The Journey to Success
Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen
About Datuk Susan
Being born into a property development family, it was only natural that Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen would follow in her father’s footsteps.
After all, she had been assisting him in his business from a young age. She remembers going to visit construction sites and view houses with her father when she was just a teenager.
After spending more than 20 years assisting her father in his property business under Wong Kwok Group, in 2008, she decided it was time to start her own journey.
Today, she is the Managing Director of WSG Group, one of the most prominent and respected property developers in Sabah.
The former marathon runner, admitted it was not all rainbows and sunshine for her. She had to work hard to achieve her goal of becoming a successful and respected property developer.
She attributes much of her success to the support and encouragement she received from her parents.
Datuk Susan shared that she would often accompany her father to meet all sorts of clients, including bankers, suppliers, and many more.
"Through that, I learnt how to deal with clients. This helped me build good relationships, which is key to being the successful property developer I am today."
Photo credit: Datuk Susan was featured in Daily Express after completing the 1985 Sabah Marathon
Reminiscing Her First Project
She recalled her first project which was the River Park Kinarut, a medium to low-cost housing development, which received some initial speculation as Kinarut was under-developed.
Datuk Susan saw more than just a quiet town, however. She saw potential and with determination, planning and collaboration with the right parties, she kick-started her mission to develop and transform the town with WSG Group’s first project.
Her hard work paid off as all units were sold before completion.
Blessed With Her Family’s Support
Datuk Susan is not just the Managing Director of WSG Group, she is also the mother of four children, three of whom are working closely within the company and one is working in Australia.
She is proud they can learn more about the business and gain valuable experience.
"They are more than just my children, they are my partners in this business. They bring out the best in me – it is a true partnership.”
Photo taken of Datuk Susan and son, Jonathan Wong
What WSG Group Has Become Today
Today, the WSG Group has a portfolio of property developments in Sabah, which include low-cost housing, high-end condominiums and commercial centres.
Their well-loved projects are the development of Kinarut township both residential and commercial which include River Park Kinarut, Rose Garden Kinarut, Palm Condo Kinarut, Palm Square Kinarut, Palm Square Hypermarket Building, and Palm Square Showroom Kinarut.
Not to forget the development of the Benoni, Papar area which consists of Benoni Gardens, Benoni Commercial Centre, Benoni Showroom and Hypermarket Building and KFC Drive-Thru Benoni.
Photo Benoni Commercial Centre illustration
Community Activism
Datuk Susan holds a high position in the community. She is currently president of the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) and also serves as the president of the Federation of Guangdong Associations Sabah which she has been holding for 6 years.
Datuk Susan is also a former President of the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (SHAREDA), a position she held from 2009 to 2013.
Photo of Datuk Susan with members of the Federation of Guangdong Associations Sabah
We are committed to telling stories that celebrate the achievements of women in real estate.
This year, in conjunction with International Women's Day, we’re celebrating women’s achievements in real estate by showcasing their stories and experiences.
Visit our Women In Real Estate page to keep up to date with the latest stories and news on our Women In Real Estate campaign.
Don't forget to join our webinar: Addressing Real Issues in Real Estate, happening on Thursday, 17 March 2022 at 8.30pm. We'll be featuring Datuk Susan and fellow women in real estate to discuss current real estate issues.
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