Name: Sam Lam
Age: 41
Job title: Vice-president - business, Tom Outdoor Media Group
What is your greatest work achievement? Being one of the key management team members of the Tom Outdoor Media Group.
What would be your dream brand to work on and why?
A Chinese corporate brand aiming for international exposure. It is time for Chinese corporations to become prestigious global brands. I want to be part of the process.
What would you do if you weren't in marketing?
I would be a recreation manager or fund-raising manager in a social organisation. The philosophy of recreation is to help the youth to exert their abilities, to lower the crime rate among youth and to help redistribute wealth in society.
What was your big break?
I was a headhunter for 18 months. It was a big break for me and I met many interesting people in the media industry and have some good memories of this period.
Who was your mentor and how did this person influence you?
Robert Xie, ex-chairman of the Tom Outdoor Media Group. He made me calm, stable and more intellectual.
Is there a secret to your success?
Love your job and your life, and you will get all you want.
How do you handle difficult clients?
Clients come first, they are the core of your business.
What advice would you give to the next person to do your current job?
Be open-minded, honest and willing to accept challenges.
What are you currently reading that will help you in your job?
To Be A Person Of Your Own, written by our president, Li Jian.
Who is the business person you most admire and why?
Leo Burnett. He is still famous after his death and I worked in his company when I first entered the advertising industry.
