Emily Lam-Ho is the founder and CEO of investment platform Empact28, which funds female-led start-ups, and is also the founder of sustainability platform 8Shades and a co-founder of EcoDrive. The daughter of property, entertainment and apparel tycoon Peter Lam and actor turned artist Lynn Hsieh, Lam-Ho turned down a role at her father’s companies to start her career at investment bank CLSA before striking out on her own.

Since it was founded in 2018 Empact28 has invested in companies including Yellow Leaf Hammocks, which trains women from rural communities in Thailand to weave hammocks from sustainable materials; and Mogul, which connects women to articles, jobs and products that reflect their interests. Thousand Fell, the first circular sneaker brand in the world is also one of Empact28’s investments. Lam-Ho co-founded EcoDrive, also in 2018, to fight plastic pollution; in 2021 she set up 8Shades, which aims to demystify sustainable living.

Speaking on her passion for the fashion industry, the investor cites brands including Stella McCartney, Gabriela Hearst’s Chloé, Mara Hoffman and Patagonia as some of her favourites and role models. She is also the director of business development at media company Sing Tao, and a council member of the Hong Kong Women’s Commission. Emily Lam-Ho is married to venture capitalist Kent Ho, son of Sing Tao chairman Charles; they have two children.

Speaking on her own fashion evolution, “style is a way that you get to express yourself—in a visual way, to people who don’t know you,” says Emily Lam-Ho. As someone who has been in the spotlight from a very young age, she cites becoming a mother as the biggest influence that shapes her current style: “I might dress very differently [depending on] how I feel that day. For me right now, the most important is accessibility, comfort and practicality, ” she says. At meetings and fundraising events, she’s in her power mode; while picking up her children from school, it would be “comfort first”.