Exclusive Interview with Marcus Wong: Innovating Social Media in the "Epidemic" Era
- RT FAMILY
- Apr 16, 2024
- 3 min read
Marcus Wong, AIA Premier Senior District Director, has emerged as one of the winners of the Extraordinary Leader Award 2021 in the Greater Bay Area. Known for his use of social media to connect with clients and navigate pandemic challenges, Marcus has made a significant impact in the insurance industry.
Seizing Opportunities as a Summer Intern
During his university years, Marcus showcased his entrepreneurial spirit by working multiple jobs and starting his own furniture refurbishing business. His introduction to the insurance industry came as a summer intern, where he quickly recognized the potential of leveraging social connections for client acquisition. Marcus decided to stay in Hong Kong, completing his studies remotely while building a successful career in insurance.
Adapting to the Pandemic, Demonstrating Agility
While the pandemic disrupted many industries, the insurance sector experienced accelerated growth. Marcus attributes some of this success to luck but also to his team's ability to adapt quickly. When the pandemic hit, their business, which heavily relied on mainland Chinese, suffered a significant decline. However, Marcus's team swiftly shifted their focus to the local Hong Kong market, recognizing its strong purchasing power. By utilizing online tools and implementing innovative client engagement methods, such as live meetings on Facebook, they minimized the impact of the pandemic on their business.
Marcus's team continued to refine their sales strategies and operational modes as the situation evolved. They embraced online platforms for meetings during severe waves of the pandemic and resumed in-person meetings when restrictions eased. Their flexibility and adaptability allowed them to emerge from the pandemic ahead of others in the industry.
Team Growth in Adversity: Management Insights and Tips
Under Marcus's leadership, the team expanded during the pandemic, more than doubling in size from 30-40 members to over 100. The team consists of carefully selected talent from diverse backgrounds, including individuals affected by the pandemic in other industries, banking professionals seeking alternative paths, and professionals transitioning from other insurance companies.
Targeting 10% of the Insurance Workforce
Marcus's team aims to attract professionals with a proven track record in the insurance industry. He focuses on helping colleagues improve and expand their client base, offering comprehensive planning to maximize benefits. Marcus aspires to expand his team's presence to Hong Kong, or even the entire Greater Bay Area, targeting 10% of the insurance professionals in the region.
Team Expansion and MDRT as a Foundational Goal
The team sets goals higher than the prestigious MDRT benchmark, striving for continuous improvement and better-quality service by expanding their offerings. During the pandemic, over 600 colleagues achieved MDRT, demonstrating the team's commitment to excellence.
For Marcus, effective leadership is the key to the team's success. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision and guiding the team towards it. The product portfolio and how agents combine and present them also play a significant role in their success. AIA invests resources across the board, ensuring colleagues perform well.
Balancing Profit and Charity: Establishing the FlyHigh Foundation
In addition to leading his team, Marcus actively engages in charitable work through his FlyHigh Foundation. The foundation has awarded numerous scholarships to financially disadvantaged students and provided support during the pandemic by purchasing and distributing masks and protective equipment to healthcare facilities. Marcus emphasizes the foundation's primary purpose of assisting young individuals, offering opportunities to those from less privileged backgrounds.
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