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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.