At HKUST’s first UC RUSAL President’s Forum on September 21, 2010, Mr Oleg Deripaska, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the world’s largest aluminum producer, UC RUSAL, shared his secret of success.

Organized by HKUST’s Institute for Advanced Study and hosted by President Prof Tony F Chan, Mr Deripaska’s talk entitled "The Power of Focus: Turning Opportunity into Success” attracted hundreds of students (among them senior secondary students), university faculties and staff, government officials and financial executives. The forum was transmitted globally via the internet.

"Concentration, dedication, self-confidence, as well as the ability to select the right people and to create a real team, are the skills that will enable the realization of the most ambitious projects,” Mr Deripaska said.

He added, "Behind every project is an idea. At first this idea might seem unfeasible and you will be discouraged by those around you. But regardless of these hurdles, it is the ability to focus that will turn that idea into an opportunity, and that opportunity into success.”

Studied physics at college and turned to economics later, Mr Deripaska said the education allows him to assess a problem with different angles, "I was able to see the whole picture and understand the whole process.” He encouraged students to "read and learn as much as possible”, "be patient” and “always challenge yourselves”.

The forum was the inaugural event of a five-year joint project in education and research co-organized by UC RUSAL and HKUST. The project will foster joint scientific research, address pressing environmental issues and promote cooperation between young scientists from Russia and Hong Kong. For more details on the forum, please go to http://ias.ust.hk/ucrusal/