PRESTIGE HONG KONG JULY 2025

BETTER TOGETHER

Most people who find themselves together in business usually have a happy reason for doing so - the spark of an idea or a new connection. Mother and daughter duo
Cecilia and Camille Sze instead found themselves ''taking the leap hand in hand,
under extreme circumstances," says Cecilia, as they coped with both the death of her
husband and Camille's father - the president of KS Sze & Sons - as well as the task
of keeping the family jewellery business afloat shortly before its centenary.

Born and raised in the US, Camille returned to Hong Kong and took up the role
of president in 2023, which her mother says came as a relief to the family. She'd overseen
several ventures with her late husband, but says "there are inner workings that come
with family business that one can't do alone".

Mothers and daughters naturally have a special bond, but even so, working together
can't be easy. ''Family businesses are a special business model in and of themselves," says
Cecilia. "No matter how it's structured, it's rooted in personal dynamics. These dynamics
come with both advantages and challenges. To work with your own kid - that's a weird
scenario. It's weird for my daughter, a fiercely independent creative individual,
to work for her mother."

Nor has shouldering a century-old legacy been a breeze for Camille. "In 2022, our
only mission was to cross the threshold 100 years," she says. "We were established
in 1923, it's now 2025 and K.S. Sze & Sons Jewels is still here. Mission accomplished.
But there are a lot of challenges ahead.'' Camille aims to transform the brand
as it begins another 100 years, and is grateful to her mother for "putting up with a lot
of mistake-making''. And though Cecilia, who's worked in various businesses, is aware
of the "pitfalls of working closely with family", she and her daughter have
established a great deal of trust. "With that trust, which I deem necessary, comes
something indispensable: we create room for each other as a team to grow," she says.

And grow the company certainly has. Camille is ''far fiercer and more determined
than she wants anyone to know, far more prepared for the unexpected than the
average person," says Cecilia. As for Camille, who continues to acclimatise
to Hong Kong culture and bring a new perspective to her family's legacy brand, her
mother is her "beacon".

"Love between a mother and daughter will always outlast any businesses." says Cecilia.
"Never trade a venture for your family's happiness. You must make it work in
harmony as much as possible - not just your personal dynamic but for the health and
happiness of your company."

And her advice to other mothers and daughters thinking of working together? "Embrace the opportunity." she says.