ELIM CHEW, 51

Never say die: That’s the attitude that Elim has adopted throughout her entrepreneurial journey. From humble beginnings as founder of streetwear label, 77th Street, to the start of a new venture with logistics app Fast Fast delivery, and the birth of a culinary empire with her I’m KIM Korean BBQ and Goro Goro Steamboat restaurants, Elim is a study on how to evolve as an entrepreneur according to market needs.

Pretty impressive for someone who was written off by her teachers as a child. “In school, I used to get Fs all the time, but I didn’t let it get me down,” she reveals. “I’ve since collected a lot more Fs in my life. F for fashion,  for Fast Fast app, F for F&B, and F for fish because my family’s invested in fish farming in Indonesia. So getting an F isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be!” While her business ventures have been lucrative to say the least, Elim is quick to point out that she’d rather her various companies make a social impact than make money. “Everything starts from the heart. Equally as important as doing well is doing some good in the world, so I’ve always tried to remember the less fortunate even when chasing success,” she shares. “Money is neutral; it’s what you do with the money you make that matters.”