Inside the Next China: A Book Sharing with Joe Ngai
HKU Business School was honoured to welcome Joe Ngai, Greater China Chairman of McKinsey & Company, for an inspiring book sharing that brought together 110+ alumni and students for an evening of insight, reflection, and lively exchange in “Next China.”
Prof. Hongbin Cai, Dean of HKU Business School, opened the event with welcoming remarks, setting the stage for a timely conversation on China’s evolving business landscape and the opportunities ahead.
Drawing from his book, The Next China Is Still China: An Insider’s Playbook for Winning in the New Era, Mr. Ngai offered a compelling perspective on China’s transformation. While the country is navigating slower growth, demographic shifts, and intensifying competition, its scale, resilience, and capacity for innovation remain extraordinary. A standout theme of the evening was “involution”, a powerful lens for understanding today’s China. As he put it, China is the “toughest gym in the world”, where companies are pushed to move faster, execute better, stay lean, and innovate relentlessly. Looking ahead, Mr. Ngai reflected if the last chapter of China’s rise was defined by grit and ambition, the next will increasingly be shaped by skill and technology.
The conversation continued with an engaging fireside chat moderated by Prof. Heiwai Tang, Associate Dean (External Relations) of HKU Business School, exploring how companies can compete and thrive in China, how multinationals are adapting, and how Chinese enterprises are expanding globally and reshaping industries.
A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Albert Yu, our HKU EMBA – International Stream student, Chairman of Global Growth Alliance, and Board of Governors of HKU Business School Alumni Association, for his generous support of this meaningful exchange within the business school community.
Thank you to all our alumni, students, and guests for being part of the evening. We look forward to more inspiring conversations that connect and energise our community.
