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Xiaoye, tell me about your background.

I left China at 17 to study in the UK. Later, I moved to France and have now lived abroad longer than I lived in China. I taught myself French and went on to complete both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Finance in France.

During my studies, I completed a variety of internships across the finance sector, for example in banking, trading, insurance, and preparing for a conventional (family) career path. One opportunity stood out: an internship on an international arbitration case related to a nuclear power plant. At the time, I had no idea what a “quantum assistant” did, but I was curious.

That project lasted five years and introduced me to the world of construction disputes, expert work, and technical investigations.

After gaining several years of experience in arbitration, I completed an LLM in Construction Law and Arbitration in the UK. Since then, I’ve worked on both live projects and dispute-related assignments, supporting experts on complex construction cases across a range of regions and sectors. It wasn’t a planned path, but it’s one that suits me well. It’s a field where I feel intellectually engaged and genuinely useful.

Why is HKA a stand-out employer for you? 

HKA has a strong reputation in the industry. That credibility is built on technical excellence and consistent high-quality delivery.

What I value just as much is the working environment. People here are not only professional and competent, but also polite, respectful, and calm under pressure. There’s a culture of integrity and high standards, without unnecessary formality. You’re trusted to work independently and supported when needed.

It’s also a place where diverse perspectives are welcomed. There’s room to grow, ask questions, and contribute meaningfully. That quiet professionalism really resonates with me.

What has your career path been like to date?

Unusual, but consistent in one way: I’ve always followed curiosity.

My career started in Finance, shifted into arbitration, and evolved into construction dispute work and expert analysis. I’ve worked across sectors, energy, transport, infrastructure, etc. and across different regions. Each project is unique, but what connects them is the challenge of solving complex problems through careful, structured thinking.

Over the years, I’ve grown more comfortable with ambiguity. I’ve learned that no project comes with perfect information, and sometimes the real skill lies in knowing how to read between the lines. Even now, I still enjoy learning something new every day. That’s what keeps me going.

What do you love about the field you work in?

I enjoy the investigative side of construction disputes. Our work involves a combination of technical complexity, commercial logic, and human decision-making. Often, we begin with thousands of documents and little clarity. I find real satisfaction in going through the details, asking the right questions, and building a coherent narrative from fragmented information.

It’s also a field that rewards curiosity. I regularly work with engineers and planners, learning from their technical insights and project experience. No two cases are ever the same. There’s always something new to understand, which keeps the work both engaging and meaningful.

What would you as a teenager think about the person you’ve become today?

She might be surprised by how serious I’ve become, but also quietly proud.

I didn’t follow the expected path, and I never wanted a pre-planned life. I’ve made decisions based on what felt meaningful rather than what was conventional. I’ve built a life that reflects who I am, curious, independent, and motivated by learning. I think she would recognise that as something worth doing. 

Who influenced you to be the person you are today?

My parents.

They were both ahead of their time in many ways. They were curious, disciplined, and supportive of each other’s careers. Growing up, I saw them balance professional work with shared responsibilities at home. That gave me a quiet model of independence and mutual respect.

They each succeeded in very different fields, often navigating unfamiliar ground and finding solutions without a clear roadmap. That mindset, facing complexity with calm focus, left a deep impression on me. They also taught me not to compare myself with others, but instead to focus on improving from yesterday’s version of myself. That philosophy still guides me today.  

What is something about you that might surprise people?

I’m currently studying fashion design and tailoring. It’s the first time I’ve learned something purely for myself, not for work, but to explore creativity through manual work. I enjoy the balance between structure and hands-on making.

I also love cooking, especially savoury dishes from different cultures. I rarely cook desserts, as I don’t have a sweet tooth. I enjoy understanding traditional techniques and combining them with modern ones. Cooking is a way for me to decompress; it’s quiet, precise, and satisfying.

I ran regularly for over a decade and once flew to Osaka just to run a marathon, not for performance, but to experience the city in a different way. I’ve since shifted to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which I appreciate for its technical and strategic depth. Like everything I do, it’s not for competition, but for personal growth and discovery.

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