From Corporate Lawyer to Visual Artist: The Art of Human Connection (ft. Jada Poon) - Making It with Alex See

Can a photograph heal the pain of loss and remind us that we are never alone? In this episode of Making It, we sit down with Jada Poon, a corporate lawyer turned photographer and visual artist. From walking a predictable, highly successful path in law to experiencing a "soul shut down" due to misalignment with her true self, Jada made the courageous leap to pursue art and design. She shares her incredible journey, the backlash she faced, and the profound impact of a single auntie who believed in her enough to buy her first camera.Jada opens up about her recent photography exhibition, "Still with us" (光一直都在), which deeply explores the themes of love, loss, and the journey of grief. She explains how her camera serves as a tool not just for capturing images, but for fostering genuine human connections, offering people a safe space to be seen and heard. We also delve into the unique "compactness" of Hong Kong, discussing how the city's high energy and proximity make it the perfect breeding ground for creative "co-creation".If you are struggling with a career that drains your spirit, dealing with the loss of a loved one, or simply wanting to understand the power of empathetic listening, Jada's story of vulnerability and shared human experience is essential listening.🎧 IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro: Meeting Jada at the Vietnam Social Exhibition02:56 - Using Photography to Explore Shared Human Experiences04:40 - A Touching Story of Grief: Why Crying is a Gift09:46 - The Career Pivot: Leaving Corporate Law After a "Soul Shut Down"12:28 - The Auntie Who Bought My First Camera24:45 - The Importance of Being Fully Present and Listening33:00 - Hong Kong's Unique Advantage: A Compact City for Co-creation39:36 - Bridging the Gap: Bringing Creative Minds into Corporate SpacesQUOTES FROM THE EPISODE:"我最怕嘅唔係我日日喺度繼續喊，我最怕係我有一日我唔會喊... 當你唔會喊嘅時候，其實就好似代表你已經忘記咗個份愛。"- Jada Poon"點解好似我個 soul 好似慢慢每一日咁 shut down 緊呢？嗰一種辛苦係 by far worse than 冇得睡覺、冇得食飯。"- Jada Poon"We are never alone. 尤其是一個香港咁 busy 嘅 city，我哋各自都好多時 on survival mode... 當你見到同佢有共同分享嘅一種情感，就會多咗一份力量行落去。"- Jada PoonABOUT THE GUEST:Jada Poon is a talented photographer and visual artist whose work revolves around shared human experiences. Leaving behind a career as a corporate lawyer, she pursued design at Central Saint Martins in London before finding her calling behind the lens. Her recent exhibition, "Still with us" (光一直都在), explores the profound journey of grief and love. You can find more of her visual storytelling on Instagram at @JadaPoonPhotography.ABOUT THE HOST:Alex See is on a mission to make Hong Kong a place where artists and creatives can thrive. Through Making It, Alex interviews the minds shaping the culture to uncover what it takes to succeed in the creative industries.CONNECT WITH US:Subscribe for more conversations on creativity and the Hong Kong art scene!📸 Instagram: @makingitwithalexsee