From reading to being: NexGen CEO on his story and style

As a child, Fred Hui was an avid reader of the daily paper but instead of reaching for the comics section, he would go straight to the business pages to read about businessmen.

“I even collected clippings about successful businesses and profiles of tycoons,” he shares. 

Needless to say, being an entrepreneur was something Fred has always dreamed of. After graduating from the university, he worked for the family business but later opted to gather experience abroad. Working in Shanghai and Hong Kong, Fred first gathered insights and experience from large companies before starting his own.

Once you get to where you want to be, be grateful, be humble, and never stop learning, says Hui.

NexGen Asia was his first venture in Hong Kong but later grew in the Philippines. The company is a premier one-stop-shop that specializes in safety and security systems, with other services catering towards agriculture, supply chains, recruitment and real estate.

On top of NexGen, Fred now has multiple businesses in his portfolio under logistics, tech and security. He also has businesses in advertising, food, leisure, and more. Indeed, Fred is always hungry for the next big idea. 

To keep on top of his busy schedule, Fred starts his day at four in the morning to get a headstart. He even manages to squeeze in a quick workout before he faces a day full of meetings.

When asked why he opted to pursue business in the Philippines rather than abroad, he shares that knowing the local culture is essential to any business’s success. 

“I think it is always more convenient to do business in the country you grew up in, primarily because you’re familiar with the culture, and it is easier to build your network. It’s also a lot cheaper here, too.” he points out. 

However, he admits that finding standout talents is harder as most find opportunities abroad. This is why Fred is committed to training and mentoring local professionals to be more competitive. 

While he might seem too busy, it’s important for him to be approachable and available for his team because empowering people is one of his core principles. 

“I prefer getting everyone involved so that there is ownership and teamwork, but I don’t like micromanaging,” he shares. 

With his broad business portfolio, Fred shares that the secret to business boils down to one word, “People.” Regardless of the category, Fred pursues a business based on this basic principle. “Having the right partner or management team matters a lot… Also, you should aim to become someone people will want to do business with.”

NexGen Team. (Photo Released)

Fred believes that making authentic connections, and not just utilitarian business relationships is important, which is why he’s part of different social groups in the country such as the Anvil Business Club and the Rotary Club of Makati Central.

From being inspired by news clippings of successful entrepreneurs of yesterday, Fred comes full circle by being on an article himself to inspire other young aspiring traders. His tip to those reading? “Invest in yourself early on. Put in the time and effort to learn and improve — read books, attend seminars, meet people, eat right, exercise, take chances, make mistakes. Once you get to where you want to be, be grateful, be humble, and never stop learning.”

When asked about what’s next for him, the young and driven entrepreneur said that he will keep going what he’s always done, “expand my current business, revive the old ones, and keep an eye open for new opportunities.”