The Story of JESSICA

Breathing in the quiet vastness of the Mongolian Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, hearing the quick steps of the mare's hooves, the rustling of the leaves, the piercing sun rays on the tip of my nose, I find myself at the top of one of the stretches of hills, looking down into the valley, drinking in the stunning nature, and a sudden quiet and clarity falls upon me.

The month leading up to our 25th anniversary has been insanely hectic and condensed for me—traveling to three different countries with two in transit, only fit for a 25-year-old's body.

I have been trying to make my way down this long, long memory lane, reflecting on the pivotal moments in our company's history: our achievements, our downfalls, and our future. For me, the last 25 years have flashed by, almost like a super high-speed time-lapse recording in my mind. And only when I am able to quiet myself, breathe in deeply, do the images begin to slow down and come into focus.

A Millennial Baby

We are a millennial baby, and making it to a quarter of a century has in itself been a feat. Sold out in four days, those were the brightest days of premium glossy fashion magazines. Soon we became the number one circulation women's magazine, and not long after, became listed on the Hong Kong GEM board. We saw a decade of geographical and brand extension, from JESSICACODE, JMen, Dream Wedding, Baby, JCar, to mainland China and Malaysia.

Championing Women

More importantly for me, we established the JESSICA Most Successful Women Award in 2001 as our first-anniversary editorial special—the seed to our cornerstone values of championing women and providing a platform through which women's voices and stories could be elevated and heard. Today, we boast an accolade of more than 300 awardees across all sectors, all of whom have contributed to society and the world we live in.

As our audience and readership grew, so did our relationship with them. I understood that what we were providing was not only inspiring content but also a supportive platform to communicate and engage with aspiring women entrepreneurs, professionals, and powerful industry leaders. The JES Network had been born unintentionally as we brought together more women at our events, sharing ideas, empowering them through exclusive talks and gatherings with influential women in Hong Kong, while at the same time encouraging one another and creating connections amongst us. Realizing the true potential of this network of women, we established an annual charity JRun, while at the same time registering our own s.88 JESSICA Charitable Foundation to develop programs for youth and women, working with different not-for-profit organizations.

Evolving Through Challenges

In the early 2010s, we saw the prime years of the print publishing industry, but as digital and social media developed, we knew that we too had to evolve with the times to continue having this unique connection with our audience. Our toughest moment, like many of us, was during the darker years of COVID, when survival was our main goal—to continue our mission.

In 2024, The JESSICA Company was formally established, a spin-off from our original corporate structure, to stand alone so that our voice and unique positioning could be seen and recognized.

More Than a Media Brand

Do I see ourselves only as a media and women's network?

Our mission today is no different from the very first day—to be a life journey partner for our audience and network as they go through the different stages of life, co-creating value for sustainable and socio-economic growth, empowering women and youth. But more than that, I see us as a brand that stands for empowering, enabling, responsible living, and contributing to the local, regional, and global community. Hong Kong is our home, and we want to bring our home to greater heights internationally and bring the global community to Hong Kong. This means we can be so much more than just a women's media platform.

Through our company, we have touched the lives of many women, whom I have had the privilege of meeting in recent years, knowing what a positive effect we had in inspiring them to pursue their careers and personal goals in life. This virtuous cycle allows us to continue playing catalytic roles in enabling and jointly launching projects in the commercial world, creative collaborations with individuals and social enterprises, and other like-minded communities and networks.

Where will we be in 25 years? I do not know the answer, but I do know that we will be here—doing good, creating value, inspiring others—not only in Hong Kong, but around the world.

Gratitude As a final note, there are so many women and men, businesses and associations, who have supported us throughout the years—I extend my deepest gratitude. To our readers, audience, and network: thank you for walking with us. Without you, we would not have made it these 25 years.

To my team, thank you for believing and devoting your youth to this mission with me.

To my parents: thank you for giving me this chance to pursue my dream.

To my husband and daughters, you are my inspiration and source of self-belief and energy.