擇善固執的勇氣

「我們的計劃不成功是因為沒有目標，一個人若不知道他要航向哪個港口，沒有風向會是順風的。」很難想像會有一本保險理財冊子引用哲學家塞內卡的話，冊子出自宏利資深區域總監陳寬手筆，這位「90後」新傳人說，在學院學到最重要的是怎樣說故事，而這能力適用於不同工作。

陳寬本科畢業後，順理成章做了記者，兩年後轉換保險跑道。他坦言轉行因家庭經濟需要，但這些經歷裝備了他，「記者工作講求速度、一心多用、一人完成三人工作量。現時有人疑惑為何我如此『捱得』，如果你做過記者，其實沒什麼是你做不到的，這是很好的訓練。」

陳寬喜歡日本動漫，因為熱血，辦公室貼滿《海賊王》的海報和金句；他本人也許也是個熱血故事：年紀輕輕就到達這個職級、領導過百人的團隊，但轉行一開始其實並不順利，靠新傳所學「過關打大佬」。新傳訓練了他說故事的能力，小至如何拍片、出書、經營社交媒體，大至建立個人品牌，「很多人對理財並無概念，覺得很複雜，但本科就是教我們怎樣令複雜事物簡單化，將冷冰冰的東西變得有溫度。」

能夠將新傳所學應用到現時工作上，對陳寬而言滿足感很大。他在新傳學到擇善固執：「世界是個大染缸，在面對引誘和利益時選擇正確和善良，是很需要勇氣的。」

「老師說我們的筆和口很重要，現在我也這樣跟同事說，很多人對保險一竅不通，你說的就是真相，就像以前做記者，大家會相信你的報導，因為你有這個身份。我覺得世上有三個行業，有沒有用心做可以差天共地，除了記者和老師，就是保險代理。」

簡介：
陳寬，2016年畢業於香港中文大學新聞與傳播學院，現為宏利資深區域總監。

The Courage to Stand by What’s Right

“Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” It’s rare to find an insurance and financial planning booklet quoting Seneca, but that’s exactly what Nicholas Chan, Senior District Director at Manulife Hong Kong, did. This millennial rising star believes that the most valuable skill he gained in college was storytelling – an asset he’s found invaluable across different career paths.

After graduating from the School of Journalism and Communication, Chan took what seemed like a natural step into journalism, only to pivot to the insurance industry two years later. He’s candid about the switch, acknowledging it was driven by financial necessity, but he sees his journalism background as invaluable preparation. “Journalism teaches you to work at lightning speed, juggle multiple tasks, and handle the workload of three people single-handedly. When people ask how I manage such a demanding schedule now, I tell them that after being a journalist, everything else feels manageable – it was the ultimate boot camp.”

A self-proclaimed anime enthusiast, Chan’s office walls are adorned with One Piece posters and inspirational quotes, reflecting his passionate approach to life. His own story is equally compelling: at a remarkably young age, he’s already risen to a senior position leading a team of over a hundred people. The journey wasn’t always smooth sailing – when he first made the switch to insurance, he relied heavily on his journalism skills to win over senior management and establish himself in the industry. His journalism training honed his storytelling skills, equipping him with everything from practical abilities like video production, publishing and social media management to broader skills like personal branding. “Many people find financial planning intimidating and complex,” he explains. “My journalism training taught me how to break down complicated concepts and add a human touch to technical subjects.”

Chan finds deep satisfaction in applying his journalism education to his current role. One of the most important lessons he carried forward was the principle of standing firm in doing what’s right: “In a world full of compromises, it takes real courage to choose integrity and kindness when faced with temptation and profit.”

“Our professors always emphasized the weight our words carried, whether written or spoken,” he reflects. “I tell my team the same thing now. Since most people have limited knowledge of insurance, your words shape their understanding of truth – similar to how people trust a journalist’s reporting. I believe there are three professions where genuine dedication makes all the difference: journalism, teaching, and insurance consulting.”

Profile:
Nicholas Chan graduated from the School of Journalism and Communication at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2016 and currently serves as Senior District Director at Manulife Hong Kong.