FOUNDER

Mi-Ki Choong is an award winning entrepreneur in the field of property development, tv content creation and information technology start-ups. She is also an occasional presenter, producer, regional speaker and models for international brands as a celebrity model. She is one of Top 10 Asia's top female entrepreneur for Malaysia. She has been chosen as country ambassador by Women's Entrepreneurship Day, a non-profit organization from United Nations, New York which celebrates, supports and empowers women entrepreneurs worldwide.

EARLY LIFE

Born in Malaysia, Mi-Ki is the granddaughter of the late Choong Ah Choy, the “Lorry King” who founded Choong Keow Lorries in the 1920s and was one of the country’s renowned pioneers in the lorry transportation industry [1]. Mi-Ki gained entry into university at age 16. She started working at 19 and by the age of 21, she was selected to represent Malaysia at the Asia’s New Generation – Young Go Getters, organized by Asiaweek and appeared in the publication’s lead article. She is not only involved in the family business but has also established other group of companies with her key partners.

CAREER

She is active in the property development arena through her involvement in the Nusmetro Property Group. Nusmetro has developed quality properties ranging from commercial to residential units. Examples of some of its successful projects include Casa Prima, Sutera Avenue, Taman Sutera Prima, Taman Sutera, Mutiara Heights, Mutiara Idaman and Metro Avenue [2].

Mi-Ki is the Group Strategist of Centurise Group. The company is involved in property development, investments / interior design, media and IT. Currently she is focusing on properties, investments and has diversified into the timber industry and Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H). Besides being a property developer, she is also a TV personality on TV show, LifeInStyle [3]. Mi-Ki created, co-produced and hosted the show. In 2006, LifeInStyle is one of the first local television programme to use a magazine format to present a show by incorporating an international feel by featuring international celebrities fused with local celebrities and local content. The list includies super model Cindy Crawford, Fann Wong, Christy Chung, Anggun, Felipe Massa, with excerpts from Chow Yuen Fatt, Michelle Yeoh and Leon Lai and many more. The international feel was further supported by more than 12 international and world-class brand names that act as sponsors for the show which includes Mont Blanc, Audermars Piguet, Omega, Carolina Herrera Fragrance, Marc Jacobs Fragrance, Calvin Klein Fragrance, Vera Wang Fragrance, Paul Smith Fragrance, Burberry Fragrance, True Fitness, The Regent Kuala Lumpur, BCBG Max Azria and Maybankard Platinum.

By end of 2007, she also ventured into IT by launching MyStyle, a start-up business which she built to sell in 2012 [4]. She has also created another reality show called “StarCeleb”[5].

In the year 2010, Mi-Ki was nominated to be the panelist for Malaysia Young Female Entrepreneur Forum on Building Dreams, Breaking Dominance and sharing her entrepreneurial journey (MyFren 2010) [6].

In 2011, she was interviewed by BFM 89.9, Malaysia’s first business radio station to talk on Entrepreneurship. In the same year, she was also featured for a 45-minute program Entrepreneur on Astro Awani Channel 501 documenting her life as an entrepreneur where the show aims to inspire Malaysians to achieve their dreams.

In 2012, Mi-Ki appeared on Bella, Ntv7, where they feature inspiring and empowered women to share their thoughts and experiences. She was also a speaker for 'Women In Leadership Forum Asia' in 2013 [7]. Mi-Ki has also done brand ambassador work for some international brands. She was featured in Loreal Kerastase for a campaign in Malaysia together with Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez. She was also selected by Mont Blanc for a photo shoot for Harper's Bazaar and was sent to Shanghai for their 100th anniversary event [8].

PHILANTROPHY

She also gives her time to charity work, including Snap-A-Star, a LifeInStyle charity event in aid of The Star Tsunami Relief Fund and The Star South Asian Quake Fund. She also supports Relay for Life's Celebrity Lap in aid of cancer awareness campaign [9]. As part of her CSR work, Mi-Ki is involved in teaching and mentoring university students from Enactus Malaysia to apply business concept to develop community outreach projects. She has also been appointed as a Board of Advisor for Enactus Malaysia Foundation in 2013 where their royal patron is the Raja Muda of Negeri Sembilan. Mi-Ki also judges at the Enactus Malaysia National Exposition. She mentors the students prior to sending them to compete on an international level representing Malaysia to vie at the Enactus World Cup [10].

AWARDS

She is recognized in some of the following categories [11] :-

Malaysia’s Top Female Entrepreneur award by Top 10 Asia ;
Women of Excellence Award ;
Golden Phoenix Entrepreneur Award ;
Appreciating Leadership Excellence - Passion & Commitment Award ;
Corporate Leaders with Caring Heart CSR Excellence Award ;
Community Leadership CSR Excellence Award ;
Board of Advisor & Mentor for Enactus Malaysia Foundation :
Country Ambassador for Women's Entrepreneurship Day (WED) in United Nations, New York ;
Nokia and Prestige’s Top 40 under 40 ;
Malaysia’s Beautiful Women by Procter & Gamble ;
Her World’s Best Dressed List ;
Malaysia Tatler’s ‘The List : Top top people you need to know’