Entrepreneurship

1. Discuss the enterprenuerial journey of each of the featured enterprenuers.
a. Identify their big ideal or main concept.

- Henry Sy, often referred to as the "Father of Philippine Retail," was a Chinese-Filipino
businessman who built one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, SM
Investments Corporation. He was born in 1924 in Jinjiang, Fujian, China, and immigrated
to the Philippines with his family at a young age. His early years were marked by
poverty, and his entrepreneurial spirit grew from his desire to improve his family’s
financial situation.
- Henry Sy's main business concept was centered around retail, real estate development,
and customer-centric experiences. His big idea was to create a one-stop shopping
experience by combining retail and leisure under one roof—this became the core of his
success in building malls, department stores, and supermarkets.
- Henry Sy’s big idea was driven by his belief in the "power of scale" and the importance
of providing comprehensive customer experiences. By combining retail, real estate, and
banking into a seamless ecosystem, Sy transformed the Philippine business landscape.
His malls are now cultural landmarks, and his ventures created significant job
opportunities and wealth in the country.
2. Discuss how they worked during the beginning of their business, as well as the growth of their
business.
- Henry Sy's entrepreneurial journey began from extremely humble beginnings. Born in
China, he moved to the Philippines with his family when he was 12 years old, where
they opened a small convenience store in Manila. Life was difficult, and the family
struggled financially, especially after World War II destroyed their shop. These early
hardships shaped Sy’s strong work ethic, discipline, and drive for success.
- After their family store was destroyed, Sy had to find new ways to survive. He began
selling surplus American shoes left over after the war. This was his entry into the retail
business.
- Sy worked tirelessly, often for long hours, learning how the retail industry worked and
how to make the most of limited resources.
- Even from a young age, Sy developed a strong understanding of what the customer
wanted. He focused on providing affordable yet high-quality products, specifically
targeting the emerging middle class in the Philippines.
- Sy realized that there was a growing demand for more than just shoes. Filipinos were
becoming more consumer-driven, and the middle class was growing, presenting an
opportunity for a broader retail concept. This led him to expand his product line from
shoes to include other goods such as clothes, accessories, and household items. He
transitioned from being a simple shoe seller to opening department stores
- Henry Sy passed away in 2019, but by then, his business empire had grown into one of
the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. The SM Group
included over 70 malls in the Philippines and multiple locations abroad, with businesses
in retail, real estate, hospitality, and banking. His journey from a small shoe seller to a
business magnate was driven by hard work, resilience, customer-focused strategies, and
the ability to see big opportunities where others did not.
3. Identify the charter or traits that they exhibit.
Resilience and Perseverance
- Sy's early life was marked by extreme hardship, including losing his family’s store during
World War II. However, he rebuilt his business from scratch, demonstrating his ability to
persevere through difficulties.
- Never Giving Up Even after facing significant setbacks, Sy’s determination allowed him
to keep moving forward. His journey from selling surplus shoes to building a business
empire is a testament to his resilience.
Hard Work and Discipline
- Self-Discipline From his humble beginnings as a shoe seller, Sy worked long hours and
invested tremendous effort into understanding the retail market. He was known to be
hands-on, working closely with his employees and monitoring operations.
- Sy was known for his extraordinary work ethic, even in his later years. He was dedicated
to growing and diversifying his businesses, often making personal sacrifices to achieve
his goals.
Leadership and Empowerment
- Sy was a hands-on leader who led by example. His strong work ethic and attention to
detail influenced those around him to adopt the same dedication and focus.
- Empowering People Sy was known to empower his employees and executives,
entrusting them with key roles and responsibilities, allowing them to contribute to the
company’s growth.
These traits combined to make Henry Sy one of the most successful and influential entrepreneurs in the
Philippines. His resilience, vision, customer-centric approach, and ability to strategically grow his
businesses while staying humble have left a lasting legacy in the country.

Entrepreneurship

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1. Discuss the enterprenuerial journey of each of the featured enterprenuers.

a. Identify their big ideal or main concept.

Hard Work and Discipline

Leadership and Empowerment

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