Teresa Norton is one of Hong Kong's biggest fans, believing its attractions are unique in Asia

'I can't recall the exact year I arrived in Hong Kong (1982 I think) but I definitely know the date. It was January 1, and I came directly from a New Year's Eve party in Honolulu, where I had been working in radio, to join my new husband.

My first impressions, during a couple of "pre-nup" trips, were of a city where everyone I met was working on something exciting - and they were working with such enthusiasm that it felt like fun. Most of the people I met were in television, radio, film production and theatre. There was a fully professional English language theatre company active in Hong Kong back then (The Actor's Rep), and four English language radio stations .... lucky for me! I was also impressed by the very high standards in TV advertising and as much of my income had come from doing commercial voice-overs in the US, I felt confident I would find work.

Opportunity soon presented itself and for the next seven years I divided my time between radio and television engagements, including hosting a bi-lingual breakfast show on FM Select for a couple of years. After that wrapped up I was invited to write a weekly column for the South China Morning Post, based on my observations of Hong Kong as an expatriate mother and working woman. These became a sort of weekly love letter to the city I was delighted to call home. I just find the place such a vibrant international city and I've had so many extraordinary experiences building a business and raising a family here, I admit I view Hong Kong with more than a little bias.

The ability to work in so many interesting fields was, I believe, a combination of timing, talent and good fortune, but I can't imagine I could have been afforded such broad experience in any one city but Hong Kong. The depth of opportunity here, along with the convenience, safety and the international exposure, is exceptional. During our annual Hong Kong Arts Festival, I've been in a theatre watching a world-class production one minute, gone literally across the road and into one of the world's great hotels for a late supper, out to the car park without a worry and been home in bed half an hour later - where else in the world would you get that quality of life?

Embracing cultural diversity

Bringing up a family here has also proven to be a rich experience. The international schools offer a unique environment where all of the children have a common communicative language (English) yet are ethnically so diverse. At my children's school, the classmates were comprised of 40 nationalities.

My current business - Spotlight on Success - is an interesting outcome of the cumulative experience. Hong Kong offers excellent opportunities for me as a communication coach and trainer specialising in cross-cultural challenges, as it is an international environment, where businesses are willing and able to invest in developing staff. Human resources departments here are supportive of innovative, fresh approaches to further bridging East/West communication and are eager to explore "out of the box" thinking. As a leading corporate hub, companies in Hong Kong also have the vision - and the budget - to commission this type of work.

Effecting behavioural change and improved communication amongst business leaders, using the same sort of approach I use as a theatrical director to help actors give powerful and truthful performances, is rewarding.  Might I have come to this role had I lived somewhere else for the past two decades?  I don't know.  I do know that it was a lucky day for me when I said "I do" and joined that man to begin a new life at the start of a brand new year.

I got a pretty cool guy to call my husband, and I got the most amazing city in the world to call my home.'

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Spotlight on Success