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Diamond Girl Vanessa empowers her workers
read more at ross simons Dr Khoo Seok Wah says it is important to provide constant training and that the assistance of her senior employees is important.
Venessa Diamonds, headquartered in Gurney Plaza, Penang, is well known for its Haru, V, Real and Marry Me diamond collections. It will launch the Platinum Xi and Shizen collections in three months. Khoo, the chief executive officer of Venessa Diamonds, attributed her success to the business philosophy she subscribed to.
“This is essential in growing a business. How else would you find the time to handle an expanding business, if you do not empower your staff to help out? “In my case, the help of my senior staff is crucial. Besides being a single parent with a seven-year-old daughter, I was then lecturing full-time at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) when my business was in the process of expanding,” she said. A PhD in Mass Communications from USM, Khoo, 36, lectured for about two years. In 2001, Khoo started the first Venessa Diamonds outlet in Prangin Mall, selling 18-carat white gold and diamonds. The following year, she opened an outlet in the upmarket Gurney Plaza shopping mall. “Subsequently I joined a Japanese partner to establish the London Diamond Gallery at Gurney Plaza, which is well known for its 77-facet Royal Excellent Cut diamonds, pearls and gem stones. “The Japanese partner also took up a stake in Venessa Diamonds, introducing new diamond collections by famous Japanese designers, such as Hisui Kobayashi to Venessa Diamonds,” she said. Khoo said another Venessa Diamonds outlet was opened in the Sunway Carnival Complex, Seberang Jaya, last month. “This outlet is to tap the market in the mainland,” she said, adding that there were no plans yet to go to Kuala Lumpur. Khoo said presently, Venessa Diamonds had established two outlets in Vietnam - Hanoi and Ho Chih Minh City. “Together with our Japanese partner, we have invested about US$20mil in each Vietnam outlet, under the London Diamond Gallery brand name. “Over the next five years, we plan to establish sales offices in Japan and Sweden,” she said. Besides her business, Khoo is also involved in Dreamz Foundation, a charitable organisation, which she co-founded with two well-known local business personalities in 2003. “Dreamz aims at generating sustainable fund for humanistic needs, propagating arts and cultural programmes, and intellectual and academic pursuits. “We stage a variety of charity events yearly to raise cash for our activities. “In June, we launched 3,000 copies of Pinang II, a 200-page book highlighting the success stories of local businessmen, outstanding individuals, and places of interests in Penang,” she said. In a recent charity dinner, Khoo raised RM380,000 for the Dreamz Foundation. She is also currently the advisor for a project to raise RM1mil for Mount Miriam Hospital, an established cancer hospital in Penang. “My goal is to retire at the age 45, so that I can get involved in full-time charitable activities and producing movies to support the local talents in the country,” she said. Khoo’s favourite past time is Chinese brush painting, which she had taken lessons for eight years. “Chinese brush painting helps to relief stress and stay focus on my thoughts and feelings,’ she said. She is also an avid fan of Jin Yong, the famous Chinese martial arts novelist, whose works have recently been translated in English and French. |
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me, it is important to provide constant training to the staff and delegate power
to them.
