As we enter the second half of 2025, a period defined by intertwined change and challenge, the world’s expectations for sustainable development have reached unprecedented heights. Leadership is no longer merely a tool for driving growth; it has become the compass that guides people through uncertainty. Entrepreneurship, too, is more than a pursuit of success; it is the flame that ignites transformation. When these two forces converge, a future led by women and propelled by innovative thinking quietly begins to take shape.

On the afternoon of 7 August 2025, “The Compass, the Flame, and the Future She Shapes” forum was held at the British Office Taipei. Organised by the University of Cambridge’s global alumni network, CAMentrepreneurs, and co-hosted by the Cambridge Taiwan Alumni Association, Oxford Taiwan Alumni Association, the British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (BCCTaipei), and UK-based global entrepreneurship media《The Icons》, the event brought together leading figures from academia, industry, venture capital, and sustainability. Through the deep insights and dialogues shared by the speakers, participants collectively mapped out a path towards the future, one defined by both courage and wisdom.

Professor Huey-Jen Jenny Su, Honorary President of NCKU: Respect the Truth, Value Education, and Cherish Professionalism

The forum opened with a speech by Professor Huey-Jen Jenny Su, the first female Honorary President of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), who began by focusing on how to bring more support to the new generation. Addressing the theme of “leadership,” she shared heartfelt reflections drawn from her own journey through challenges.

As the first female president in nearly a century at NCKU, and notably someone with neither an engineering background, alumni status, nor a large clinical discipline affiliation, Professor Su candidly described herself as “the president the university was not prepared to meet.” This unexpected role meant her leadership path was challenging from the very beginning, yet it also forged a leadership philosophy of remarkable clarity:

“Leadership comes without a personal agenda. Its essence lies in ensuring collective respect for truth, valuing education, and cherishing professionalism. I believe that as long as one’s convictions remain steadfast, time and circumstances will ultimately offer fairness and goodwill. In my own development, what has always guided me is a foundation in evidence and facts. Especially when facing formidable challenges, truly respecting professionalism is the hardest, yet most crucial, thing to do.”

This conviction became her compass in moments of crisis. From the devastating Weiguan Building collapse in southern Taiwan to the global COVID-19 pandemic, she led NCKU through one historical test after another. When confronted with challenges she had “never experienced and never anticipated,” she consistently chose to anchor her decisions in respect for professionalism and commitment to facts. Over time, these principles crystallised into resilience, a force that she regards as the core of her leadership ethos:

“When we talk about leadership, what we can demonstrate is not only the gentle resilience often associated with women, but also the strength to uphold truth in times of chaos, to build consensus in moments of crisis, and to find direction amid uncertainty. It is this strength that allows diverse voices to converge in wisdom, to open new paths through challenges, and to see the many possibilities that the future may hold.”

NYCU Associate Professor Grace Chan Hsiao: When AI Meets Life’s Vision, It Becomes a Moment to Find Your True Self

If President Huey-Jen Jenny Su set the grand compass for leadership during the forum, Associate Professor Grace Chan Hsiao of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) turned her gaze toward the inner flame that fuels it all, which is personal vision. Standing at the crossroads of education and technology, she posed a question that strikes at the heart of our times: As AI takes on more and more tasks, what remains that it can never replace?

This question stems from a decade of in-depth conversations with leaders, a journey that has left her continually drawn to one insight: every remarkable instance of leadership springs from a strong and clearly defined inner sense of purpose. Yet, in an era awash with information and competing values, discovering one’s own “true north” has become more challenging than ever.

“For the past ten years, all my life’s inquiries have revolved around one central question: What is the true vision for my life? I have found that while AI can accomplish many things, it cannot determine your unique vision. Dreams may be a word for the young, but a true vision must be rooted in your authentic nature and deep-seated motivation. It is not fantasy, but a blueprint that drives you to act,” she explained.

Based on this understanding, Grace Chan Hsiao is developing an innovative AI-powered education system designed not to hand out standard answers, but to serve as a guide. The journey begins with a deep exploration of the user’s authentic self, uncovering core values and motivations. From there, the AI generates three possible “future vision” scenarios as starting points for reflection. Finally, the system helps transform the chosen vision into a tangible “vision story” that can be seen, felt, and shared.

For Grace Chan Hsiao, this is more than a technological experiment in education. It is a profound response to the fundamental questions Who am I? and Why am I here? “Only when a person sees their vision clearly can they possess the most powerful and authentic form of leadership and entrepreneurial drive in a world defined by change.”

NYCU Associate Professor Sirirat Sae Lim: Demonstrating an Entrepreneurial Spirit Begins with Embracing “Constructive Failure”

After a series of inspiring talks, Associate Professor Sirirat Sae Lim of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), speaking via a pre-recorded address while on an overseas business trip, offered a sharp observation about a deep-rooted paradox in Taiwan’s innovation education.

Citing the OECD PISA report, she noted that among 75 participating countries and regions, Taiwan ranked first in the “Fear of Failure Index,” with 89% of students worrying that failure would invite criticism or be seen as a denial of their talent and future. Yet in the real world of entrepreneurship, failure is almost inevitable, with more than 90% of startups unable to succeed with their initial business model.

“In a culture that strongly avoids failure, how can we teach students to face the setbacks that inevitably come with entrepreneurship? Education should not only teach knowledge but also courage, curiosity, and the ability to remain composed in uncertainty. We need not just classrooms that aim for success, but environments where students dare to try and dare to venture.”

To address this, she proposed a “Constructive Failure” teaching model, where failure is not only permitted but expected. Students take on real-world challenges, attempt, stumble, and then reorganize their strategies through reflection. She acknowledged that the process can be unsettling, emotionally intense, and occasionally chaotic, but it is in such conditions that learning becomes profound and transformative.

Her philosophy is best illustrated by one of her former students who co-founded a business during university. Starting from nothing, the company now generates over NT$100 million in annual revenue. One of his designs a pen became the only Taiwanese product listed among TIME magazine’s 200 Best Inventions worldwide. Despite his busy schedule, he still returns to her class each year to share his real-life journey of drawing strength from repeated failures.

“The courage to embrace failure is an indispensable fuel for igniting the next generation’s spirit of innovation. I believe entrepreneurship education today should be recalibrated toward a new direction, one that guides young people onto a truly fearless and boldly innovative path.”

CISL Head of Innovation Programmes Viola Jardon: From Cambridge to Taiwan, Transforming Local Innovation into Global Sustainability Solutions

Viola Jardon, Head of Innovation Programmes at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), opened her talk with a steady yet engaging tone, immediately drawing the discussion back to her deep connection with Taiwan. “This is not only a conversation about sustainability, but also a two-way dialogue between my homeland and the world,” she said.

Her story is one of a journey from Tainan to the global stage. “When I was shortlisted for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards in the UK, what I felt was not personal glory, but the excitement of finally bringing Taiwan to the world. At that moment, my thought was, I have made Taiwan visible to the world. This honour does not belong to me alone, it belongs to Taiwan,” she recalled.

For Viola, collaboration has never been a one-way transfer of resources. She noted that Taiwan excels in many areas, citing the achievements of President Su at National Cheng Kung University as an example that has moved people both at home and abroad. “What I want to share here is that the greatest strength of CISL lies in its ability to connect governments, regulations, finance, industry, and academia across countries. I also hope that through this non-political platform, the world will see that Taiwan is not only about semiconductors, but also has diverse and powerful innovation capabilities,” she said.

She further shared that global beauty leader L’Oréal has launched a €100 million sustainability innovation investment programme, with CISL serving as its global delivery partner to identify top tech start-ups capable of solving supply chain challenges. “L’Oréal has already listed over one hundred technical needs. We will select twelve to fourteen start-ups from around the world, and those chosen will enter pilot collaborations with L’Oréal. This is a golden ticket to the global market. I sincerely hope that the final list will include companies from Taiwan.”

As a sustainability innovation leader who has travelled from Taiwan to the world stage, Viola Jardon is not only telling a personal story. She is building a bridge that directly connects Taiwan’s most promising innovations with the world’s most urgent sustainability needs. Her sincerity and drive not only energised the room, but also made it clear to participants that the path from local to global is closer than they might imagine.

The Connection Between the UK and Taiwan Runs Deeper Than Most Imagine

As one of the co-organizers, Executive Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (BCCTaipei), Vicki Wu, delivered a speech that broke the stereotype of international chambers as overly formal and revealed the vast, opportunity-filled ecosystem behind it.

“Many people in the past may have thought that the role of an international chamber was limited to networking, but the relationship between the UK and Taiwan runs deeper than most imagine. Taiwan is the third-largest market in the world for UK whisky exports, and this connection is so strong that when Scots hear ‘Taiwan,’ they roll out the red carpet. All the alumni here are important partners in achieving our mission, and we hope everyone can work together to expand this platform.”

This vision of transforming a traditional organization into an open platform was further elaborated by Ali Ying-Che Hsieh, President of the Cambridge University Taiwan Alumni Association and Professor at the Institute of Technology Management, National Tsing Hua University. He emphasized that this year, the association has placed special focus on breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive community:

“We are working to transform the alumni association from being merely a social gathering into an open platform. The Cambridge Alumni Association not only serves alumni but also welcomes anyone interested in sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship to find opportunities for collaboration and resonance here. What we aim to build is a space where all participating organizations and individuals can thrive together.”

Harry Hsu, Lead Organizer of CAMentrepreneurs Taiwan, Secretary-General of the Cambridge University Taiwan Alumni Association, and CEO of《The Icons》, an international entrepreneur media based in the UK, highlighted the concept of “Cambridge Plus”:

“Cambridge Plus is the key force behind why CAMentrepreneurs forums can flourish in so many countries. We open the doors to all like-minded partners, bringing together the depth of academia, the strength of industry, and the fusion of global vision with local passion. CAMentrepreneurs organizations and alumni associations across countries often meet online to explore ways for entrepreneurs worldwide to truly engage in each other’s lives. In the future, we will share more cross-sector exchange initiatives, and we welcome all interested friends to join us.”

Building the “Cambridge Plus” Ecosystem to Shape the Future Together with Women

The forum titled “The Compass, the Flame, and the Future She Shapes” not only brought together a line-up of exceptional female speakers, but also highlighted the rise of a new leadership paradigm – one that blends resilience, empathy, authenticity, and inclusivity.

As profound reflections on leadership, vision, courage, and action converged, the discussion returned to the driving catalyst behind it all – the core spirit of CAMentrepreneurs, “Cambridge Plus.” Founded in 2016 by Cambridge alumnus Richard Lucas, the CAMentrepreneurs global network has since ignited the spark of innovation in over 63 cities worldwide.

Its success lies in the team’s deep understanding of “platform thinking,” moving beyond the traditional model of an exclusive alumni club. By breaking down the walls of elite institutions and transforming them into open, co-creative spaces, “Cambridge Plus” has come to embody limitless possibilities and connections.

This forum in Taiwan was more than just an exchange of ideas – it was a declaration of the future. When local resilience meets global innovation, an infinite horizon unfolds, and that future will be shaped by these women, alongside all those they have inspired.

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