Movember: Be a man, take a break

Movember is a worldwide, nonprofit cause that brings about flocks of moustaches and beards to cities every penultimate month of the year. It’s a time when people, particularly men, take stock of the importance of their health, both mental and physical. For this month’s cover story, we spoke to six male entrepreneurs from various industries to get a grasp of what life is like for men in Hong Kong. Do they feel supported? Perhaps overworked?

James Thomson-Sakhrani: Founder of Style Standard

James Thomson-Sakhrani is the founder of Style Standard, which is, as he puts it, “all about making great style and grooming accessible to the everyday guy.” James is also the director of his family foundation, The Amber Foundation where he runs the environmental programme, creating hygiene kits to be distributed to charitable partners around Hong Kong.

As a Harvard graduate, he dabbled in a few other fields before landing on this one. “Over the course of my career, I fell into the men’s style and grooming world and realised there was a distinct lack of clear support and guidance for men who wanted to start dressing and looking better, so I ended up starting Style Standard as a way to make men’s style and grooming easy to access for all sorts of men around the city and region,” he says.

When it comes to his own health, James has found that sometimes, being disarmingly honest about what you’re going through is the only way to go. “I got diagnosed with ADHD when I was pretty young and it’s been a long journey of discovery and understanding in terms of figuring out what that means for how I work and function,” says James. “Through a large part of my life, I really struggled with understanding that my issues with ADHD and the anxiety and depression that came with it weren’t a personal failing or representative of who I am as a person, so I’ve really tried to help spread that message within my own circle. In fact, I’ve found that by discussing these things and being as honest and upfront as I could be has helped a few other friends realise that they may have similar issues and are now in the process of getting checked out and helped.”

For James, it is these values that intersect with the passion he has for making people feel good about themselves at Style Standard. “American football player Deion Sanders once said, ‘If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.’ I’ve always firmly believed that taking care of the way you look is incredibly important to mental health and development. I wanted to make that available to all sorts of men.”

Jack Sealy: Cofounder of Sauce Barbershop

As most Hongkongers will tell you, life in this city can be a tad overwhelming at times, and Jack Sealy is no stranger to the hustle and bustle. While he is one of the founders of Sauce Barbershop on Elgin Street in Central, he’s also a professional football player. “I have been playing football full time for the last 10 to 11 years, so apart from training 6 times a week with my team, I also go to the gym three to four times a week. When I’m not in training, or I’m in the off season, I hike, swim, and am partial to a bit of wakeboarding too.”

Needless to say, Sealy is someone who, over the years, has learned how to take care of himself not only in a physical capacity but in the emotional sense, too. To him though, it’s one and the same. “Men’s health is such a major talking point at the moment, and for me I think it’s really about letting your emotions out, and the rest will follow. I feel if you are open with your feelings, eventually you’ll have a clearer outlook on things and hopefully feel more confident, have more clarity about life, work, relationships etc, and have a drive to stay active and healthy,” he says.

Sometimes, it can be easier to open up to people you don’t know very well. We’ve seen it in the bartender and customer trope in movies. Since Sealy is the man in charge of front of house operations at Sauce Barbershop, he’s seen the same dynamic between barber and client.

“Working in a barbershop, men tend to talk about things they may not even tell their wife or best friend, so we may have to lend an ear to just be there if people want to talk. It’s great people feel so comfortable talking as soon as they are in the chair, they create such trust, and bond with their barber that it can sometimes turn into a therapy session, with both client and barber sharing stories,” says Sealy. “It’s a safe space for guys to talk, and it’s brilliant to see. Looking good and feeling good also plays a part in our industry, because if you come out feeling a million dollars after a fresh haircut, you’re going to have that extra bit of confidence to tackle whatever is thrown your way.”

When asked whether there was any advice he wished he’d had when he was younger, he responded simply: “Never feel scared or embarrassed to talk about anything. And never compare yourself to others.”

Malbert Lee: Sound alchemist

In a city where most people are accustomed to the rush of city living, from working long hours to de-stressing through fast and furious means, Lee strives to show others that joy can be found in the quieter moments. He works to fight against men’s health stigma by setting an example. “Sound-healing is something that I’m very passionate about and I would like to use it as a way to make a positive impact on the world,” he says. Lee is a professional sound-healer and yoga teacher. As a leading man in the wellness industry, Lee has spent the entirety of his career trying to help people grapple with stress. How does he do this? “I offer sound experiences with the use of various instruments such as singing bowls and gongs. The effect can be healing, relaxing, energising and rejuvenating. My expertise in sound therapy and the modern approach can benefit everyone, especially with our stressful urban life.” Lee is professionally trained with 10 sound-healing experts around the world, with years of experience offering one-on-one and group sessions to clients including international banks, hotels and luxury brands. “I enjoy what I do and it doesn’t feel like work. What I do as a sound healer is a way of living. There’s no on or off switch. It made sense to start my own business so I can pursue my passion with flexibility, freedom and continuity by investing in myself,” he explains. When it comes to the topic of men’s health, he believes that it should be a balance of yin and yang. “Yang focuses on the physical body such as exercise; yin focuses on the mental and energy body such as meditation, mindfulness and sound therapy to de-stress and relax.”

These mindful practices have become a fundamental part of who Lee is and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He is dedicated to showing people that sometimes, you just have to slow down and take a minute to check in on you. “Men can benefit from taking part in slower-paced activities,” says Lee. “There’s still a lot of people who believe in ‘no pain, no gain’ or ‘if I don’t break a sweat nothing improves.’ With the mental health crisis we are facing and so many illnesses that are stress-related, I think we can all agree that this kind of belief needs to go.” We agree, Lee.

Michael Wong: Cofounder of Maicapital.io

Michael Wong is a co-founder of MaiCapital, a leading asset management company in Hong Kong that combines SFC-licensed operation with deep technologies to offer a range of funds that invest in blockchain/crypto-related assets, and other investment assets. Founded in 2018 by two Hong Kong natives and Stanford alums, MaiCapital became one of the first Hong Kong SFC licensees to offer institutionalised wealth products that invest into Blockchain assets.

It’s safe to say that Wong knows all about the highs and lows of a demanding lifestyle in the city. When you work in his industry, things are typically high stakes–as are his stress levels, which is why he has learned to keep his priorities in check. “In the digital asset industry, the markets never sleep. This can add a lot of mental stress to everyone on the team. We aim to raise more awareness within our company and industry to take better care of physical and mental health.”

On a personal level, Wong believes it’s important to be motivated by the right things. “My wife’s support is key, especially from the emotional side. She’s like a best friend to me and just talking to her helps relieve stress.”

Today, within Hong Kong, there are only a handful of Blockchain-themed investment funds that are managed by a properly licensed fund manager. “Our company is not only a leading fund manager in the Blockchain space, but we also have an auditable track record of over two and a half years that showcases how we consistently generate superb growth for our funds while operating under a regulatory compliant framework.” There are no other SFC-licensed Blockchain fund managers in Hong Kong that have a track record this long. To get to this point, Wong learned that if you’re going to be shooting for the stars, you have to try and keep your feet on the ground too.“When I was younger, my health was always an afterthought. This obviously doesn’t work and was quite ironic. I aimed to build a business that’s sustainable, yet I didn’t do the same for myself. I realised that I have to dedicate time to take care of myself so I can become more ‘sustainable’, for myself, my family and my business.”

Johnson Zhou: Founder of Bottle Wander

Johnson Zhou is in the wine business, but because he loves what he does, he doesn’t speak about his vocation like it’s work. “I fell in love with wine the first time I visited an ancient Abbey in Burgundy, and we drove through vineyards with exceptional views. For me it isn’t just the taste of wine itself, it’s the experience that brings me the most joy.” Bottle Wander, his company and brainchild located on Hollywood Road in Central, operates as a wine merchant who imports wines from boutique wineries that produce high quality wines. “There are new generations of unconventional winemakers, Bien de Altura from Canary Island in Spain for example, who is focused on preserving and reviving ancient, abandoned vineyards,” says Zhou, commenting on the changing culture within the industry that has been brought about by a new demand for more than just a good bottle.

“We want to bridge the gap between traditional wine shops and formal wine education by offering small-sized, casual and fun wine workshops to our customers every week. The new wave of wine drinkers is no longer satisfied with just drinking the same wine every day. They are keen to experience different grape varieties, different climates and soils from different regions, and different wine-making” he explains. While Zhou is from the telecom industry, it’s the love he has for wine that brought him and his team together. “We’ve done intensive training in wine and traveled to a lot of places to build our knowledge so we can better share our passion with our customers. We wanted to bring people together.”

Beyond his role at Bottle Wander, Zhou is also a dad. “As a father of two kids, health is the most important thing in my life.” To feel fulfilled and content, it’s all about balance. Zhou is a firm believer in knowing your limits when it comes to work. “I don’t think work and play are at different ends of the spectrum. I try to balance my work with my family and it is my family that gives me the most support for my work.”

The steps that this entrepreneur is taking to make sure he’s in a good place in his life are simple: “Exercising, eating healthy food and reading. I don’t think there is a guide or a bible that teaches you how to be healthy. It is a life journey of learning and experiencing.”

Gary Wong: Founder of New Life Medicine Technology Co. Ltd

As the founder of New Life Medicine Technology Company Limited (NLMT), Gary Wong is on a mission to innovate medical technology to help detect illnesses. “Current medical systems are far from perfect; hospitals are understaffed and patients have to wait years for a proper scan. Fortunately, my scientific research is achieving satisfying results and I feel obliged to come up with practical solutions.” Wong is also the head and chair professor of the Department of Chemistry at Hong Kong Baptist University, of which NLMT is a spin-off company.

They are constantly looking for new ideas with the belief that innovative research and development will bring a breakthrough in medicine tech, with the goal being to help tackle the current challenges of traditional clinical diagnosis. “Research for New, We serve for Life. This is our motto,” says Wong.

When it comes to his personal view on men’s health, Wong is familiar with the stigma of seeking help. “Most men tend to be more masculine and confident, especially in Asian communities. They often don’t speak out when they feel uncomfortable. There’s a saying in Chinese that translates to ‘if one will not seek treatment if one does not want to accept he/she is ill,’” he says. Because of his profession, Wong is acutely aware of the significance of taking care of yourself. However, as someone living in one of the busiest cities in the world, he also understands that it can be difficult to find balance. “It’s important for men to have an open-mind when discussing health. As a scientist, it’s easy to convince myself of the potential downsides when I don’t live a balanced lifestyle. But as long as I understand the importance of maintaining physical and mental health, I will always make time.”

As an expert on the subject that’s close to home for the Movember cause, Wong says it’s essential to make their health a priority by getting regular checkups. “One of the reasons we chose to work on prostate cancer diagnosis was that we discovered it to be one of the most prevalent cancers in men worldwide. But the fact that prostate cancer diagnoses often involve a painful and possibly embarrassing procedure in the form of digital rectal examination have put men off getting checks,” he explains. “We hope that our approach can show men around the world that early diagnosis is key and they should not be afraid of it.”

Read more: SHAVE YOUR MO Movember 2021 Hong Kong Living event