In this new era of sustainability, the challenge of transforming businesses to address global environmental and social issues may be daunting, but it also presents opportunities. For many who bear the responsibility of succeeding in family businesses, there is the need to carry forward traditions while forging new paths – a task often fraught with mixed emotions as they strive to meet expectations while innovating.

In an interview with《The Icons》, Ailsa Chen, spokesperson for Hou Gift Biosciences, mentioned that those determined entrepreneurs not only have their own ideas but also leave themselves no room for retreat, much like the founder: “She not only strives to preserve the core values of the Hou Gift Biosciences family business but also aims to introduce innovation and change in a rapidly evolving market. The responsibility of finding a new direction often brings immense pressure, but the founder has always believed she can succeed.”

Ailsa Chen also said: “A healthy body is the foundation of all things. From this island beneath our feet to every corner of the world, there are beautiful landscapes. But the founder believes that only with a healthy mind and body can the splendour before our eyes truly have meaning. From a woman’s perspective, she further believes that every woman has a responsibility to take care of her mind, body, and spirit. With that foundation, she will have the confidence to love those around her and even create and change more in this world.”

Ailsa Chen mentioned that the family medical business of Hou Gift Biosciences has, since the time of the founder’s grandfather, always been rooted in the ethos of serving others, with “altruism” as a core principle embedded within the company. “In the founder’s memory, her grandfather was a leader who deeply earned the trust of his partners and clients. His first concern was always the health of the patient or client, not the business itself. This attitude, much like DNA, was imprinted on the founder’s heart from a very young age.”

Now leading the family business and having developed a new brand, the founder of Hou Gift Biosciences carries forward the spirit of “altruism” passed down by her grandfather, with a particular focus on women. From her hometown in Taiwan to Singapore, she seeks to promote quality products while reminding women to find balance between family and career. Moreover, she calls on more female leaders to exert their influence in society, driving sustainable development in both the community and the environment.

A Sudden Storm Sparks Reflection: Founder Revisits ‘Altruism’ and Her Original Intentions

The founder had a clear vision, with a well-defined mission and goals. She was deeply committed to helping and supporting women and believed that by staying focused on her objectives each day, she could envision many women soon embarking on new lives due to her efforts. “After securing initial funding, the early stages progressed relatively smoothly, and the founder was full of confidence. However, she concentrated solely on what she wanted to achieve, neglecting the need for strategies to adapt to external environmental changes. The outbreak of the pandemic completely disrupted Hou Gift Biosciences’ expansion plans.”

In 2020 , just as the founder was preparing to expand into the U.S. market, the global pandemic struck, forcing her plans to a halt. At that time, the global economy fell into a severe recession, with many countries imposing border closures, severely impacting business activities. Her expansion plans for the U.S. market were suspended, and the business entered a period of stagnation.

Simultaneously, the pandemic caused extreme volatility in global stock markets, which was particularly challenging for entrepreneurs reliant on capital markets. During this period, the founder invested significant time and energy in managing existing funds to ensure the company’s survival during these uncertain times. Although she managed to safeguard the capital, she did not profit from it.

“The founder realised then that when surrounded by challenges, every decision must be made with utmost caution, as a single mistake could render all previous efforts futile. This understanding was crucial for the founder as she navigated various turning points. The founder needed to learn a wide range of skills, including internal management and a keen understanding of external environments, particularly in crisis management. Additionally, she needed to gain a deep understanding of user needs, especially in exploring the mind and spirit of women, to which she devoted even more effort. If this isn’t achieved, how can one ‘altruistically benefit others’?”

From “Altruism” to “Sustainable Altruism”: A Legacy Spanning Three Generations

The pandemic had a significant impact not only on the founder’s business but also on her physical and mental health. While carrying the responsibility of the family brand, the immense pressure she placed on herself led to an imbalance in her immune system. Doctors even warned her that if she didn’t temporarily step back from work and take proper rest, the consequences could be severe.

“During her period of recuperation, the founder had more time to reflect and consider the direction in which the brand should move. She kept pondering her grandfather’s deeply held belief in ‘altruism,’ questioning how many more layers of meaning she could explore and uncover. Eventually, she found the answer: ‘sustainability.'”

The founder gradually reconnected with her grandfather’s original intention, realising that the success of a business is not just about profit, but more importantly about giving back to society, creating value for the community, and enhancing people’s quality of life, including their health. “The founder discovered that elevating ‘altruism’ to ‘sustainable altruism’ was indeed the spirit her grandfather had imparted to her.”

Following this realisation, the founder began to focus more on natural and organic materials. Hou Gift Biosciences shifted its attention to the development of health products, aiming to provide consumers with more natural and safe options. The target market became upper-middle-class women seeking balance between family and career.

Undoubtedly, the transformation process was fraught with difficulties, including ensuring the quality of suppliers, overcoming bottlenecks in product development, and finding breakthroughs in market promotion. However, the founder managed to complete each stage of development, successfully bringing products to market and gaining consumer recognition.

“The founder believes that the key lies in her awareness and strong commitment to sustainability. Once you truly understand what sustainability entails, you will realise that its essence is altruism and mutual benefit. Under this premise, the partners you attract are likely to share a mindset of mutual success. Therefore, even though the journey may sometimes be long, the likelihood of failure is generally low.”

Focusing on SDG Goals, Supporting Women to Rediscover Themselves

“Returning to the topic of women, many often sacrifice themselves for their families because they are unsure of what they truly want or are influenced by their upbringing,” said spokesperson Ailsa Chen. After the founder had outlined the company’s future direction for sustainability, she began to focus on and promote the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, and Goal 5: Gender Equality.

Ailsa Chen mentioned that the founder hopes to use her own experiences to convey an important message to women who have been constrained by societal expectations and family responsibilities: “No matter how busy your career is, no matter how much you care about and want to look after your family, you must not neglect the person you should care for the most––yourself. Only by truly loving yourself will you have the ability to love others, or more practically speaking, only then will you be able to find balance between family and career.”

Ailsa Chen also highlighted a member of the founder’s team, a mother who returned to the workforce after a break. Initially, this mother was burdened with worries, her face marked by the scars of life, evoking sympathy from others. However, as she became involved in the creation and promotion of the brand, she was deeply influenced by its core values, ultimately transforming her life completely:

“This mother is now one of the key members of the founder’s management team. Many who see her now would find it hard to believe that she was once a housewife lacking confidence in the eyes of her family and others. But today, she has her own career, and it is a business that helps women. Every day at work, her eyes shine with light. Not only does she have a voice in her family and career, but after understanding the importance of self-love, she regained her health and restored her relationships with her family!”

As the team continues to grow, the founder, starting from her homeland in Taiwan, has begun to extend this philosophy internationally, particularly to Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore:

“Perhaps due to historical and cultural contexts, Asian women are more prone to forgetting the importance of self-love. The founder envisions Hou Gift Biosciences as a brand that supports women in learning to love themselves, not just to improve their health, but to enrich their entire mind, body, and spirit.”

“Altruism” Shouldn’t Just Be a Slogan; It Must Be Unconditionally Practiced

In the final part of the interview, spokesperson Ailsa Chen mentioned that the founder often reflects on the company’s strategic direction in the quiet of the night, visualising her grandfather’s kind face in her mind. He constantly reminds her that “altruism” should not merely be a slogan but must be genuinely believed and unwaveringly practised.

“We hope that through the brand spirit of Hou Gift Biosciences, we can awaken every modern individual, especially women, to truly love others, which must be built on the foundation of first loving and taking care of oneself,” Ailsa Chen said. She also discussed the company philosophy passed down from the founder’s grandfather, noting that the spirit Hou Gift Biosciences aims to convey originates from the word “hou” (厚) in “厚德载物” (The virtuous person embraces all), signifying that Hou Gift Biosciences carries goodwill, passing it on to every consumer.

“Altruism is at the core of what we do. We hope to raise consumers’ awareness of their health through our products and extend this goodwill to those they love. The products of Hou Gift Biosciences are not just about profit; they are about conveying goodwill and a concern for both health and the environment.”

Ailsa Chen emphasised that the company strives to be friendly to both people and the environment in every aspect, which is reflected in the ingredients and production processes of its products. “Everyone knows that the road to sustainability is long and not necessarily easy, but the founder believes that if an entrepreneur truly accepts and acknowledges this as the right path, and understands the altruistic philosophy inherent in sustainability,” Ailsa Chen added with a confident smile, “once you embark on this journey, there will be no turning back, no matter the challenges ahead.”

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The post From “Altruism” to “Sustainability”, Passing Down Three Generations of Spirit, Hou Gift Biosciences Spokesperson Ailsa Chen: Women Should Cherish Themselves, It’s the First Step to Holistic Well-Being! first appeared on The Icons.