HKU Business School Alumni Willam JOY: Navigating through the Aquatics World and Business World
Freediver Jin Ming (William Joy) holds multiple Asian records and is also the world champion in Dynamic Apnea with Fins (DYN). The Shanghai-born athlete, who is able to cover 311 metres in just one breath, only started diving formally in 2018. Since then, he has continued to break national, Asian, and world records, and helped the Chinese National Team reach new heights in the aquatics world. To the surprise of many, Jin Ming doesn’t devote all his time to training.
In order to excel at both competitions and work, Jin Ming is extremely strict with time management. He tends to avoid socialising and entertainment. As a firm believer of the “811 rule”, Jin Ming spends 80% of his time on business, just 10% on freediving and dedicates the remaining 10% to studying.
Whether in the sports arena or the commercial world, Jin Ming’s tenacity and determination are second to none. He first started investing in 2009 and is the founder and CEO of the tech firm – Jilian Group. As a business leader, he thought it would be best to return to school and study finance.
In 2021, Jin Ming enrolled in the Master of Business Administration (International) Programme jointly organised by the HKU Business School and the School of Management of Fudan University. The two-year course is ranked number one among global, part-time MBA programmes . He sees great value in the international programme that keeps him up to date with the latest industry news and trends. Jin Ming is also inspired by outstanding entrepreneurs within the alumni network at HKU Business School, boasting over 6,000 alumni worldwide. As a student, Jin Ming has been encouraged to rethink many fundamental investment theories, leading him to create new theoretical frameworks and innovative tools.
The diving icon thinks it is very easy for people to focus solely on his achievements, neglecting the fact that he would “experience failures 99 percent of the time” as an entrepreneur or an athlete. In fact, just a few years ago, Jin Ming hit a stumbling block in one of his freediving events. He recalled how people close to him, including his mother, suggested that he call it quits whilst still at the top of his game. Had he given up back then, he would never have smashed the world record earlier this year. In his words, “I believe that breaking human limits is inherently challenging. If I give up so easily, I feel like I haven’t fully utilised my potential.” As for challenges in the tech industry, the entrepreneur is adamant that any setback will only help oneself discover new skills and motivate them to do better next time. Jin Ming has proved that dedication and embracing failure will result in great success.
To his fellow schoolmates at HKU, his message is simple – “Failures are a norm in life. Just remember to keep trying.”