Lifelong learning drives career agility
Discover how a CFA® charterholder built an ESG consultancy in Hong Kong using sustainable investing skills and CFA Institute programs.
As environmental and social factors continue to play an important role in investment decision-making, a skillset that is able to adapt to an evolving regulatory ESG landscape is paramount, says Zap Cheng, CFA.
Cheng has been a charterholder for many years and his decision to study for and complete the CFA Institute Sustainable Investing Certificate has paved the way for a successful career pivot.
With more than 20 years of career experience in a range of finance roles, Cheng explains that becoming a CFA charterholder opened the door to multiple opportunities over the years. “The CFA qualification has been important for my career, especially in Hong Kong. Those three letters prove that you're disciplined and hardworking and have the relevant experience – they already tell a story,” he says.
Why lifelong learning is essential in modern finance
But Cheng didn’t stop at becoming a charterholder; he is currently co-chair of the Candidate Services committee of CFA Society Hong Kong, as well as sitting on the Advocacy Committee and Macau Subcommittee. And from all his work with CFA Institute he knew that studying for further certifications at a later stage would give him another way of standing out in the job market. “When you complete a certificate from CFA Institute, it gives people confidence in your ability and level of knowledge.” In data driven industries with complex regulatory requirements, that peace of mind is even more important, he says.
This is particularly true of ESG, Cheng says, which has become one of the hottest topics in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s green and sustainable finance market has grown dramatically: US$84.4 billion in green and sustainable debt was issued in 2024, up 61% year-on-year. Meanwhile, the government and regulators have reinforced Hong Kong’s position as a sustainable finance hub, including through the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s launch of its Sustainable Finance Action Agenda in October 2024.
The thing that stood out to Cheng about CFA Institute certificates is that the organization incorporates practitioner and candidate feedback, and ensure that the professional skills they teach remain at the cutting edge of industry developments. “Their focus is not only about the knowledge but also enhancing candidates’ practical skills,” he says.
Making the move to ESG
In October 2025 Cheng launched his own firm – EcoVision Consultancy – providing end-to-end ESG and sustainability-related services to clients, at a time when Hong Kong looks to align more closely with international sustainability reporting standards. “The expectation is that the regulation, not only for large and listed companies but even for SMEs, will become more granular, more evidence-based, more quantitative,” he says.
Cheng certainly sees that his path has been smoothed by the knowledge gained from taking the certificate: “The program is very comprehensive. It covers all the foundation ESG topics and integrates ESG into important financial concepts like financial projections, portfolio management. That’s unique compared to other certificate providers.”
He feels that CFA Institute’s sustainable investing certificate [NC4.1]plugs a gap between environmental education and financial topics. “The curriculum allows us to interpret the figures and drive change,” he explains. It also helps those that have studied it to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders. Cheng says, “I do a lot of corporate training with the C-suite and financial controllers who are very concerned about the impact of ESG.”
More than just risk management and compliance with complex regulatory frameworks, ESG is an opportunity to improve processes and enhance topline revenue, Cheng says. “Many people think that ESG is only about investing without return. But the Sustainable Investing certificate from CFA Institute gives you great financial modelling skills to have those senior level conversations about ESG impact, positive cash flow, and potential new revenue streams.”
Zap’s advice for young finance professionals
“The world is changing so quickly so keep learning and focus on areas that AI cannot replace, for example, jobs that require empathy and involve human interaction, project management and execution. The CFA Institute certificates are a great experience because they are so comprehensive, it demands discipline and time management but also emotional and social intelligence.
“Plug into the CFA community in Hong Kong. It has so many events – both physical and virtual – that allow you to meet professionals across the industry. Every time you learn something new. New graduates are nervous about the job market but my advice is always to come along to CFA Institute events and do some networking. You never know where that interaction may take you!”
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