Cheryl has been establishing businesses in Asia, Europe, and Australia for the past 20 years and has been awarded numerous accolades on entrepreneurship in those countries.
What’s your story?
An entrepreneur at heart, I have owned several businesses for the past 20 years ranging from countries in Asia, Europe and Australia. Currently the CEO/owner of C. T. Hansen International Pte. Ltd, established in 1997 (www.cthi.com.sg). I have been awarded numerous accolades on entrepreneurship in those countries and currently seated in the Executive Board as Vice President for the Spirit of Enterprise and Chairman of SOE Entrepreneurship Publication.
I am an international marketer and have branding expertise in fashion and media entertainment industries as well as a business development consultant to multi-national companies across the European and Asian region.
I am also the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief for ecoMode magazine, an eco-lifestyle magazine for green modern living and have published 8 best-seller entrepreneurial books since 2011-2018.
What excites you most about your industry?
Diversity and constantly innovating new ideas to capture the audience.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I’m a Filipino born/naturalized Australian. Have been living in Singapore as PR for 14 years and have established businesses in HK, India, Singapore, the Philippines.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Singapore – the least bureaucratic place for doing business in Asia and system works.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
The difference between WHO YOU ARE and WHAT YOU WANT TO BE is WHAT YOU DO! You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no results. Everyone has the potential to be a leader – it’s not only something we are innately born with.
Who inspires you?
Inspiration to me comes from all segments of society and rewarding business ventures. I believe that all great business ideas are born from a simple idea and the will to innovate from a simple idea to achieve greater positive results!
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
I have learned to never be scared of making mistakes. I learn far more from my mistakes than from my success because mistakes show me what doesn’t work – as the saying goes, “It’s far better to try something and fail than try nothing and succeed!”
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I can not think of any significant event that I would do differently as each of them has always been meaningful and they are lessons to learn or memories to cherish.
How do you unwind?
Reading books and travelling (I have been to over 50 countries and over 120 largest cities worldwide). My passion is ART and Music. On my spare time, I like to paint (oil painting, ceramics, charcoal sketching, silkscreen and watercolour). I also belong to a Band in Singapore as a Vocalist where we perform once a month at The British Club. I also love gourmet cooking.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
I like most cities in Asia for relaxation. Each city offers a different charm and embodies authentic culture.
Everyone in business should read this book:
SOE Book publication. A life-long entrepreneurship journey from movers and shakers of Singapore. Each journey is both humbling and inspirational. For further details, visit www.soe.org.sg
Shameless plug for your business:
C.T. Hansen International Pte Ltd (CTHI) is a holding company which administers 5 separate brands/entities, namely “Style Creation” (Events Management)”; “Miss Earth Singapore” (Beauty Pageant); “Pristine Publishing” (Publications); “Integrated Business Consulting” (Business Development & Investment Projects); and “Evorich Philippines” (Building & Construction materials).
CTHI was formed in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1997, and by 2000, CTHI had expanded its operations to HongKong, Philippines and Australia. In 2005, CTHI’s headquarter moved to Singapore and was awarded the Spirit of Enterprise Honouree in 2009. Recent expansion was in New Delhi, India in 2017.
How can people connect with you?
[email protected] / Tel. +65 91590296
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This interview is part of the ‘Callum Connect’ series of more than 500 interviews
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder of The Marketing Group PLC. He is the author two best selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’ and ‘Agglomerate’.
Connect with Callum here: twitter.com/laingcallum linkedin.com/in/callumlaing Download free copies of his books here: www.callumlaing.com
