BORNE LEGACIES
Natalie Cheng
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARKSON HOLDINGS
When Natalie Cheng started out as an assistant buyer for Parkson Holdings’ beauty and cosmetics department, she recalls feeling baffled at the complexity of the office’s photocopy machine and struggling to figure out how to key in order numbers for stock purchases. “My friends thought that all I do in my job is go shopping every day at high-end malls and attend posh parties or fun product launches. But the actual fact is, we do have a lot of paperwork in the office, there’s meetings to attend, and a lot of numbers to crunch,” says this jovial and warm young woman.
But the eldest daughter of Tan Sri William Cheng and Puan Sri Chelsia Cheng is not one to throw in the towel easily in the face of a challenge. After all, she grew up watching her father in action as a businessman. Tan Sri William, who is the executive chairman of Lion Group and chairman of Parkson Group, is still hands-on with the company despite being in his late 70s. “He’s a workaholic who is still going strong, even though most of his peers have retired. Today, he still has admirable gumption to explore new ideas and he’s constantly thinking about his business even while he’s on holiday!” she reveals.
Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communications from the University of Melbourne, Natalie interned at an American advertising firm in Beijing before her homecoming to Parkson. With a history of over 30 years, Malaysians are familiar with the multilevel Parkson retail stores that can be found in a number of leading shopping malls around the country. In an age
