Phoan (second right) and Tan (right), together with regional GSEA chairman for Asia Raymond Rufino (left) in Manila after picking up the National Champion Award. — Photo courtesy of Left&Right.
KUCHING: Local artisan jewellery company ‘Left & Right’ will represent Malaysia at the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (EO GSEA) in Washington DC this April.
Left & Right was named National Champion in Manila, Philippines last month after beating two other national finalists.
When they were among fellow up-and-rising youth entrepreneurs from around the region in Manila, Left & Right partners Eileen Phoan and Fabian Tan, both 25, said their experience there was eye-opening.
Tan, who originally came in as the marketer for Phoan’s work, said they went there with a goal to learn from the others and also to make friends.
“We saw different businesses facing different obstacles, which included scenarios that we had not experienced. Thus, our experience had prepared us to face any situation that may challenge us,” he told The Borneo Post.
While Tan did the networking, Phoan focused on business presentation which included telling the story of why they exist.
“Patrons wanted to know the business plan; and they also wanted to know what your business was about, what you wanted to achieve, and who you were as an entrepreneur. Then we explained the business, the strategy, the marketing and things like that,” said Phoan.
The duo first learned about EO GSEA last year when some of the organisation’s members stopped by at their booth during the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) to introduce themselves.
According to the official website, GSEA is the premier global competition for high school, undergraduate and graduate students who own and operate businesses.
Nominees compete against their peers from around the world for the chance to win capital and in-kind prizes from sponsor organisations.
Founded in 1998 by Saint Louis University, GSEA is now an Entrepreneurs’ Organisation programme.
Because Tan and Phoan each has a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Swinburne University, they do not qualify for the usual jewellery competition which requires participants to have been formally trained in the art.
“We never thought of looking for competitions to join, but we looked at GSEA and submitted an application,” Phoan said.
The application was long and detailed, but they soon learned they were in the shortlist. Five national semi-finalists went to Kuala Lumpur and three, including Left & Right, made it into the finals in the Philippines.
With Washington DC a little more than 50 days away, excitement was building up as Tan and Phoan carry on with their daily work at their studio at China Street.
Phoan said it all started as only a hobby and little did they expect the whole enterprise turned out to be something global.