A PITCH TO REMEMBER: Wendy Wu

Who was the client?

A consortium of real estate developers in Hong Kong, which was ‘pitching’

for the master development contract of the controversial West Kowloon Cultural District.

What was the brief?

To educate and convince the influencers and the public that the client’s

proposal was the best choice during the public consultation period.

What made the pitch interesting?

Not knowing the clients – it was rare that I didn’t get to meet anyone from the client side prior to the pitch presentation.

The development project aimed to make HK the region’s arts and culture hub – you see the

challenge?

How did you pull off the event/

process?

We had a team working for one shared goal – to win. I still recall a couple of colleagues dashing off to Mongkok close to midnight before the presentation day to shop for a ‘prop’ to liven up our presentation.

Who was there?

The representatives of the chief of three consortium companies had booked a function room with a speaker podium, microphone, head-table with tent cards – it felt as if we, the agency people in lieu of clients, were finally in the hot seat of a press conference.

How did you create the buzz?

We framed our recommendations around the analogy of the lifecycle of a butterfly, and at the end of the presentation, we populated the room with butterfly-shaped pins.

What were the success metrics?

In selecting the PR agencies for the assignment, I believe the clients were looking for a balance

of strategic and creative thinking.

Is there anything you could

have done better?

Time management – more time to shop for the right butterfly-shaped pins, brooches and kite!

Why was this a pitch

to remember?

Jen Leung holding up the kite with the boardroom filled with serious executives trying to hold back their giggles.