SENSE OF PURPOSE
When we began putting this issue of Wealth together, it started with the idea of throwing the spotlight on a new generation of investors and business leaders, while reflecting the current economic clime. And I believe we found exactly who we were looking for.
We have cover gent Cyrus Pun, who isn’t so much erecting buildings worth in the hundreds of millions, but is rather building communities by putting in place solid, dependable infrastructure — from water treatment plants to hospitals and schools — in the satellites towns he’s developing in Myanmar. And then there’s Ruth Yeoh, who instead of closing deals in a board room has taken it upon herself to begin sustainability reporting for the family’s YTL group. The “humble housekeeper” tells us: “As the company grows in size, so will its carbon emissions, so it makes sense to calculate, measure and report what we can, and do our part to mitigate risk as responsibly as possible.”
And then we set out to find even more game changers and it was no coincidence that some of the most interesting were making waves in the tech arena. One by one the pieces fell in place, as we spoke to the likes of Call Levels’ Cynthia Siantar and Daniel Chia, and Runsocials’ Marc Hardy. And we began to notice that regardless of age, gender or industry what everyone had in common was a sense of purpose — a drive, an ideal, a desire…to do more, to add value and to create impact in the lives of others. Growing your own personal wealth and ambitions was important, but it was just as important to do so in a meaningful way.
That’s why this year’s Billionaire Index focuses squarely on the region’s top real estate barons. Regardless of whether their developments are mass or uber luxurious, are homes, factories or offices, they all play a part in shaping communities. That’s why in the scope of investing, our features mirror today’s sensitivities and sensibilities. Our experts delve into startups and angel investors; the ongoing revolution in impact and socially responsible investing; and passion investments where matters closer to the heart such as provenance and legacy, can some time count more than mere dollars and sense.
Enjoy.