At Philanthropy for Better Cities (PBC) 2026, convened by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Malina, our Group CEO, joined the panel discussion “From the Field to the Boardroom: Training for Leadership.” Drawing on her journey from athlete to Asian Games rowing medallist, she shared how sport has shaped her leadership and why its lessons should be extended to the next generation.
The Foundation of Leadership Excellence
Malina described sport as society’s greatest leadership university – one that develops discipline, resilience, self-awareness and teamwork far beyond the pursuit of medals. “My sports background taught me that success is not built in the spotlight. It is built in the quiet moments of discipline, preparation and consistency. In sport and in business, discipline turns ambition into results.”
Years after stepping away from elite competition, Malina said she still “lives like an athlete,” applying the same discipline to exercise and continuous learning. Sport also cultivated the capacity for honest reflection: “In sport, self-awareness tells you where you need to train. In leadership, it tells you where you need to grow.”
Teamwork is equally fundamental. “Sport taught me that winning is never about the person holding the trophy. It is about the team behind the result. Leadership is exactly the same,” Malina said. As Group CEO, she measures success not by individual achievement, but by whether thousands of colleagues are empowered to perform better.
She therefore sees herself less as a coach on the sidelines and more as a team captain on the field — setting direction while remaining fully engaged in the game. People, she noted, follow more than instructions; they follow standards, energy, discipline and example.
Leading Through Imperfection
This philosophy also shapes the culture Malina seeks to build across AS Watson. “Culture is not what we say; culture is what we repeatedly do.” A multinational organisation does not need everyone to be the same, but it does need everyone to be aligned. High performance is rarely about doing something extraordinary once; it is about doing the essential things exceptionally well, consistently, every day. Malina also emphasised that excellence should not be confused with perfection: “In business, not everything is perfect. Leaders must navigate internal, external, people-related and environmental factors. I therefore had to change my mindset: it is not about perfection, but about managing imperfection. No organisation will have a dream team at every moment.”
Turning Performance into Lasting Impact
Her own transition from athletics to rowing after a serious knee injury reinforced another enduring principle: resilience is not about never falling, but recovering faster. Malina connected these leadership lessons directly to philanthropy. “Companies generate profit, but the most successful companies improve lives. Donations matter, but lasting impact matters more.” For AS Watson, sport and philanthropy share the same mission: unlocking human potential.
Supporting the Next Generation
As an extension of this commitment, AS Watson Group Hong Kong Outstanding Student Sports Awards recognises young athletes’ dedication and achievements, while Watsons Athletic Club provides sustained opportunities for young people to train, compete and realise their potential.
Rebecca Chiu, Community Relations Manager of AS Watson, said: “Through these programmes, we recognise achievement and create pathways for young people to grow through sport, building resilience, confidence and teamwork that will empower them throughout life.”
