Page 34 - Forbes - Asia (October 2019)

EDITED BY RANA WEHBE

Welcome to the rebooted Power Businesswomen list for 2019.
In 2012, Forbes Asia launched its inaugural list, a compilation
of 50 outstanding business leaders transforming their indus-
tries and the region. Since then, the list has gone through its
own transformation: in 2013, the name changed to Women
In The Mix and last year the Emergent 25—refocused on up-
and-coming businesswomen. Such changes were necessary
to reflect the rise of self-made entrepreneurs, particularly in
sectors such as technology and retail.
This year’s list restores the original title but is refreshed
in presentation. The goal remains to highlight accomplished
women in business in the Asia-Pacific region who are either
running enterprises with sizable revenues or who have found- JAELLE ANG, 39
ed startups valued at no less than $200 million ($14 billion in Cofounder and CEO, The Great Room
the case of Tan Hooi Ling’s Grab). We have, however, limited SINGAPORE
the list to 25, and excluded anyone from previous years’ lists. Ang is cofounder and CEO of premium coworking
With 25 new names every year, we hope to expand this operator The Great Room, which in August opened its
community of women business leaders who are breaking sixth location at Singapore’s Raffles Hotel, after having
down barriers and playing a significant role in shaping Asia’s expanded to Bangkok last year and Hong Kong earlier
this year. Rather than lease her spaces as do most co-
business landscape in the next few decades. They are an inspi- working firms, she uses a revenue-sharing model with
ration to everyone. landlords, including the one in Raffles with the hotel’s
owner, Qatar-based Katara Hospitality. After first
self-funding her company, Ang has raised S$40 million
($29 million), including S$5.5 million from a group led
Research and Reporting—Pamela Ambler, Ambika Behal, Grace COURTESY THE GREAT ROOM
by C31 Ventures, CapitaLand’s corporate venture arm.
Chung, Joe Cochrane, Sunshine Lichauco de Leon, Jane Ho, Naazneen The banker-turned-property developer also sits on the
Karmali, Pudji Lestari, Suzanne Nam, Lan Anh Nguyen, Jihyun Park, Bangkok-listed Country Group Development board.
Anuradha Raghunathan, James Simms and Yue Wang. —Pamela Ambler

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