Author: Lily Chong
Company: 世界美食 (World Gourmet)
Field: International F&B Awards Platform
Position: Marketing Director
《Every Fall Is A Chance To Rise Higher》
Hi, I’m Lily Chong. If I were to describe myself in one sentence, I would say that I am someone who believes in goals, believes in perseverance, and believes that Malaysian cuisine has the potential to reach the world. My journey began with learning how to take responsibility. When I was 13, my father passed away. As the eldest daughter in the family, I studied while working part-time, helping my mother support the family and hoping that my younger siblings could have a better future. Later, I entered the financial industry and worked in private banking. Life gradually became more stable, but deep inside, I always felt that beyond taking care of my own family, I wanted to do something meaningful for Malaysia.
In 2017, my sister and I crossed industries to establish the “World Gourmet” platform. Although neither of us came from an F&B background and we faced many doubts along the way, we always believed that as long as our original intention was sincere, we could keep moving forward. To me, food is more than a dish; it carries the culture and warmth of a nation. Every chef who works quietly behind the scenes and every restaurant owner who runs a business with dedication deserves to be seen and respected. Through this platform, we hope to give outstanding F&B professionals the recognition they deserve while bringing Malaysian cuisine to the international stage, allowing more people to discover Malaysia through food and fall in love with this land because of it.
Whenever I see an award-winning restaurant proudly say, “This is the recognition we earned through our hard work,” I become even more certain that what we have persisted in doing is not simply about presenting an award. It is about building an international value and identity for Malaysian cuisine. Many people may think that entrepreneurship has been the greatest challenge of my life, but in reality, the greatest battle I have ever fought was with myself.
For many years, because of my desire to have a child, I underwent long-term treatment, and at one point my weight exceeded 100 kilograms. During that period, I lost my confidence, avoided meeting people, and fell into one of the lowest points of my life. In 2016, I finally decided that I had to change. I told myself that I could no longer continue sinking. I entered a pageant and made it my goal to start over, while also fulfilling the beauty-pageant dream I had carried since childhood. With determination, I gradually reduced my weight from over 100 kilograms to just over 50 kilograms. More importantly, I regained my health, confidence, and direction in life.
Looking back, I believe even more strongly that when a goal is firm enough, we can develop an iron will to achieve it. Today, whether I am promoting Malaysian cuisine or facing the challenges of life, I continue to believe that every difficult period is a necessary part of growth. As long as we keep moving forward, there will always be an uphill road waiting for us.
The world is vast, and life is full of change, but belief is one of our greatest sources of strength. Believe in yourself, believe in your goals, and believe in the future. One day, your dreams will become reality.
We achieve because we believe; with unwavering faith, our mission will be fulfilled.
— Lily Chong