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Ed Peters

My father is Austrian and my mother is Cantonese, and their story began when they met on a plane – a love-at-first-flight kind of story.
Growing up in a small village outside Innsbruck in Austria with my brother, Oliver, we stood out as the only Asians. We faced some hurtful teasing and discrimination.
When out with our mum and speaking Cantonese, people would sometimes try to mimic our conversation – ching, chang, chong and that sort of stuff, but we tried not to let it bother us.
In fact, it made us more resilient.

To tell the truth, being different sometimes worked to my advantage. During an interview for my first internship in Barcelona, the HR lady remarked, “Your mum is Chinese, so you must be hardworking and good with numbers.”
It was a pretty inappropriate comment, but I just ran with it and replied, “Yes, of course.”
‘I couldn’t let go’: how, facing burnout, business founder made a change
Need to get out more
I first came to Hong Kong when I was eight months old, in 1988, and until I was about 14 my mum used to bring my brother and I back every summer to see our grandparents and her six siblings.
We used to fly here in August, the rainy season – it was a stark contrast to the gentle climate and lush greenery of Austria. I really didn’t like it here. Apart from the weather, our mother preferred shopping to nature, so we spent most of our time in flats, markets and shopping districts.
For me at that time, Hong Kong was a concrete jungle, and I only later came to realise how beautiful it can be.

Casual sexism
Hong Kong is now my home. When I first made the move to live here full time, in 2015, I was struck by the city’s unique blend of efficiency, heritage and what I think of as “organised chaos”.
Before coming to Asia, I worked in Innsbruck for an IT company and later for a consultancy advising public institutions and frequently came up against sexism, which was pervasive in Austrian society.
‘If I cried, I’d be beaten more’: he works to stop kids feeling as he did
There was a lot of condescension – “women belong in the kitchen”, “you should be at home with the kids” and that sort of thing. This is still prevalent – Austria has one of the highest pay gaps in Europe, women earn 20 per cent less than men.
I faced men who would not take me seriously because I was female and looked younger than my age. But I had a supportive boss who would emphasise that I would be leading the session and was not just eye candy.
At a different company, I asked my manager why I was the only woman on the team, but was told that if there was more than one woman “there would be a drama”. It made my blood boil.
While it was incredibly frustrating to have to deal with this kind of bias, I used it to motivate myself.
On my first day at a new job in Hong Kong a colleague remarked, ‘You’re pretty, why are you working? You don’t have to work.’
Belinda Esterhammer on casual sexism
Insult to injury
In Asia, I have encountered similar situations. On my first day at a new job in Hong Kong a colleague remarked, “You’re pretty, why are you working? You don’t have to work.” Not a great start.
Another time I was on a call with a senior manager planning a workshop and he said, “There aren’t enough vaginas, we need to bring in some more vaginas.” That sort of attitude is changing, but too slowly.
After I left the corporate world I reflected on my experiences – both cultural and corporate – and started NextGen, a pro bono mentoring network for high school and university girls that ran from 2017 to 2019.
As a Cantonese speaker with family in Hong Kong I experienced first-hand the pressure women have to face. It’s common to encounter remarks from family members such as “Lei ho fei a” (“you’re fat”) and “Sik do di la” (“eat more food”), to which I reply, “Get a six pack and maybe we can talk.”
A scholar now, but at school he pretended to be intellectually challenged
Harsh reality
My work experience in Asia began in 2015, working with Unicef in the Philippines. My role was to coordinate a documentary that shed light on child nutrition, the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan and the crisis in Zamboanga following a lengthy conflict between guerillas and government forces.
The living conditions we encountered in the slums were challenging, to say the least, but despite their very limited resources, the people we met were incredibly kind and welcoming.
As we filmed in the slums, I witnessed first-hand the impact of poverty on children, with some of them being fed special nutrition bars just to survive.

Wide birth
One event in particular left a lasting impact. The producer decided that we needed to start the documentary with footage of a baby being born. So early one morning we set off for a hospital on the outskirts of town, but then we had to wait until a baby was due.
The doctors said we should get something to eat and come back in an hour, but when we returned the lady had already gone into labour. We were rushed into our gowns and went into the delivery room – the conditions were extremely primitive. I was in shock, and having just had a big meal was trying not to throw up.
It made me admire everyone who is a mother, and especially those who give birth in challenging circumstances.
His gran died – and ‘gave’ him the idea to do comedy. It became his career
Show and tell
The experience of working in the Philippines taught me about the resilience of the human spirit. Despite facing poverty, homelessness and disease, the people we encountered always had a smile on their faces and welcomed us with open arms.
I was inspired by the strength and determination of the local community. While it’s impossible to change the world on your own, I realised that every little bit helps.
Through our documentary (titled Im Brennpunkt: Philippinen – Mit Aufklärung gegen die Bevölkerungsexplosion in German, which translates as “In focus: The Philippines – Educating Against the Population Explosion”), we were able to share the stories of the people we met and raise awareness about the challenges they face.

Talking back
I have always been a confident, curious person. I get that from my dad, who was a bit of a comedian. I was the kid in class who would always talk back to the teachers, asking questions even when I was told to be quiet.
I was never really bothered about my grades, although I always did well academically and have got a BSc in management and economics and a master’s in entrepreneurship and tourism.
I have had an amazingly varied and fulfilling career so far, but I still feel I have so much more to achieve
Belinda Esterhammer
Essentially, I was more interested in what I was actually studying than whether I got an A+. So if I decide I want to do something, I don’t hesitate, I just get on with it.
I’ve been passionate about changing the status quo and have been involved in growing several communities including Women in Tech APAC, as I wanted to shine light on the fact that only 25 per cent of tech workers are female, of which only 5 per cent are Asian.
I’ve been a facilitator and public speaker for more than seven years. I used to get butterflies in my tummy before addressing a big audience but I don’t any more.

Factory work
Nowadays, the main hat I wear is as chief executive, Asia, of The DO, which was set up in 2014, long before “innovation”, “impact” and “purpose” became buzzwords, with the aim of helping people and businesses to be part of a greener, purposeful and equitable economy.
We have programmes running in more than 40 countries and have impacted an estimated 5 million people. We work together with organisations on upskilling their employees and help them to execute their strategies.
Our office is in Quarry Bay, in an old industrial building that used to be a diarrhoea pill factory. It’s more like a studio than an office, with lots of natural light and plants, a kitchenette, a billiards table and a book shelf, so the atmosphere is very much inclined towards fostering creativity and innovation.
A ‘nightmare’ first date left her in a wheelchair – but now she’s thriving
Think positive
I have had an amazingly varied and fulfilling career so far, but I still feel I have so much more to achieve. The overarching goal is to push beyond boundaries and spark positive change on a global scale.
At the forefront of this mission is the environment, with a particular emphasis on sustainability. After all, we want to ensure that the planet as we know it is going to be here in 100 years’ time.


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She’s faced racism, sexism – now she’s at the top, and helping other women and girls climb the ladder

Belinda Esterhammer in Quarry Bay where The DO, of which she is Asia chief executive, has its offices. Having reached the top, she has a passion for helping other women and girls climb the ladder and achieve equity. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Belinda Esterhammer photographed in Quarry Bay. 11APR23 SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Belinda Esterhammer as a baby with her mother in Hong Kong. Photo: courtesy of Belinda Esterhammer

Esterhammer in Quarry Bay. She first made the move to live in Hong Kong full time in 2015. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Esterhammer on location with the film crew in the Philippines. Photo: courtesy of Belinda Esterhammer

Esterhammer with the film crew in the Philippines after a woman had given birth. Photo: courtesy of Belinda Esterhammer

Esterhammer says she has always been a confident, curious person. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

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Members of the music group Don’t Panic. John Prymmer auditioned for the band in 2002. Photo: Graphicat Limited

Band Don’t Panic at the Wanch bar in Wan Chai in 2016. Photo: hongkong-rocks

Prymmer at The Wanch in Wan Chai. He and three others took over the bar in 2010. Photo: Edmond So

Teacher, actress, comedian, Hong Kong charity co-founder – how a driven daughter made her dreams come true

Maitreyi Karanth during a comedy performance. The co-founder of a foundation, teacher, actor, humanitarian and comedian tells Kate Whitehead about fulfilling her childhood dreams. Photo: courtesy Maitreyi Karanth

Maitreyi Karanth, co-founder of a foundation, teacher, actor, humanitarian and comedian, tells Kate Whitehead about fulfilling her childhood dreams. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Koma Karanth and Radha Karanth, the parents of Maitreyi Karanth. Photo: courtesy of Maitreyi Karanth

Karanth as a child, with her mother. Photo: courtesy of Maitreyi Karanth

Karanth and her brother Gowtam Karanth. Photo: courtesy of Maitreyi Karanth

Karanth with her mother. Photo: courtesy of Maitreyi Karanth

Karanth receiving a certificate of appreciation in the Philippines for her charity work. Photo: courtesy of Maitreyi Karanth

Karanth during a comedy performance. Photo: courtesy of Maitreyi Karanth

Karanth and her son Yash Rao. Photo: courtesy of Maitreyi Karanth

Karanth (third from left) in a poster promoting “My Indian Boyfriend”. Photo: courtesy of Maitreyi Karanth

A house and a store in the Philippines built by the charity run by Karanth. Photo: courtesy of Maitreyi Karanth

A new owner stands outside a Koma Sari Sari store, supported by the charity run by Karanth. Photo: courtesy of Maitreyi Karanth

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Vicki Ooi, born in Malaysia in 1941, learned at school the power a play’’s director has - and became one in Hong Kong, as well as a drama educator. She explains why she’s still putting on plays in her 80s. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Vicki Ooi’s father as an undergrad in Hong Kong University. Photo: Vicki Ooi

Ooi when she was in Primary 6. Photo: Vicki Ooi

Ooi taught at the University of Hong Kong for 30 years. Photo: SCMP

Ooi at the Hong Kong Jockey Club “Arts & Actions” project in 2023. Photo: The Learning Theatre

Ooi (left) in a theatre production meeting. Photo: Vicki Ooi

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” performed by Shakespeare4All and directed by Ooi. 

Ooi at a workshop for HKU students. Photo: Vicki Ooi

Drag artists in Hong Kong keep things raw with perfectly imperfect shows – forget RuPaul’s Drag Race

Sailor Ying (Daniel)  before a drag queen show “Act the Fool” at Terrible Baby in Jordan. 08APR23 SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Drag queen Sailor Ying performs in the Act the Fool drag show at the Eaton hotel’s Terrible Baby bar in Jordan, Hong Kong, on April 8, 2023. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Lilo May performs in the Act the Fool drag show at the Eaton hotel’s Terrible Baby bar in Jordan, Hong Kong, on April 8, 2023. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Sailor Ying performs in the Act the Fool drag show at Terrible Baby. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Drag Jam’s cast before the Act the Fool drag show at Terrible Baby. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Matthew Creed performs in the Act the Fool drag show at Terrible Baby. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

A mother and daughter enjoy the Act the Fool show at Terrible Baby. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Bio queen Evanescence applies make-up to drag king Boy Bawang, as drag queen Aisha Q, reflected in the mirror, looks on. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Drag king Mysticus Balatro before the Act the Fool drag show at Terrible Baby. Photo: Xiaomei Chena

Mysticus Balatro performs in the Act the Fool drag show at Terrible Baby. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Aisha Q (left) and Evanescence get ready for the Act the Fool show at Terrible Baby. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Lilo May came to drag through a love of musical theatre and the desire to have a larger role in productions. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

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Belinda Esterhammer, Asia CEO for social impact platform The DO, talks about growing up Asian in Austria, tackling sexism and her passion for empowering women


Belinda Esterhammer, the Asia CEO for social impact platform The DO, talks about growing up Asian in a small Austrian village, tackling sexism in the workplace and her passion for empowering women and girls.
