How to Reinvent Yourself Without Hitting Reset? | Andrew Lau | TEDxCUHK

Andrew Lau, a former TV journalist who later became a barrister, talks about how careers rarely follow the path people expect. He describes his move from the newsroom to the courtroom and how skills from one stage of work carry into the next. The talk frames reinvention as a strength rather than a crisis, and includes his return to university for a master's degree.

• Moving from a career in TV news to working as a barrister
• Skills from one career chapter applied in the next
• Returning to study for a master's degree
• Handling uncertainty and changing direction

Andrew’s talk is about how careers rarely unfold the way we expect and why that’s not something to fear. He shares his journey from the newsroom to the courtroom, and how the skills we build in one chapter often echo into the next in ways we don’t see coming. It’s a story about navigating uncertainty, changing direction, and discovering that reinvention isn’t a crisis—it’s a strength. He reflects on the moments that pushed him forward, the mistakes that humbled him, and the instincts that stayed with him no matter where he went. He also talks about returning to school for a master’s after swearing he would never study again, and what that taught him about growth. At its heart, this talk is an invitation to embrace the unexpected, trust your evolving skills, and carry your past confidently into whatever comes next. Andrew Lau is a former TV journalist who somehow became a barrister. He used to spend his free time playing video games and bingeing Netflix, but now he mostly binges case law. Court work aside, he teaches law and writes legal publications. Today, he still relies on the same instincts he had in the newsroom: find the real story, ask better questions, and try not to sweat under bright lights. Andrew’s talk is about how careers rarely unfold the way we expect and why that’s not something to fear. He shares his journey from the newsroom to the courtroom, and how the skills we build in one chapter often echo into the next in ways we don’t see coming. It’s a story about navigating uncertainty, changing direction, and discovering that reinvention isn’t a crisis—it’s a strength. He reflects on the moments that pushed him forward, the mistakes that humbled him, and the instincts that stayed with him no matter where he went. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx