“If you want to grow, find a good opportunity. If you want to be a great company, think about what social problems you could solve.”
Mr Jack Ma
Founder, Chairman & Former CEO
Alibaba Group
China
“What is behind the brand is the hard work of a lot of people. It is not one person, it is the result of many people putting in days and nights working on various initiatives.”
Mr Lim Ming Yan
President & Group CEO
CapitaLand Limited
Singapore
“For the first five years, we were grappling… learning on the job. But for a good brand to be a good brand, you have to go through those trials and errors, and you have to go through those hard times. You just did what you had to do to get the job done.”
Mr Woon Tai Ho
Former Founding CEO
Channel NewsAsia
Singapore
“A handshake between friends in partnership means more than a piece of paper. Conducting business is about mutual trust and reliability.”
Mr Paul Loo Lip Giam
Founder
FNA Group International & The Cocoa Trees
Singapore
“We challenged the norm in medicine, the way we look at blood pressure, looking at it for 24 hours, and the concept of treating it.”
Mr Ting Choon Meng
Executive Chairman & CEO
HealthStats International
Singapore
“We all know the chinese word, 玻璃 (Glass). It’s a material. Liuli is an ancient chinese name. For me, it’s kind of Spirit, Mentality and Culture.”
Ms Loretta Hui-Shan Yang
Co-Founder
LIULIGONGFANG
Taiwan
“People say in business, you have to think out of the box. For me, there is no box.
I rather have no box as I will have free rein to explore all my business possibilities.”
Mr Aitthipat ‘Tob’ Peeradechapan
Founder & CEO
Tao Kae Noi
Thailand
“破釜沉舟(pò fǔ chén zhōu) is only way you’ll ever truly put in your hundred percent. The fear of defeat is often a strong motivator. When you no longer have a way back, the only way left is forward.”
Mr Han Keen Juan
Executive Chairman
Old Chang Kee Group
Singapore
“To us, service is a race without a finishing line.
We are never satisfied with the status quo and always seek to better the guest experience.”
Mr Allen Law
CEO
Park Hotel Group
Hong Kong
“If you cannot make it greater, at least, preserve it. Do not let things slide. Go on doing our work and increasing it, but if you cannot, do not lose what we have already done.”
Mr Jamsetji Tata
Founder
Tata Group
India
“BreadTalk isn’t just about becoming the next Merlion and Sentosa of Singapore. We are an international business… but we will always be a Singaporean brand.
We breathe life into each bread, unravelling its story and sharing it with our customers.”
Mr George Quek
Chairman
BreadTalk Group
Singapore
“Food Republic is a thematic dining concept that brings the best hawker food under one roof. I wanted the brand and concept to take diners’ breath away.”
Mr George Quek
Chairman
BreadTalk Group (Food Republic)
Singapore
“Coffee and Toast became part of what it means to be Singaporean. So we thought it would be interesting to approach it with our experience and sense of creativity. ”
Mr George Quek
Chairman
BreadTalk Group (Toast Box)
Singapore
“I had an entrepreneurial spirit and a burning passion to pave my own way.
I wanted the brand to be recognised as a forward-thinking provider of travel solutions not only in Asia, but worldwide.”
Mr Anthony Chan
Managing Director
Chan Brothers Group
Singapore
“Everyone was importing directly from overseas so we needed to find new idea. We have to ensure that we are always on our toes, and that we are bringing designs suitable for the market.”
Mr Bob Chew
Managing Director
Comfort Design
Singapore
“Music is my greatest love, and I wanted to make music accessible to everyone.
I saw music as an instinct, not an entitlement.”
Mr Wong Jian Bing
Founder & Managing Director
Christofori Music
Singapore
“Stay curious. No matter what level you are at, which stage of life you are in, what age you are, just stay curious. If you can keep that mindset, I think you will go a long way.”
Mr Richard Eu
CEO
Eu Yan Sang International Ltd
Singapore
“We spoke with branding firms… We did analyses… We were very worried. Would our customers recognise our brand? It was a difficult brand journey.
Building a brand is for life.”
Mr Tan Wang Cheow
Founder & Chairman
Food Empire
Singapore
“I don’t think anyone can afford to rest when it comes to consumer goods. Quality is a prerequisite of the brand. Quality comes first, only then can you build a sustainable brand.”
Mr Daniel Lim
Executive Director
Hosen Group
Singapore
“From day one, we’ve always been quality first and then everything else later because I believe quality brings back customers and not the price.
Putting the product on the shelf is easy. Getting the customers to buy? That’s the challenge.”
Ms Helene Raudashchl
Managing Director
Indoguna Singapore
Singapore
“I regard other restaurateurs as friends because when the industry is faced with challenges, it is easier to come together and solve problems.
Our staff are our greatest brand assets and brand ambassadors.”
Mr Ang Kiam Meng
CEO
Jumbo Group of Restaurants
Singapore
“I have told stories in theatre, cinema and books, but I realised that the one story that can truly make a difference is education.
If art is a mirror to society, then education should be the toolbox for building the future.”
Mr David Chiem
Founder, CEO & Chairman
MindChamps Holdings
Singapore
“We decided we needed to brand our business – to differentiate ourselves and gain a competitive edge. We needed to reposition ourselves. We wanted to show that we were a Singaporean brand.”
Mr Loh Jwee Poh
CEO
Mr Bean
Singapore
“I believe in family unity, I believe in family values, I believe in moral values. You pass on to your children, looking forward to them passing to their children. That’s why it’s so important: You Adopt, and You Pass On.”
Dr T. Chandroo
Chairman & CEO
Modern Montessori International Group
Singapore
“We didn’t become Singapore’s number 1 event caterer by chance. Right from the start, we are firm on our values that would drive the company forward – excellent food, speedy service and impeccable set-ups.”
Mr Neo Kah Kiat, PBM
Founder, CEO & Chairman
Neo Group
Singapore
“Making a difference in other people’s lives drives and motivates me. Beyond growth and market share, it is really about people and what we do for our fellow man.”
Mr Seah Kian Peng
CEO
NTUC Fairprice Co-operative
Singapore
“We became mindful that we cannot do social good if the business is not sustainable. Commercial in our approach, social in purpose, is the principle on how we conduct our business.”
Mr Perry Ong
CEO
NTUC Foodfare
Singapore
“We wanted a brand name which was catchy and easy to pronounce. Consumers can easily remember it, and at the same time, it conveys customers’ approval of the product.”
Ms Michelle Cheo
CEO
Mewah International Singapore (OKI)
Singapore
“As an integrated developer, OUE looks at every development as an opportunity to enrich and transform the function, perception and value of a place. ”
Dr Stephen Riady
Executive Chairman
OUE Limited
Singapore
“If you want to penetrate into another country yourself, you’ve got to put the best team forward. Anything else is a compromise.
If you can win in branding, you not only win market share, but you also win mind share.”
Mr Ng Whye Hoe
Managing Director
Pet Lovers Centre
Singapore
“We wanted to bring together and create a large network of property agencies to give more options to clients and also to enjoy economies of scale
When you’re passionate about what you do, it never feels like work.”
Mr Ismail Gafoor
Founder & CEO
Propnex Realty
Singapore
“A brand isn’t just about packaging or design, but a promise of quality to our customers. Many of our customers recommend PUTIEN to their friends and relatives, so we can’t disappoint them. ”
Mr Fong Chi Chung
Founder & CEO
PUTIEN Holdings Singapore
Singapore
“We can grow and learn from each other, and provide service to cruise lines that far exceeds customer’s expectations. We are pleased with the fact that we had never turned away a ship.”
Ms Christina Siaw
CEO
Singapore Cruise Centre
Singapore
“We try to cater for every possible occasion. It is our dream for us to celebrate customers’ life stories with our jewellery.
Our Brand’s slogan – You deserve to shine.”
Mr Daniel Lim
CEO
Soo Kee Group (SK Jewellery)
Singapore
“We treat every grain with gratitude. This gratitude is reflected in every part of the handling process of our rice.
Our brand is successful because we value integrity; and thus enabling SongHe to leap beyond the competition, delivering a consistent quality of rice come what may.”
Mr Jerry Ng
Director
Tong Seng Produce (SongHe Rice)
Singapore
“The Fullerton Hotel Singapore is a masterpiece. Its experience is really about opening bridges and offering a seamless connection between Singapore’s heritage and modernity.”
The Fullerton Hotel
Singapore
“Proper communication reduces the incidence of misunderstandings and conflicts, where races, cultures and religions may be concerned.
Our highest priority is to deliver consistently good quality services at a fair price to our customers.”
Mr Nicholas Goh
Founder & CEO
Verztec
Singapore
“To be successful, a brand needs to have a clear strategy and knowledge of what appeals to its customer. We saw great potential with the brand and wanted to bring it to the next level…”
Mr Perry Ong
CEO
NTUC Foodfare (Wang Cafe)
Singapore
“I will not give up on these people. Lives are being transformed, and that keeps me going.
I have never been poorer, but I’ve also never been happier.”
Mr Eugene Wee
Founder & Executive Director
RADION International
Singapore