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"Always ask yourself the question: What if?" - Sean Seah '86
Thursday, 16 November 2017
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Sean Seah '86 has always had a passion for digital marketing and a curiosity for the unknown. But it is the question "What if?" that has stayed at the forefront of his mind from his very first digital marketing role at Toyota New Zealand, where his boss asked him to develop and launch the company's first ever website and digital platform as a key marketing channel. "What if this technology could one day change the world in which we live? To me, the most enjoyable thing about digital is to always ask the question, "What if?" This attitude of "what if" has formed Sean's career and has seen him lead the marketing portfolios of some of the world's most well-known brands including Air New Zealand - where he helped develop the first ever online booking system and launching it into 25 markets - the Langham Group, Groupon and HSBC, where he is currently the Head of Digital Experience at their headquarters in Hong Kong. He and his team design next generation digital experiences for the millions of retail banking and wealth management customers, in order to make everyday life easier, simpler and better. Hong Kong is a vibrant city and Sean loves the unlimited opportunities it offers. "The best thing about Hong Kong is the energy and speed of the city. It is a city of lights and a city that never sleeps. It is constantly changing and moving, so it's never boring." It was Sean's education at Auckland Grammar School that instilled in him the idea of true leadership and preparing for the future. He recognised that it wasn't your job title, your location or the number of staff in your team; rather, it was about how you inspire, empower and develop those under your care. "It all starts with a vision of the destination that we are all going to travel to together, to encourage and enable them every day during this journey, to help them unlock their true potential. Finally, it is to encourage them to find their own destination that will challenge and develop them even further." Calling himself a Grammar Old Boy is something Sean recognises as important, and he still keeps in contact with several classmates to this day. "You are part of a family that has a past, a present and a future. The shared experience of learning and playing together combined with growing up together is important and impactful." "The friends you make while at school often last a lifetime. The best thing about my friends is that even though we are miles apart, when we meet up, we can pick up from where we last left off, like no time has ever passed. Such experiences and friendships are priceless and timeless." Sean has been able to develop his passion for mentoring and inspiring the next generation of global leaders through hard work, persistence and dedication, something he does not take for granted. "Always ask yourself the question - "What if?", the answers to which create arguably the most enjoyable thing about the digital marketing industry. Don't let others define your reality and future. Go and discover and create for yourself." |