Alison Tam is a competitive swimmer and the founder of Alison Tam Swimming, where she coaches kids and adults in swimming disciplines. But she hasn’t always been a swimmer – in fact, when she first moved to Hong Kong at the age of seven, she had no idea how to swim. After her first experience in the water, though, she fell in love with the sport and eventually started her own swimming business after having her first baby. Learn about her entrepreneurship in this interview.
1. Could you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I was born in the UK and moved to Hong Kong when I was seven. My parents made me pick one hobby to focus on. I’d previously done gymnastics in London but wasn’t very good at it, so off the top of my head, said I wanted to do swimming in Hong Kong. It turned out to be a good choice. I couldn’t even swim when I first moved to Hong Kong and remember having private lessons before being able to join group lessons. By the time I was nine, though, I was competing for Hong Kong at international swim meets.
2. What inspired you to start Alison Tam Swimming?
I didn’t intentionally start ATS. I was looking to take a break as I’d just sold my previous company and was halfway through pregnancy when a friend of mine asked me to teach him how to swim. I really enjoyed being back in the water and decided to take on a few more students to help fill out the time. Very quickly, I was being referred and had more people asking me to teach them to swim. I’m not good at saying “no” so I ended up very busy. I was back teaching eight weeks after giving birth and the referrals kept coming – and that’s what pushed me to start ATS.
3. Tell us about a memorable moment while running Alison Tam Swimming?
The best moments are being able to help people – adults or children – overcome their fear of the water and see them really start to enjoy swimming. Recently I had one student tell me she swam from the junk to the floating mat in the sea – previously she would never set foot in the sea.
4. How do you balance your work and personal life?
I don’t distinguish between work and personal life so I have nothing to balance. I just try to do what I need to do. I do prioritise family and fun above the rest most of the time, but sometimes those priorities change when needed.
5. How do you make yourself happy and ritzy in life?
It’s simple. I try to do more of the things that I enjoy doing and not do so many of the things that I don’t enjoy. I love eating, especially with friends. I swim, I gym and I try to do something new once in a while!
