An Olympic fencer, battery recycling CEO, restaurateur and others are all successfully forging their own path
After school’s out, what then? Hong Kong schools often highlight the duty and commitment they have to helping students develop their talents and find their own path in life. The evidence of that can be found in the personal stories and notable achievements of these alumni who have gone on to succeed in a variety of fields.
Since attending the German International Stream at GSIS between 2000 and 2004, Sarah Fleischer has moved fast to make a name for herself in an industry which is having a transformative impact on modern life. She is the founder and chief executive of Tozero, Europe’s first lithium-ion battery recycling start-up.
The Munich-based company’s aim is to recover critical raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite and lithium, and then reintroduce them into the local supply chain. Doing this will enable the production of new batteries and help to drive a circular economy in Europe while providing a viable model for other parts of the world.
Fleischer and her colleagues have secured financial backing from big-name investors including car company Honda and global infrastructure leader JGC Group. Tozero is also exploring partnerships with some of the main Chinese battery producers, who no doubt see the long-term potential for scalable recycling as electric vehicle use continues to grow exponentially. And Hong Kong has been identified as a key entry point for developing new business opportunities – and hiring talent – in the Asia-Pacific region.
