Ben Chan: Game changer
MANILA, Philippines - Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines recently launched its 2015 search for the best Filipino entrepreneurs with the theme “Game Changers.”
Entrepreneurs know that winning the game often means changing it for the better. Capitalizing on their strategic vision, they see the possibilities and opportunities that others cannot. They bring about positive transformation by applying creative innovation infused with dauntless determination. As game changers, entrepreneurs support a greater purpose, which is to improve the current business landscape.
Ben Chan, Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines in 2013, personifies these attributes. The chairman of the board of Suyen Corporation represented the Philippines in World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards held in Monte Carlo in June 2014. He looks back to the experience as a defining moment in his entrepreneurial career.
Chan, whose fashion brand Bench embodies Filipino style, design ingenuity and world-class quality, joined top business leaders from 60 countries at the prestigious event. He relates, “Taking things on a global scale raises the bar all together. It was truly a proud moment, but surreal at the same time, to be in the company of an elite group of global entrepreneurs specializing in various industries. I was just in awe learning about their own businesses, how they started and got to where they are. It was such an unforgettable moment.”
Most memorable to him was when the country winners were introduced at the gala event. “It was at that moment when it dawned on me that we have indeed gone far and beyond what we had hoped for when we started. Having met these people and together being inducted into the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Hall of Fame gives us somewhat a feeling of entitlement. We are now given a chance to belong to this exclusive group and subsequently learn from their stories or even possibly have some sort of business interaction in the future,” he says.
Some members of the judging panel: (from left) Michael Wu, chairman and director of Maxim’s Group; Chieko Aoki, president, Blue Tree Hotels, and Bryan Pearce, EY Global leader for Entrepreneur Of the Year and Venture Capital Advisory Group. STAR
It was at that point in the program, Chan recalls, that he felt deeply proud to be Filipino. He adds, “All this going through my head in a celebrated setting and the pressure was suddenly lifted when I realized that they were playing Pinoy Ako (the Pinoy Big Brother theme song) as I went up to the stage. It gave me a sense of national pride. Our Philippine contingent, like the others, was an instant cheering squad. That was fun.”
While the glitz and glamour of the Monte Carlo event can be overwhelming, the insights gained from the experience were not lost on him. Chan articulates, “The entrepreneurial spirit naturally finds its way in those who pursue their dreams with passion — the whole realization that success is really all about hard work, persistence and a little bit of luck. As I saw from the other country winners, these were the common denominators, plus other factors unique to each winner.”
Having shared the stage with top entrepreneurs from other countries, Chan is confident that Filipino entrepreneurs have the innate ability, skill and determination to compete globally. He reasons, “With easy access to technology and the importance of trade and doing business with other countries, the world is literally in one’s hands since almost anything is possible. More often than not, any obstacle to doing business would be due to one’s own limitations. One has to try and find a way.”
Having said that, he strongly encourages entrepreneurship to be pursued vigorously in our country, particularly among the youth. Chan enthuses, “The Philippines has a growing and thriving economy. Entrepreneurship in the Philippines is inevitable and continues to grow for as long as the economies of scale allow small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs a good margin on their return of investment. Government must continue to support business development and maintain a healthy and vigorous business environment to ensure progress. Young people should consider a career in entrepreneurship as a profession. Better to start young. The road to success can be long and one needs every bit of experience to successfully make it. Time is vital to growth and starting early is definitely an advantage.”
As the man behind one of the country’s most successful Philippine-based multinationals, Chan has this piece of advice for enterprises seeking to expand internationally: “Make sure your brand is ready to take that big move by learning about the territory and the market you want to expand to before going in. There are social, economic and cultural considerations one must not overlook in international expansion.”
His relentless passion for design, openness to innovation, astute strategizing and deep sense of nationalism continue to guide Ben Chan in changing and winning the game.
The 2015 Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines aims to recognize the inspiring men and women who demonstrate the winning vision, determination and innovative mindset that empower them to transform industries and drive social and economic change. The search is open to all Filipino entrepreneurs. To be eligible, a nominee has to be a Filipino business owner or founder who is primarily responsible for the growth of his or her company. The nominee must still be active in business, which must have been in operation for at least two years. A completed nomination form, audited financial statements and other documents are required for a nomination to be considered for further judging. Nominations will be accepted until May 31, 2015. For more information, visit http://www.ey.com/PH/en/About-us/Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneur-Of-The-Year.
