Reporter Li Yiyan interviewed and reported
The chairman of Lanyang Food, Lu Gentian, and the general manager He Minge, who have been in the frozen prepared food industry for 41 years, have demonstrated the spirit of "learning until old age" with practical actions. When they were successful in their careers, they returned to school together and obtained a master's degree in international marketing from the Department of International Business at Tamkang University. They set an example of continuous learning for the younger generation, and the couple also encouraged their colleagues in the company to seize the opportunity of further study to accumulate more professional abilities for themselves.
Father-son inheritance inspires passion for learning
Recalling the opportunity to return to school, Chairman Lu Gentian admitted that his eldest son Lu Dingheng was studying in the International Marketing Master's Program of the Department of International Business at Tamkang University at the time. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school adopted an online distance learning model. After listening to his son's online courses, he aroused his own thirst for knowledge.
So he and his wife He Ming'e discussed and decided to go back to school together. Fortunately, they were both admitted. Lu Gentian said: "After graduating for more than 40 years, I can be a student again and learn a lot of knowledge and make many friends who share the same interests. This is the biggest gain."
Family role models become motivation for further study
General Manager Ho Ming-e's motivation to study was influenced by her brother, Professor Ho Yat-sang. Ho Yat-sang switched from a mass media major to an academic world and achieved great academic success, setting a good example for her and her husband. Ho Ming-e said gratefully, "My brother set a good example for my husband and me. With his encouragement and assistance, I was able to overcome all the difficulties and successfully complete my thesis and obtain my degree in two years."
Putting research results into practice
Chairman Lu Gentian's paper titled "A Study on Successful Entrepreneurship and Management in the Food Industry - Taking Lan Yang Food as an Example" combines his own entrepreneurial experience with academic theories to explore successful business models in the food industry. Through his own experience in running a business, he provides practical references for those who want to start a business.
General Manager He Ming'e took "Research on the Process of Developing Vegetarian Food in the Food Industry - Taking Lan Yang Food as an Example" as the research theme, and conducted an in-depth analysis of Lan Yang Food's development strategy and process in the vegetarian market.
The two are most grateful to their supervisor, Dr. Shengxiong Chang, associate professor at the Institute of International Business at Tamkang University, for successfully completing their studies and obtaining their degrees. Dr. Chang provided detailed guidance and direction when the two were choosing their topics, and under the guidance of his teacher, the two successfully completed their thesis.
A student life that balances career and study
During the two-year study, although the couple was busy with business operations during the day, they would gather in the classroom every night and weekend to study. Lu Gentian shared: "Classmates gathered together to study without prior arrangement, and at the same time shared trivial matters in life, work and family. Such exchanges became the motivation for us to study hard."
Ho Ming-e said with a smile: "The biggest advantage of being a classmate is that you can always find someone to discuss your problem with. Sometimes before going to bed, if you think of a point the professor made that you don't understand, you can call someone around to discuss it together."
Encourage the younger generation to continue to improve
Lu Gentian and He Minge have proved through their own experiences that age is never an obstacle to learning. They also appealed to the younger generation: "Seeing our sons receiving higher education in colleges and universities has inspired us to go back to school together. No matter what stage of life you are in, you should maintain your passion for learning and keep improving yourself."
This entrepreneurial couple not only worked together in the business world, but also supported each other in their studies, writing the best footnote for "lifelong learning" and setting an example for young people to never stop learning.
