SINGAPORE'S Olivia Lum has clinched the prestigious World Entrepreneur of the Year award, for her role in building one of the world's leading water technology companies from scratch.
Ms Lum, 50, who founded water treatment firm Hyflux, won the Ernst & Young award at a glitzy award ceremony in Monte Carlo's Salle des Etoiles last Saturday, beating 48 other leading entrepreneurs around the world.
The group chief executive and president of Singapore-listed Hyflux is the first woman and Singaporean to win the award, which is in its 25th year.
Yesterday, she told The Straits Times from Monte Carlo that she had been surprised at the award.
'Coming from tiny Singapore and being the first woman to win this global award, I'm very grateful and humbled.'
She said that hard work is a 'definite must' for any entrepreneur to succeed.
Ms Lum, 50, who founded water treatment firm Hyflux, won the Ernst & Young award at a glitzy award ceremony in Monte Carlo's Salle des Etoiles last Saturday, beating 48 other leading entrepreneurs around the world.
The group chief executive and president of Singapore-listed Hyflux is the first woman and Singaporean to win the award, which is in its 25th year.
Yesterday, she told The Straits Times from Monte Carlo that she had been surprised at the award.
She said that hard work is a 'definite must' for any entrepreneur to succeed.