Distinguished entrepreneur Mr Benjamin Kwok is a CityU Executive Master of Business Administration (2007) graduate while his daughter Lorinda is a MSc graduate (2010) in Accounting and Corporate Governance. Benjamin, Managing Director of Kwonnie Electrical Products Ltd., said that studying at CityU had made him realise the great value of life-long learning, and had helped him develop his own business. And Lorinda was happy that she took her father’s advice to study at CityU, finding the real-life case studies particularly useful.

Benjamin has played an influential role in his children’s lives from an early age. Viewing language skills as a key to developing global vision, he encouraged his children to become multilingual. He also emphasises the importance of teaching his children self-discipline. Now his eldest and second daughters work in his company, and third daughter Lorinda assists her husband’s business. Family-oriented Benjamin, who hails from a Chiuchow background, still organises gatherings for his immediate family every Sunday, and a once-monthly breakfast meeting for Kwok members, in which they share their views and experiences in daily life.

As President Honoris Causa of the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council, Honorary President of the Hong Kong Electrical Appliance Industries Association, and Secretary General of the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council Foundation, Benjamin emphasises a leading industry position, innovation and cost control as the keys to business success. He insists there is no sunset industry in Hong Kong, only sunset management! Kwonnie’s own corporate culture is people-oriented. “Entrepreneurs should share the fruits of their success with employees,” Benjamin said. Lorinda follows her father’s philosophy of diligence, perseverance and credibility. “I learn from my dad,” she said. “Competitiveness and a team spirit are needed both in business and at home.”

Benjamin, a dedicated supporter of CityU, is a Court member, Honorary Vice-President and member of the Alumni Advancement Committee of CityU Foundation. He is a founding member of the senior alumni group Eminence Society, and has set up an internship scholarship for science and engineering students to add to their competitiveness. He also serves as a Departmental Advisory Committee member. In turn, Lorinda encourages students and young alumni’s know-how by attending talks by senior alumni and learning from their experience.

詩禮傳家
     – 校友訪問 -郭燦耀先生與郭靜怡小姐

郭燦耀先生(Benjamin)是城大行政人員工商管理碩士(2007)，他說修讀城大這一課程，啟迪他終身學習，亦大大幫助他了解公司的業務。女兒郭靜怡小姐 (Lorinda) 聽從父親的建議，修讀城大專業會計與企業管治理學碩士(2010)。她十分認同城大的教學方式，尤其欣賞教授充份使用實例與學生討論，讓他們學會以靈活的眼光分析企業的問題。

Benjamin是光榮電業有限公司董事總經理，他重視培養子女的國際視野，鼓勵他們從少學習外語。他認為家教很重要，要孩子學會自律。他的長女和二女現在擔任公司的高層，而三女Lorinda則協助丈夫處理其化工企業。祖籍潮洲的Benjamin的家庭觀念很重，他說：「星期天是我們的家庭日，太太跟我和子女還會每個月有一次早餐聚會，分享人生經驗及生活點滴。」

雖然很多人說香港的製造業式微，但Benjamin說：「沒有夕陽工業，只有夕陽管理。」現任香港青年工業家協會榮譽會長、香港電器業協會榮譽會長、香港青年工業家協會基金會秘書長等多項公職，他說做生意一定要做行業領袖，帶領創新和懂得控制成本。跟管理家庭一樣，他的公司文化就是以人為本。他說：「企業家要多些與員工共享成果。」Lorinda緊記爸爸的教誨，她說：「保持競爭力十分重要，在家庭和公司也需要團隊精神。做人要勤勞，有毅力，有信用和勇於嘗試。」

Benjamin支持母校發展不遺餘力，他身兼城大顧問委員會成員、城大基金的榮譽副會長和校友拓展委員會成員及資深校友組織「城賢匯」創會會員。他曾設立實習生計劃獎學金，資助城大科學及工程學院學生前往工業機構實習，以積累工作經驗，從而提高競爭力，他最近更擔任大學部門的顧問委員會成員。Lorinda也鼓勵城大學生和年青校友多參加資深校友的分享活動，以觀摩前人的寶貴經驗。