If Laurence Lien had his way, more people will get passionate about contributing to a variety of worthy causes - and find greater meaning in giving creatively and strategically.

As the CEO of National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), Lien, 39, is concerned about instilling the right values about giving from the heart in today’s youth. It’s a mission that he has tackled since he took on his position at the non-profit, non-government organisation a year ago.

It is probably not hard to imagine that Lien straddles both the old and “new” models of giving; inhabiting comfortably the traditional world of wealthy, detached chequebook philanthropy, as well as the more hands-on arena of philanthrocapitalists or “venture philanthropists” who seek to combine creativity, innovation and best business practices in their do-good activities.

He is the grandson of Dr Lien Ying Chow, the late Singapore tycoon who founded Overseas Union Bank and a well-known philanthropist who helped set up Nanyang University and Ngee Ann College (now Nanyang Technological University and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, respectively). Remembering his grandfather as always being very busy, he adds: “His was an incredible generation. They were not just entrepreneurs. To be a community leader, you had to be seen to be mobilising the community to give. It’s expected that you can’t just make money to have a standing in society. We need to bring a bit of that spirit back.”

In the pipeline at NVPC are, he lets on, programmes that aim to promote informal volunteerism in one’s neighbourhood and community bonding. The centre will also look at ways to encourage more online donations, as well as how to evaluate charities in a more structured way. He says, candidly: “We’re taking steady steps towards fairly big aspirations. There are a lot of steps along the way, and we will make mistakes, but that’s part of the fun of growing new things.”

Claudio Castiglioni, Tod’s global brand general manager, talks to Suzanne Wong about Tod’s’ new book and the connection that holds the company together.

Tell us more about the new book, The Italian Touch.
We wanted to draw the connection between Tod’s and its inspirations. You will see that in the photographs; the families are all wearing Tod’s products — we didn’t give them the products, they are items that they already have and treasure. And whether it’s shoes or a bag or anything else, it blends so well into the photograph, you can see that Tod’s is a very natural part of these families’ lives.

Why this strong focus on the family aspect?
Families are a very strong part of the Italian identity and message. We care about family because we know that at the end of the day, having a beautiful meal with your family around the table is a powerful thing — it’s not something that a lot of cultures have. Focus on family is a thing of beauty, the opposite of superficiality.

How does Tod’s represent this principle as a company?
We still see Tod’s very much as a family business. Tod’s CEO, Diego Della Valle, emphasizes on implementing this mindset in the company. And of course, whenever we make a product, we have in mind the families in this book.

What are the must-haves for 2009’s Fall/Winter?
Our signature D Bag, named after Princess Diana and her association with this iconic piece, has a younger, friendlier look this season. And of course the men’s Pashmy bag, which can be customised by changing the colour of the centre leather stripe or having your initials on the handle.

Two men, two different cultures, one commonality: gumption. This year’s Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year category winners have overcome challenges to grow their businesses in places that where once foreign to them.

A successful contingency plan
Starting International SOS, a round-the-clock medical house call service in Jakarta in 1985 seemed like a great idea at first. But little did Arnaud Vaissie or his childhood friend, Dr Pascal Rey-Herme, expect it to fail.

Unlike Europe where affluent families would call for the doctor, Indonesians prefer to visit the emergency room if they need medical attention. Taking advantage of the call centre they already had in place, they started a new business model that would take them onto an international platform. Securing a few key clients who were “less risk adverse”, the company managed to build its reputation and expanded from Singapore into the Hong Kong and China markets.

Today, Vaissie manages over 6,000 staff in more than 70 countries. In 2008, International SOS saw its revenue grow to $1.1 billion, up from $852 million in 2006.

As the company’s co-founder and current CEO, he has helped broker the first direct cross-straits medical evacuation between Taiwan and China in 2006. His company has also been involved in evacuations in war zones, as well as disaster areas during the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.
For his achievements as an entrepreneur, Vaissie has been named Ernst and Young’s international healthcare entrepreneur of the year.

Digging for success
The other category winner for this year is Richard Ong, one of the founders of coal mining company Straits Asia Resources (Sar). He and two other partners ventured into the coal mining business in the ‘90s despite having no prior experience in the industry. They secured the concession to explore and produce coal on Sebuku Island in south Kalimantan. Ong convinced his fellow directors that Singapore was a good platform to raise capital for the group, and they were eventually listed on the SGX in 2006, becoming the first coal mining company to do so.

Even at its lowest in 2008, the group’s profit before taxes was $261 million and shares were valued above the IPO price of $0.60. They are now worth almost three times that value.

In recognition of his work, Ong has been awarded the natural resources entrepreneur of the year title.