NTU Awards Honorary Doctorate to Fubon Chairman Tsai Ming-hsing, Urges Students to Pursue Passion

National Taiwan University (NTU) held a solemn ceremony today to confer an honorary doctorate in business administration on Tsai Ming-hsing, Chairman of Fubon Financial Holding Co., Ltd. The honor recognizes his exceptional contributions and profound influence in the fields of financial insurance, culture and arts, and social welfare. This distinction not only affirms Tsai’s decades of leadership achievements in the business sector but also pays high tribute to the pivotal role the Fubon Group has played in Taiwan’s economic development. In his acceptance speech, Tsai expressed gratitude to his alma mater for its nurturing, as well as to the family and colleagues who have supported him along the way. Notably, he provided a comprehensive retrospective of his academic journey and corporate career, sharing three key insights on personal growth with the students present. He encouraged the younger generation to find their positioning and value in an era of rapid change.

Reflecting on his life and career, Tsai noted that his years at NTU laid a solid foundation of knowledge and broadened his international perspective. Upon entering the Taiwanese financial market, he coincided with the golden era of Taiwan’s economic takeoff and financial liberalization. Under his leadership, Fubon Financial Holding evolved from its origins in property insurance to a comprehensive financial empire encompassing life insurance, banking, securities, and trust services. In recent years, the group has actively expanded into Asian markets and driven the transformation toward sustainable finance. Amidst volatile global political and economic conditions, rising geopolitical risks, and the impact of the digital wave, Tsai has steered Fubon Financial Holding on a steady course. The company has not only achieved record-breaking results in asset scale and profitability but has also become an industry benchmark in corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. This journey of pioneering and sustaining growth serves as a prime example of the Taiwanese entrepreneurial spirit.

Regarding his three insights on personal growth, Tsai first offered profound advice on job seeking and career planning. He specifically urged young students to avoid using salary as the sole criterion when choosing a job, emphasizing instead the importance of deeply exploring and finding what they truly love. He pointed out that only by maintaining a high level of passion for one’s work can one demonstrate the resilience and discipline needed to face setbacks and challenges, continuously investing effort and time. “Time will bring you unexpected results,” he stated. This perspective is particularly inspiring in the current social climate where many young people are inclined toward “lying flat” or seeking quick success, underscoring the decisive role of long-termism and intrinsic motivation in career development.

Beyond career choice, Tsai emphasized the importance of teamwork and continuous learning. In today’s highly specialized business environment, characterized by rapid technological advancements, the era of going it alone has passed. Achieving significant success requires the collaborative efforts and mutual trust of an excellent team. He encouraged NTU students to not only strive for excellence in their professional fields but also to cultivate cross-disciplinary communication skills and the openness to embrace differing opinions. Furthermore, facing the disruptive changes brought by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data to the traditional financial industry, corporate leaders and practitioners must maintain a mindset of lifelong learning. They must be ready to adjust their pace to adapt to rapidly changing market demands to remain competitive in the fierce global arena.

For years, in addition to his dedication to his core financial business, Tsai has actively given back to society, leading the Fubon Group to deeply cultivate domestic culture and arts, sports development, and social welfare. From sponsoring major art exhibitions and supporting the local film and television industry to long-term support for Taiwanese baseball and golf players on the international stage, Fubon has consistently played a vital role in promoting Taiwan’s soft power. The conferral of the honorary doctorate from NTU is not only the highest tribute to his corporate achievements but also symbolizes the close connection between the academic and industrial sectors in cultivating future talent. As Taiwan faces new opportunities and challenges in the global political and economic landscape, Tsai’s management philosophy and life wisdom undoubtedly provide valuable guidance and inspiration to the new generation of young students in Taiwan.

(Source: Central News Agency)