Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year: Education

EtonHouse Founder Mrs Ng Gim Choo wins the prestigious EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in the Education category

Mrs. Ng Gim Choo, Founder and Managing Director of EtonHouse International Education Group, has won the prestigious EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in the Education category.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is an annual awards program that honours Singapore’s top entrepreneurs for their contributions to the economy and society.

Says Mrs Ng, “I am truly honored and privileged to receive this award, especially since I started my career with Ernst and Young as an auditor. My experience in EY laid a solid foundation for my entrepreneurship journey, and gave me the confidence to start EtonHouse.”

Prior to setting up EtonHouse in 1995, Mrs. Ng worked as an audit manager in Ernst & Young and then a partner in an audit firm. She gave up her career in audit and followed her husband on an assignment to London, where she was inspired by the UK’s inquiry and play-based approach to learning. After being a housewife for 12 years, she decided to be an entrepreneur in her 40s. It was a difficult decision but she was determined to start a school where learning was not stressful but fun and joyful.

Starting an inquiry-based curriculum in the 90s was a bold move as it had not been much heard of. There was also no track record to fall back on. Despite huge losses in the beginning and pressure from parents to change its curriculum, Mrs Ng did not waver. She knew that rote learning would not nurture children who can think critically, and develop critical life skills required for success in the future.

Her persistence in pursuing a high-quality inquiry curriculum led to the development of EtonHouse’s very own curriculum grounded in research and best practice. EtonHouse started to gain a reputation for its innovative approach in education across the K12 pathway.

In 2003, at the height of the economic crisis due to the SARS outbreak, Mrs Ng opened her first overseas school in China. Against the odds, its expansion into China flourished through a combination of savvy strategy and government support.

Today, Mrs Ng continues to lead the expansion of EtonHouse across China and Asia. She had transformed herself from an auditor to a housewife and now to a successful businesswoman.

At the EY Awards gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore on Thursday 3rd October, Mrs Ng encouraged everyone to give back to society and to make a meaningful difference to the lives of the less fortunate. “I hope more businesses can collaborate and initiate new projects to improve the lives of the underprivileged community. Together, we can create a better future.”

Learn about her journey to success in this exclusive interview.

Media Coverage:

• The Business Times, 4 Oct 2019: Driving EtonHouse with 4Ps
• The Edge, 14 Oct 2019: Focusing on Education
• The Edge, 14 Oct 2019: Winners of 18th Entrepreneur of the Year awards embody ‘unstoppable’ spirit and grit
• HRM, 15 Nov 2019: EtonHouse “Treating Staff like our Children”