What does leadership mean to you?
Being a true leader to lead the team to a success in the round. It's not just about myself and my success, but for the entire team with members who are willing to grow with me, and to work hard for the good.
What do you see as the attributes of great leadership?
One has to have confidence in him/herself and with empathy to listen to the needs around you. Also needs to be honest to yourself and to your colleagues.
What do you find most rewarding about leading?
When I have the respect from my colleagues and they are willing to share with me how they feel about things.
What have been your greatest leadership challenges and how have you overcome them?
For now, I have my own firm, and can make decisions to control my own destiny, leadership is not difficult for me. But in the past, when I am under a big corporate structure, my hands were tied, and being a sub-office in an international law firm, I felt that I was there only to pass messages without reflecting the real needs of those working for me.
How have you enriched your own leadership experience?
I learned from other senior members of the professions. In fact, I also learned from my colleagues who will be honest to tell me what I should and should not do.
How has your view of leadership changed over time?
As I have become more matured and experienced (also means I am older!), I also try to pass leadership skill to my successors.
What advice would you give to emerging leaders?
One always need to learn from setback. Be humble to listen to other's views, reflect upon it, and try to improve.
Rita Ku - Managing Partner of Rita Ku & Sur
Rita has been practising family law in Hong Kong for over 20 years. She started from a local law firm, then moved to an international firm and became one of their equity partners leading the HK litigation team afterwards. She set up her own law firm in 2022 focusing on servicing clients' life needs. The firm now has 9 lawyers and another 10 support staff.