Project Melo｜Female entrepreneurs encounter male investors to challenge Da Mai Ming Shi: Different feelings about the product require more explanations

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Parenting platforms require mothers to have profound experience McDonald’s takes action to promote gender equality related articles:Support EJ Tech

originalPublished in Hong Kong Economic Times Financial NewsEJ Tech Innovation Lab“

The issue of gender equality in the workplace has always been a hot topic in the market, but there are different perspectives.Melo ProjectCo-founder Mak Ming-shih said in an interview that, based on her own experience, the working environment for women in Hong Kong is quite good, and their work ability is rarely questioned because of their gender. However, she did not deny that many decision-makers in venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) are still dominated by men, and when faced with products or services related to women, they may not have a comprehensive understanding, which brings certain challenges to female entrepreneurs.

Mak Ming-sze (left) agrees that Hong Kong women are rarely questioned about their work abilities because of their gender. (Photo provided by rsvp)

The Department of Social Work and Social Administration of the University of Hong KongA surveyThe survey shows that Hong Kong’s awareness of gender equality is higher than the global level, but there are obvious differences between men and women. In general, men tend to overestimate how easy it is for women to obtain resources in society. In terms of respecting women’s rights and equal pay for equal work, Hong Kong’s recognition rate is slightly lower than the global level, indicating that there is still room for improvement in gender equality.

Parenting platforms require mothers to have profound experience

Mak Ming-shi is also an educational technology startupCombination Child GrowthThe company uses artificial intelligence (AI), big data and machine learning technologies, combined with the latest scientific research, to provide parents with parenting guidance and personalized suggestions. In addition, the platform also has an online question-and-answer service “Ask Parents“, which makes it convenient for parents to check parenting issues at any time and obtain relatively professional answers and suggestions.

Mak Ming-shi founded an educational technology startup that provides online question-and-answer services for parents. (Combokid Grow online photo)

Since the platform’s audience is mostly mothers, when communicating with male investors, they may not understand the original intention of the platform and the difficulties faced by customers, so more effort is needed to explain. Mak said that since men and women have different daily products, life attitudes and lifestyles, female investors have a deeper understanding of parenting and understand the philosophy of their own company better.

McDonald’s Hong Kong is one of the organizations supporting Project Melo. Its CEO Lai Wai-shi said with a smile, “Modern women are Super Women, who have multiple roles. They have to be daughters, wives, and bosses or subordinates. If you count them all, there may be eight positions.”

Lai Wai-shi (third from left) said with a smile that modern women are Super Women, who need to play multiple roles. (Photo provided by rsvp)

McDonald’s takes action to promote gender equality

Lai Wai-shi believes that it is most difficult for working women to allocate their time and they also lack recognition. She stressed that it is important to give appropriate spiritual care to female colleagues in the workplace. “Even if we cannot help them solve their problems immediately, it can make them feel cared for and bring them satisfaction… As an employer, we should give (female employees) more respect and praise… A positive attitude can also help the entire team.”

Lai Wai-shi (left) believes that time allocation is the most difficult for working women; next to her are Wong Lok-ting (center) and Mak Ming-shi (right). (Photo provided by Project Melo)

Statistics show that about 60% of McDonald’s customers in Hong Kong are women. From the company’s management to the front-line restaurant managers, they all hope to maintain a similar gender ratio. Lai Wai-shi took the women’s restroom as an example. Most men do not realize how important it is to set up a hook in the toilet cubicle. “Gender equality is not just a slogan. We hope to truly represent the voice of our customers.”

Currently, about half of the McDonald’s restaurant staff in Hong Kong are women. Lai Wai-shi said frankly that it is not that male employees are not careful or patient enough, but when they meet mothers with children, female employees often understand their needs better. The company has set up a women’s association to help female employees get through difficult times. In addition, the working hours and locations are relatively flexible, so colleagues can find suitable positions according to family needs.

Interview and article by: Zhou Yongtong