It felt just like yesterday that preparations began for the SOE Awards 2025 – the excitement, food tastings, and months of planning all leading up to a night that reminded us why the Spirit of Enterprise matters. On 27 October 2025, the SOE Awards 2025 Ceremony & Gala took centre stage at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, bringing together a community united by enterprise, resilience, and purpose.
Tan Lih Woei’s Journey to Transform Lih Ming Construction
It is often assumed that talent in certain trades is inherited, but Tan Lih Woei forged his path in construction through determination, vision, and resilience. He comes from a lineage of contractors. The family business originally began in 1979 under his father, Ah Tze, who taught himself gas pipe laying.
Threads of Culture: Vivienne Ong-Lin’s Story At Fuchsia Lane
Vivienne Ong-Lin’s journey into fashion was never straightforward. After years of academic accolades, including six consecutive ASEAN Pre-University and University Scholarships and being part of the pioneer cohort of the National University of Singapore’s School of Design and Environment, she held what many considered a dream career in marketing communications.
Axis Petrochem: How Hendy Ono Djunaedi Leads with Purpose
For some, resilience is a skill built over time. For Hendy Ono Djunaedi, it became a way of life, shaped not by comfort, but by upheaval. When he graduated in 1997 with a degree in Banking and Finance, he anticipated a straightforward path into the financial sector. Instead, the Asian Financial Crisis shattered markets and erased job prospects overnight.
Cooking Art’s Esther Kim Sim: Continuing a Beloved Kueh Legacy
Some stories begin with a spark so small you could almost miss it. For Esther Kim Sim, it was a simple piping bag in a secondary school cake-decorating competition.
Propelling Dreams: The Journey of James Yeow and Propellyst
For James Yeow, Director of Propellyst, the foundation of leadership is built on simple but timeless principles: generosity attracts people, self-discipline earns respect, tolerance wins hearts, and leading by example inspires others. These values have guided every step of his journey as a husband, father, and entrepreneur.
Data, Dreams, & Determination: Bryan’s Trusted Hub Journey
“If someone is going to do it, why not you?” This tagline heard during childhood lingered in the mind of Bryan Wong Yaw Ming for decades. Long before he became CEO of Trusted Hub Limited, those words planted a quiet conviction that he should just transcend fear and self-doubt to follow his dream.
Azhar’s Zoul Nasi Ayam Penyet Journey of Simplicity & Strength
Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight path. It is a terrain shaped by risks, setbacks, and defining moments that test not just one’s skills, but one’s character. For Azhar Md Salleh, Founder and Director of Zoul Nasi Ayam Penyet Pte Ltd, the journey began in a hawker kitchen — long before he knew what the word “entrepreneur” meant.
Mohamed Haikkel: Building The SGFR Store & Singaporean Spirit
For Mohamed Haikkel, the journey to entrepreneurship began long before his official titles. Today, he’s the Founder and CEO of SGFR Store Pte Ltd, but the lessons that shaped him came from moments of curiosity, courage, and resilience.
Patrick Yap’s Vision: Turning Godesign Pte Ltd into a Legacy
For Patrick Yap, stepping into the world of entrepreneurship was not a choice but a responsibility. Following the passing of his father, Patrick inherited more than a business. He inherited a legacy grounded in dedication, integrity, and hard work.











