[Phoenix Lecture] E.SUN Bank Chairman Joseph Huang on "Embracing Adversity and Building Organizational Resilience"-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

On the afternoon of September 23, E.SUN Bank Chairman Joseph Huang, recognized as the Best CEO in Asia's financial sector, was invited to deliver a lecture at National Cheng Kung University. Transitioning from a background in science and engineering to the financial world, Huang took on the role of General Manager of a financial holding company just two months before the global financial crisis hit. Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged that he had faced numerous challenges along the way.


Huang shared his belief that adversity is both "blessing and misfortune intertwined" and a "blessing in disguise." He emphasized that overcoming crises can serve as a new starting point in life, and that adversity combined with resilience leads to a brighter future. Using the powerful Taiwanese saying, "If there’s a road, we sing along the way; if there’s no road, we cross rivers and mountains," Huang encouraged the audience to bravely embrace challenges and cultivate strong resilience.


The first financial-themed lecture of NCKU's 2024 Phoenix Lecture Series took place on the afternoon of September 23 at Cheng-kung Campus, attracting over 150 attendees, including faculty, students, and the E.SUN Bank team. During the two-hour keynote, Chairman Huang Nan-Chou of E.SUN Bank began warmly, saying in Taiwanese, "I’m also from Tainan," immediately building a connection with the audience.


In the first half of the lecture, Chairman Huang shared how, after assuming the role of General Manager of E.SUN Financial Holding in July 2008, he and his team navigated through the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. He discussed the management adjustments needed for digital transformation, and how E.SUN’s overseas branches faced multiple challenges, including shifts in local political landscapes, while continuing to serve their customers.


In the second half of the talk, Huang elaborated on the crucial vision of dual-axis transformation and sustainable development, emphasizing its importance for the future.


Chairman Joseph Huang of E.SUN Bank has a wealth of experience in financial management, having served as Chief Strategy Officer of E.SUN Financial Holding, General Manager of E.SUN Bank, and General Manager of E.SUN Financial Holding. Under his leadership, E.SUN has not only firmly established itself in the Taiwan market but has also actively expanded into Asia, developing a distinctive differentiation strategy with the goal of becoming Taiwan's top-performing bank. In recent years, E.SUN Financial Holding, guided by Chairman Huang, has consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World Index and has repeatedly ranked in the top 5 in Taiwan's "Corporate Governance Evaluation." 


Chairman Huang himself has received numerous prestigious honors, including "Best CEO in Asia Pacific" from *The Asian Banker*, "Best CEO in Asia" from *The Asset*, and "Best CEO in Taiwan" from *Institutional Investor* magazine.


Chairman Joseph Huang, having successfully navigated numerous challenges and leading E.SUN Bank toward an even more remarkable future, is widely praised for his leadership. However, Huang humbly attributes the credit to teamwork. He noted that throughout history, plagues, wars, natural disasters, and technology have been the four main drivers of societal reconstruction. Significant societal shifts create major trends, and success is not due to any one person's exceptional ability but to the power of collaboration. He emphasized, "Resilience within an organization comes from the people in the organization." Cultivating organizational resilience means developing high-quality talent for future leadership, which is a critical issue for any business.


This talent, according to Huang, must possess qualities that blend cultural integration, strategic acumen, and executional ability. He described the ideal individuals as those with "a warm heart, a sharp mind, and nimble hands," coupled with a will of steel. These attributes, Huang believes, are what will propel a company forward and help achieve its long-term vision.


In his opening remarks, NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen highlighted the importance of adaptability in adversity and learning resilience through transformation, noting that this is crucial for both businesses and organizations. He mentioned that E.SUN Bank, established during Taiwan's liberalization of private banking in the 1990s, has endured over 30 years of challenging financial sector restructuring, yet it has remained steadfast, exemplifying E.SUN's grounded and diligent work ethic.


What makes E.SUN unique, Shen said, is that it is not a large corporation or conglomerate. Instead, it was founded by a group of professional financial managers, a few scholars, and small and medium-sized enterprises working together. The bank's emphasis on teamwork and humility resonates with the spirit of NCKU. Shen also noted that the lecture was highly recommended by alumni as a valuable event, with Chairman Huang himself being a model of cross-disciplinary learning. He expressed confidence that the students and faculty in attendance would greatly benefit from the session.


The Q&A session at the end of the lecture on the 23rd was moderated by NCKU’s Chief of Research and Development,Chuan-Pu Liu. One audience member asked about E.SUN Bank's hiring principles, while another inquired about Chairman Huang's personal journey and what led him to transition across disciplines. Chairman Huang generously shared his university experience, explaining how his progressively declining grades each year were both an adversity and a signal, marking a process of personal awakening. He emphasized that everyone has an inner voice guiding them toward what they should do. His guiding principle was simple: "Do what you love, and ensure that it brings value to yourself or others."


Huang's candid response mirrored E.SUN's hiring principles, which prioritize integrity and honesty above all. He noted that while academic background is not restricted, passion for serving others is essential.