Behind the Scenes
Hotelier Choo Chong Ngen didn’t like studying when he was a child but has now focused his philanthropic efforts on education.
During our interview with entrepreneur Choo Chong Ngen for this month’s cover story, he chatted with us about the importance of education, a subject he feels very strongly about. He likes to remind younger people to study diligently, be they his grandchildren or the youths he meets as a result of his philanthropic work, which is very much focused on helping financially needy students.
Choo himself dropped out of school at a young age to work, so that he could help his family make ends meet. Does his success with his company Worldwide Hotels (which houses brands such as Hotel 81 and Hotel Mi) actually make him living proof that one doesn’t need a formal education to make it, we ask? “You could do that 50 years ago, but you can’t do that now,” he replied.
Did he have a favourite subject when he was a student? “Actually, I hated studying,” he revealed with a laugh. “I skipped classes all the time. I just wanted to do business.” We point out the irony of someone who disliked studying constantly reminding others to study, which he acknowledged good-naturedly. But his belief in education is heartfelt, and it has rubbed off on his children.
Daughter Carolyn Choo, CEO and managing director of Worldwide Hotels, has started her own philanthropic path that also focuses on education. A graduate of Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University, she has had the benefit of learning from her father as they grow the family business together. Find out more about their expansion plans on page 152.