Prestigious reward

Success, for some, would be crossing continents, or owning a big organisation, or building a skyscraper. Others would consider bringing up children while juggling jobs as more of an achievement. Whatever the case may be, success stories are always worth telling. With this in mind, society magazine Prestige Malaysia, and CIMB Bank, through its priority banking service CIMB Club, collaborated to honour those who have excelled in their respective fields in their Prestige Malaysia Top 40 Under 40 project.

Recently, 40 individuals aged 40 and below gathered at the Grand Milennium Hotel, hoping to win the project’s The Most Promising Individual title. This is the first time the title has been introduced since the project started in 2005. All 40 candidates were profiled in a special booklet of the magazine’s issue this month. The individuals work in sectors such as communications, home and property, fashion, retail, food and beverage, technology and entertainment.

Voted by 400 guests at the event (the Who’s Who in the chosen industries), five candidates were shortlisted: YTL Group director of Investment Ruth Yeoh, Priority Communications executive director Elaine Chuah, chief executive officer of the Delicious chain of restaurants Benjamin Yong, award-winning artist and founder of Kartel Records Joe Flizzow and executive director of Crave Capital, Gerard Teoh.

Yeoh won the title, receiving a trophy from CR Media, a leather valet from Gold Sponsor CIMB Club, a ring worth RM10,000 from luxury watch brand Roger Dubuis, a shopping voucher worth RM3,000 from Melium Groups’ M Store, a hamper of beauty products from Laura Mercier, a limited edition coffee table book and VIP Service by Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd.

“I feel blessed and my first reaction upon winning was to thank God, my family and loved ones, as well as my friends. I believe confidence has nothing to do with how many awards one receives. It should be based on one’s capacity to keep working hard,” she said.

The 25-year-old is an environmentalist, leading her company’s environmental division. She also co-authored a book entitled Cut Carbon, Grow Profits: Business Strategies for Managing Climate Change and Sustainability with Dr Kenny Tang.  Also present at the event was Catcha Group chief executive officer Patrick Grove. “Yeoh was picked by her peers present. As achievers themselves, they were able to evaluate candidates on the attributes needed to win the award,” said Grove.

Other nominees for the award included Malaysia’s first astronaut, Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, actress and Sinclair Falak Sdn Bhd managing director Sazzy Falak, Naza Group vice-president Sheikh Mohd Faisal, entrepreneur and extreme sports lover Maznah Zolkifly, singer Jaclyn Victor and Melissa Indot.