Meet George Leong

George Leong is from Johannesburg and is the Founder and Creative Director of award-winning creative agency Fairchild Creative.

Read more about why George is proud to be Chinese and a South African.

"BREAK THE STEREOTYPE! More than proving to them you are better, prove to yourself why the sky's the limit! Be outspoken and be more confident on anything you wish to pursue. BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE!" ~ George Leong

Name: George Leong

Occupation: Entrepreneur / CEO / Creative Director

1. Where were you born?

Johannesburg

2. What school/college/university did you attend?

Chinese Kuo Ting School
Queens High School
Midrand University (rebranded to Pearsons Graduate Institute now)

3. What is your fondest childhood memory, growing up as a Chinese child?

Well I guess the fondest memory growing up as an Asian kid in the 80’s/90’s was most definitely having a different perspective on South African culture, a mix of east meets west.

4. What is your favourite Chinese food?

DIM SUM, HA GOA, Sweet and Sour Soup and any Choi that’s cooked correctly :)

5. Where do you live?

Johannesburg

6. What work do you do?

I am the Founder and Creative Director of Fairchild Creative - A bespoke creative agency that blends design thinking with production, to craft visual experiences that push brands forward. We design to disrupt. The agency has been honoured with 40 Africa and International Creative Excellence Awards for work we have crafted for our clients and partners. GOLD STATUES ARE NICE, BUT A HAPPY CLIENT IS MUCH BETTER. To date, we are proud to say that we are VIACOM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA NETWORKS AFRICA (MTV,MTV BASE, COMEDY CENTRAL and NICKELODEON) most awarded creative supplier in Africa. Founded in 2011 in the heart of Cyrildene (Chinatown) we moved to an office space in the Media Mill in Milpark, JHB. Let's create beautiful work… together.

7. What do you love about your job?

I am passionate about solving creative problems and making brands grow.

As an entrepreneur, its truly about helping others and empowering others to become great.. that feeling of accomplishment is why I am still pushing and grinding.

8. What is your proudest achievement?

In my personal life, I am a proud father of 2 beautiful kids and married to my beautiful wife.
In business, I am proud to have earned the trust and respect of my clients and partners.
As an entrepreneur, I am proud to have empowered young talent and guide them as they grow to become the future creators of tomorrow.

George Leong's collaboration with Graffiti Artist Link 1

9. Why are you proud to be South African?

I am proud to be South African, because we are diverse, hungry for success and full of flavour (more than Simba chips that for sure! Lol)

10. Why are you proud to be Chinese?

As a youth, sometimes I wasn’t proud.. always getting sterotyped, always not good enough.

“DOES PHONG KONG RING A BELL?” in a matter of fact some Chinese families are still extremely narrow minded especially those who lived through the apartheid regime, I was a delinquent... i never followed the straight and narrow .. I broke the rules. BUT .. in order to break the rules you must know them through and through, rule breaking is innovation and innovation is exactly the path of where China is headed and I'm proud to be apart of that, that’s why I'm proud to be Chinese.

11. Name one Chinese tradition that you’d like future generations to continue with?

The tradition of giving, respecting your elders and the tradition of hard work.

12. What advice would you give to the Chinese youth today in South Africa?

Many Asians across the globe have been mistreated in the media which in result influenced people perception on Asian people, my advice to the youth.. BREAK THE STEREOTYPE! More than proving to them you are better, prove to yourself why the sky's the limit! Be outspoken and be more confident on anything you wish to pursue. BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE!

13. Is there anything else that you would like to share?