From tour guide to HSBC strategy chief: How a Dutch student found his future in Asia
He wanted to broaden his horizons and travel.
In the early 1990s, Herald Van der Linde pursued his educational and travel aspirations in the Netherlands by seeking employment. He worked as a tour guide in China and Indonesia, experiencing numerous challenges, such as losing US$100 in Shenzhen and a plane's emergency landing near Guilin. Van der Linde's journey in Asia profoundly impacted his perspective, leading him to declare his intention to reside and work in the region.
After obtaining his master's degree in economics, he moved to Indonesia and began his career as a financial analyst. Today, at the age of 56, Van der Linde is the head of Asia equity strategy at HSBC, based in Hong Kong. He also shares his passion for the region through his books, including biographies of Jakarta and Srivijaya, Indonesia’s first maritime empire.
Van der Linde attributes his fascination with Southeast Asia to his immersion in its languages, cultures, and history. He believes in investing in global equities through low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs), emphasizing their cost-effectiveness in building diversified portfolios. He has learned the value of long-term investment through various market downturns, including the 2008 financial crisis and declines in 2020 and 2023.
Despite initial setbacks, Van der Linde advocates for investing consistently and staying invested in order to benefit from compounding returns.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
