Overview

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Founded by Pauline Yeung in 2024, KnitKnot Global (KKG) is a consulting company with business lines in finance and innovation, family business and family office, and talent cultivation and development. Pauline's vision is to continue bringing people from different walks of life together for connection and community, not unlike embroidery, and to use words to weave together tapestries that tell compelling stories. The J-link Leaders Program reflects KnitKnot Global’s expertise on East Asia - spanning its Korea-focused work such as the KEY Debate as well as its Japan mentorship programming - and its broader mission to bridge diverse cultures, build resilient networks, and cultivate globally minded talent among the next generation of leaders.

Founded in 1895, the Jebsen Group builds and invests in a selection of premium brands that bring new products, services, and experiences to the changing consumer in Greater China.

With over 130 years of experience and deep roots across the region, Jebsen leverages strong local insights and extensive resources to make strategic investments. By providing unparalleled market access for over 200 leading companies to grow their brands and market share, the Group is committed to being a long-term, trusted partner, operating with integrity and transparency.

Established in 2022, Trivium Asset Management is a premier real estate investment firm with a significant on-the-ground presence across Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Specializing in Asia-focused asset management, the firm currently oversees more than US$900 million in assets. 

Trivium operates on the belief that tailored solutions are essential for navigating complex markets, partnering with institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth clients to unlock value in hospitality, residential, and commercial assets. From the iconic Nexxus Building in Central to premium hotel developments in Osaka and Kumamoto, Trivium is committed to professional excellence and innovation within the regional property landscape. 

Co‑founded in 2022 by Jacinth and Ronald Chan, the Melting Pot Foundation is a Hong Kong‑based charity committed to nurturing the city’s future innovators, collaborators, and leaders. Guided by the belief that everyone has a role to play in the collective success of Hong Kong, the foundation instils values of community, identity, and respect in young people. 

Acting as a dynamic bridge, the foundation draws on its extensive network to  connect educational and social groups with leaders in enterprise, design, and innovation, offering local youth first‑hand exposure to individuals driving meaningful change and progress. By providing meaningful opportunities, the foundation ensures that the talents of Hong Kong’s youth are fully realized and celebrated.

Dr. Furuta is a Visiting Scholar at the HKUST Roger King Center for Asian Family Business and Family Office and a Visiting Professor at Kyushu University. Formerly the Regional Director for Japan at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, she oversaw the Council’s trade and business promotion in the entire Japanese market. 

Dr. Furuta will share insights on “shinise”, or long-lived family enterprises, in Japan. She will speak about tradition and innovation in Japanese business culture and unpack the significance of core principles like monozukuri, kaizen, and omotenashi, alongside concepts such as nemawashi and sanpo-yoshi.

Stanley is an award-winning science fiction writer, columnist and scriptwriter who has been awarded the Chinese Nebula Award and the German Business Prize, among others. Known for integrating artificial intelligence into writing fiction, he has spoken on AI at the Élysée Palace in Paris, the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Berggruen Institute in Los Angeles. His work has been translated into more than 20 languages, including Japanese.

In his session, Stanley will speak about the possibilities of immersive new forms of celebrity worship, drawing from a chapter set in Tokyo in his best-selling book AI 2041, which he co-authored with Kai-Fu Lee. His creativity will help the audience imagine the future of AI in Japan and globally. 

Hiroyuki Shimizu is the Deputy Head of APAC and Head of APAC Institutional at BlackRock, based in Hong Kong. Prior to joining BlackRock, he served in various leadership roles at Morgan Stanley, KKR, and Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong and Tokyo. He graduated from Vassar College with a BA in Economics. 

In a fireside chat, Mr. Shimizu will offer career advice for aspiring finance professionals, highlighting the importance of focusing on core strengths in asset management and financial services more broadly. He will also offer his insights on how to develop both hard and soft skills and reflect on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the industry.

Kelly is an event-driven trader at a global multi-strategy hedge fund, focusing on special situations within the Japanese equities market. She previously served as a high-touch equities trader at JP Morgan, where she facilitated liquidity access for asset managers across Asian markets. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Kelly holds degrees in Politics and Computer Science.

Drawing on her background as a young professional in Hong Kong, Kelly will share her insights on navigating the Japanese market as a foreigner and about her interest in the intersection of technology and the financial markets.

Yuki is an investment professional at a Hong Kong-based hedge fund specialising in Japanese equities and event-driven strategies. She previously led private equity transactions at Bain Capital and served as a strategic adviser at the Boston Consulting Group in Tokyo. She is a graduate of Keio University and began her career as an international tax advisor to major corporations.

Yuki will share her experiences of covering both private equity and public equities in the Japanese markets. She will share first-hand insights regarding her career transition and the unique features, complexities, and opportunities in Japan’s financial landscape despite what is often called Japan’s “lost decades”.

Richard is the Founder and Managing Partner of Trivium Asset Management, an Asia-focused firm specialising in commercial real estate and private equity. He also serves as Director for FIT Investment, a family office managing assets across gateway cities including Hong Kong, Tokyo, and New York. Additionally, Richard is a Global Governing Trustee for the Urban Land Institute and heads its Hong Kong Housing Committee.

In a fireside chat, Richard will share his experiences of real estate entrepreneurship in Hong Kong and Japan and the cultural and business nuances in these two regions. He will also draw on his personal experience to discuss how to cultivate long-lasting mentor-mentee relationships.