Losing a husband suddenly after 30 years of marriage is tough. But on top of that, Datuk Anne Eu had to take over her late husband, Joseph William Yee Eu's role as chairman of Eu Yan Sang Malaysia, one of Malaysia's oldest and most respected brands.
That was five years ago and Eu Yan Sang Malaysia is thriving under her leadership as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) powerhouse that is leading the way in merging with mainstream healthcare. Last year, Eu Yan Sang celebrated its 132nd birthday with its 88th outlet opened in Malaysia.
"This is an exciting time for us as we are poised to take TCM to the world," says Eu during an interview recently at her office in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.
"We are targeting the non-Chinese segment of the market now. A number of our products are already halal-certified, such as our high quality bird's nests and cordyceps that have been scientifically proven to be a potent source of antioxidant."
Eu was an investment manager for Sime Darby Berhad's insurance division, handling multi-million dollar funds, when she decided to retire from the corporate world in 1984 to be a full time mother to her four children, who are today in their 20s and 30s.
"Many people ask how a tai-tai (lady of leisure) like me could successfully make the transition to leading a successful business employing 600 staff members," says Eu.
"I've always been exposed to the business and I'm familiar with the staff, as I'd frequently visit my husband's office and was present during staff dinners and get togethers. But once you take over helm, everything looks different from the top.
I felt a huge responsibility, as I am literally accountable for the livelihood of my staff members and the future of this company that had started in 1879 (in Gopeng, Perak).
"The board welcomed me enthusiastically, as they believed I could contribute to the company's growth. I credit my team of managers and employees with making all the difference. The heart and soul of a company lies in its staff - we must never forget that fact no matter how big or successful we become.
"I have a strong, able team of generals, colonels, lieutenants and foot soldiers who are integral to our success.
They were incredibly patient with me, as I had to learn the ropes at first. As the Chinese saying goes, 'When the horse falls, you must get on the ground and walk'.
What I didn't know in the business, I asked about until I could thoroughly understand. It takes passion to make a job work. And passion had taken me this far."
A passionate pursuit
Beneath Eu's passionate businesswoman's exterior, "the boss" has a remarkably soft heart. In the midst of talking about her staff, her voice suddenly breaks and she excuses herself to fish for tissues in her purse.
"On the eve of the recent Chinese New Year, we received very sad news about a store supervisor in Kampar (Perak) who'd been with us for 18 years. He'd met with a fatal auto accident. My heart goes out to the young children and old parents he'd left behind. Our company will be taking care of them.
"Many of our staff members have been with us for over 20 years. I think it says so much about our company. How can we not value colleagues who've been with us all these years? Aren't they a family to us too, although we may not be related?"
One of the delights Eu has discovered in running a company is being able to take the brand deeper into the very core of "caring for mankind", which is a direct translation of its Chinese name.
Eu is an avid believer in giving back to society no matter how cliched that term may have become today.
For instance, a portion of the company's profits is ploughed back into society, she says.
She is also responsible for helming several highly successful charity events from behind the scenes, such as organising two gala dinners that have raised over RM2 million (S$822,600) for the Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation (TAFF) that had been initiated by Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah after she'd finally experienced the joy of motherhood following 16 gruelling fertility treatments.
"TAFF sponsors childless couples who cannot afford the procedures to have children of their own," explains Eu, who sits on TAFF's board.
"It's giving life a chance, as parenthood is the sweetest joy a couple can experience. So we sponsor couples with joint incomes below RM4,500 and we have helped over 200 couples today," says Eu, adding that she and the Tengku became acquainted when their children attended the same boarding school in Britain, Harrow.
Eu is also actively involved in an organisation named after her late husband, the Joseph William Yee Eu Foundation, which funds the education of children living in rural communities in Sabah and Sarawak from kindergarten right up to tertiary level.
Eu has also raised over RM1 million for cancer research in Malaysia and, in May 2010, helped organise a successful charity dinner for the Spastic Children's Association of Selangor and Federal Territory by bringing in four celebrity chefs from Australia.
She is equally enthusiastic about her latest scheme, which she began last year: the Roti 1Malaysia project, of which she is chairman.
Every day, unsold bread, cakes and pastries from 20 hotels and bakeries are collected and distributed to over 55 orphanages, old folks' homes and refugee centres in the Klang Valley.
Eu was born as the second of five children in Johor. Her mum was a housewife while her father was a theatre manager with Shaw Brothers, so the family travelled widely throughout Malaysia before settling down in Kuala Lumpur.
"I come from a middle class family, so we were fortunate we never had to worry about where our next meal was coming from," says Eu,
"We always had enough. My mother was always giving alms and rice to the needy at temples and I'd enjoyed the feeling of giving. It has stayed with me, this urge to have a charitable heart. Leadership by example starts in the home, and that includes setting the basic values of hard work and being responsible.
"I cannot say no to charity. My children urge me to slow down. But as long as I have the energy and capacity, I want to help."
Women on top
Last year, Eu received the Most Outstanding Chinese Woman Leader in Community Contribution award from the Prime Minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Eu is the deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Women Entrepreneurs' Association which was set up in June 2011. The president is Puan Seri Susan Cheah of the Sunway Group.
Rosmah is the patron and Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie is adviser.
"Our objective is to support and assist women entrepreneurs not just with capital but with practical and innovative ideas on how to expand," explains Eu.
Women make remarkable managers and entrepreneurs, she says.
"A woman has great passion for what she believes in, and this is often translated into her work. Women are good managers because we rule with heart and mind. It's never just about the bottom line for women.
"However, women managers can be too gentle and not assertive enough, although I am old fashioned and I do not agree with women using vulgarity to assert their points. And it doesn't matter what people think of us when we are being firm, we must stand on our points.
"I always imagine speaking to people as if I am speaking to a cliff where every word I say echoes back to me. So I'd better make sure I speak words that are kind and gentle, as I reap what I say."
A bigger challenge exists for women in managerial or entrepreneurial roles, as they juggle work commitments and family needs.
"I never regretted quitting my job to devote all my time to bringing up my children - I am fortunate I got to do that. I have such joy in seeing them grow up to become responsible adults today," says Eu, whose four offspring are now working adults overseas.
Her eldest child Joanna, 32, is a television producer; Eleanor, 31, is a psychologist; Amanda, 26, is a film director; and her youngest, Jody 24, is an information technology engineer.
"I was never a tiger mum!" Eu says with a laugh. "My kids started boarding school at nine, so they learnt to be independent from young. I spent a lot of time with them in England, and we are very close.
"I even go partying with my son. Once we caught some people pointing out that I am a cougar dancing with my toy boy, as my son is so handsome! We both thought it was hilarious!"
Eu says she is not prepping any of her children to join the company.
Eu Yan Sang founder Eu Kong's only son, Eu Tong Seng, had penned a poem that is taken as a family mandate, which says that all males born in the Eu family would obtain their names from it that are full of philosophy, such as to lead righteous lives, to do good, and to contribute to mankind.
"Philosophy ties in closely with the way we run the business for 133 years. Although we are a family business, Eu Yan Sang has reached a stage where we are open to professionals to run it, not necessarily family members," says Eu.
"I have a simple business philosophy which is never to break the trust that has taken years to forge."
Moving with the times, Eu Yan Sang today is investing heavily in research and development, and is producing its time honoured TCM recipes in convenient little sachets, pills and boxes that do away with the traditional need for hours of double boiling to extract the herbs' goodness.
Eu says all her children take TCM regularly, which is especially beneficial as they are working in countries with bitter winters, so colds and sore throats are common.
"My personal regime includes birds' nest at least once weekly. Birds' nest has been scientifically proven to contain epidermal growth factors and mitogenic stimulation factors that rejuvenate cells and help repair skin.
"I also swear by cordyceps, which I take daily. I don't fall sick, and I don't get the flu either. TCM is always about preventive care, whereas mainstream medicines tend to be more curative.
By applying Western science to TCM, we are providing empirical evidence of what we have held true for thousands of years.
It is up to Eu Yan Sang to continue bridging that gap between East and West, and we are making headway," says Eu.
Love and legacy
A portrait of Eu's late husband hangs over her desk. The couple had met while he was a director in Sime Darby before serving in the family business. Their courtship was brief.
"It's an old fashioned love story of boy meets girl and they decided to have a family together!" says Eu with a laugh.
"The best thing Joe did for me was in giving me my children. What more do I need?
"My Joe was a gentle panda! We had a loving relationship. Do you know, we never had a quarrel even once? That's because every time I prattled on about an issue, he would just walk off.
"It takes two hands to clap, or to quarrel. Joe refused to fight even once with me. And when I cooled down, I'd see things in a different light.
"My advice to young couples is that, someone just needs to walk away from an argument!"
On April 4, 2007, Joseph suddenly collapsed with a ruptured brain aneurysm. "It was over very fast," Eu recalls quietly.
"There were no last words, no preparation. But this was the way he'd always wanted to go. And so do I. There'd be no suffering.
"But it's often very hard for the people left behind. I moved on quickly. I didn't dwell on his death because I know so clearly he'd want me to be happy.
"Every Valentine's Day, Joe would give me 100 roses without fail. I would always pretend to scold him and say, why do you waste money and buy roses today when they are so expensive!
"I miss them now. There are so many things I wish I could have said to him. But at the end of the day I loved him very much, I still do, and I had said that to him already.
"People say that he'd be proud of me today. I'm happy with what I'm doing and this enjoyment keeps me going. I'd like to think that although he has left, my late husband is still rooting for my success from above."
