve efficiency, help the company expand its business, and achieve long-term development strategies, visions, and missions. Adonis 's career development trajectory fully demonstrates that having both soft and hard skills, that can assist in corporate growth and long-term development, is the key to career success.
Giving Back to Alma Mater
Adonis has made every effort to contribute to his alma mater, actively participating in student learning activities to train his younger peers in speech skills, enhance their self-confidence, and equip them with the soft skills necessary for the workplace. He encourages young people to work hard, experiment more, learn widely, refine their abilities, and bravely face the challenges on the path of life.
