Tell us a little something about you.
I ’m Florence — dentist by day and Founder & Executive Director of CantoGather by night. At first glance, these two worlds might seem unrelated, but together they allow me to use my abilities to help level the ground for those in need in society. Dentistry gives me a way to serve individuals directly, while CantoGather lets me serve communities. What began as a passion project in 2017 while I was still at university has now grown into a nonprofit working mainly with primary schools.
At CantoGather, we believe language and intercultural education must come hand in hand. Language opens doors, but intercultural competence ensures those doors lead to genuine connection. That’s why we bring children together in classrooms — giving non‑Chinese kids access to Cantonese while helping all children build the skills to understand, respect, and collaborate across cultures. And because community is nurtured not only in schools but also at home, we’ve begun working with parents too. Our vision is to see a Hong Kong where every neighbor, from every cultural background, is included, valued, and seen.
How does culture impact us and our decisions?
Culture, to me, is the lens through which we interpret the world. It can empower us with shared values, traditions, and belonging, but it can also create bias or limit our choices when expectations become rigid. Sometimes it helps us connect more deeply, sometimes it narrows our perspective. I see culture as both scaffolding and boundary — something that can support us but also confine us. The key is awareness: knowing when culture is helping us grow and when it might be holding us back.
How can one forge their own path while staying aligned with one’s cultural roots?
It’s all about balance. It starts with recognizing your uniqueness and understanding the traditional structures within your culture. Culture is part of our identity, but it doesn’t have to dictate every decision. I see it as a foundation — something to respect and accept — while building authentically on top of it. Alignment doesn’t mean conformity either. It means living with respect, balance, and authenticity.
What has been the most challenging time of your life?
The most challenging time of my life was deciding to pursue both dentistry and CantoGather simultaneously after graduation. As a new dentist, society often told me to focus, not to be distracted, and warned that splitting my energy would mean less success. Families also have their expectations — filial piety is a central value in Chinese culture, and success in Hong Kong often means being financially well‑off after years of education. The message was clear: I should stay on the path I had set out on.
But I trusted that this was the path God placed me on. My Christian faith gave me courage to look beyond myself and beyond society’s narrow definition of success. It reminded me that I didn’t have to follow a strict formula, but instead could follow where my heart was leading — toward the community. Faith helped me see my unique strengths not as distractions, but as contributions to society. I overcame by leaning into resilience, purpose, and conviction that both callings matter, even if they don’t fit the conventional mold.
What is the one mindset hack you live by?
The mindset hack I live by is simple: fail forward. Mistakes aren’t the end — they’re stepping stones. Grit means showing up again and again, even when things don’t go as planned, because progress comes from persistence, not perfection.
What would be your advice from women in Asia?
If I could offer advice to women in Asia, it would be to embrace your uniqueness. Don’t let society’s expectations define what you should or can do. Success doesn’t have to fit into a prescribed mold. Authenticity is more powerful than conformity, and courage lies in walking paths that aren’t always “approved.”
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