This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on May 4, 2018 - May 10, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysians have made it to the Forbes Asia’s inaugural Emergent 25 list, honouring star businesswomen who are making their mark in regional enterprises.

Kuok Hui Kwong, 40, daughter of Malaysia’s richest man, Robert Kuok, rose to the top of her father’s luxury crown jewel, Shangri-La Asia Ltd, at the beginning of 2017, taking over from her elder brother.

As chairman and executive director of the Hong Kong-listed Shangri-La, she oversees total assets of US$13.2 billion (RM52 billion), including stakes in 77 of more than 100 hotels the Kuok family manages around the world under four brands — Shangri-La, Kerry, Hotel Jen

and Traders — as well as side businesses in wine and golf courses.

Also from Malaysia is Joanne Kua, 33, group chief executive officer and executive director of KSK Group Bhd, and managing director of KSK Land Sdn Bhd, who joined her father’s insurance and finance businesses seven years ago.

Since then, she has transformed KSK Group into a diversified conglomerate, adding property development and tech investments to its portfolio. Total group assets now hover around US$410 million.

According to Forbes Asia in its May 2018 issue, this group of 25 women was chosen for the money they generated, the influence they wielded and the ideas and trends they are advancing, bringing fresh perspectives to Asia-Pacific’s growing business world.