Instructions: Research at least three (3) entrepreneurs (not listed on the handout) entrepreneurs that

impacted your life or the world. Describe their significant traits and contributions. If available via the
web, including their personal goals and aspirations in life. Include their photos and cite your
references. (3 items x 10 points

1.

Bill Gates was born to prominent lawyer William H Gates II and his wife Mary Maxwell Gates on the 28th
of October 1955 in Seattle. Washington. At the age of 13, Gates joined the Lakeside School, where he
would befriend Paul Allen and developed an interest in computers. Encouraged to be a lawyer, Bill joined
Harvard choosing a pre-law major before being drawn toward his love for computers. He would establish
Micro-Soft in 1975, launching the career of one of the most prominent businessmen of the late 20th and
21 centuries. Bill Gates would become the richest man in the world and would contribute substantially
as a philanthropist through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Some of his major contributions to computer science were

*Inspiring the home computer (pc)

*Introduction of Microsoft Windows Bringing people close to technology
*User-friendly software and programs
*Microsoft Originally a company that wrote applications and languages

2.
Henry Sy (Shoe Mart)

Shoe Mart, or SM for short, is one of the country’s retail behemoths, and far more than just a mall. It is
now a well-loved institution of which many Filipino families hold fond memories. It provides a wide
range of services, including shopping, theatres, locations for date nights, parties and other special
occasions, ice skating, and food courts. SM started modestly and from humble beginnings, despite its
now upmarket reputation.

Henry Sy grew up in Jinjang, Xiamen, China, in a low-income household. Due to the challenges in their
home country, they moved to the Philippines in 1936 and opened a tiny convenience shop in Manila.
Shortly after, World War II broke out and ruined the family business. Sy, on the other hand, continued to
pursue his entrepreneurial interests by selling worn military combat boots and other items to American
soldiers. This is where the name “Shoe Mart” originates: it was Manila’s first shoe store at the time.
Despite being unable to find vendors that could make the shoes he wanted, Sy persisted.

Sy, who died in 2019 at the age of 94, was survived by his family. Sy’s legacy lives on today in his many
SM malls and other acquired businesses. As a result, he was one of the world’s wealthiest men. Today,
the fashion industry looks somewhat different to when Henry Sy founded his humble shoe store. Get a
handle on this ever-changing industry with our Fashion Management course.

3.

Tony Tan Caktiong (Jollibee Foods)

The cheerful tagline “langhap sarap” – a Jollibee trademark – is well-known among Filipinos.

Tony Tan Caktiong, another Chinese immigrant, is the brains behind this popular food chain. His family
maintained a Chinese restaurant in Manila at the time, which enabled him to finish college. He bought
an ice cream shop in 1975, but owing to low sales, he decided to add other items such as fried chicken,
fries, and burgers. Customers came to the store to buy his products after word spread in his area.
Caktiong was able to expand across the country after embracing the fast-food business model, growing
his humble restaurant into one of the Philippines’ most successful businesses. Furthermore, by
establishing a franchise, he has been able to break into the international market. With over 2,500 outlets
in the Philippines and locations in the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei and
the UK, Jollibee is a fast-food behemoth. If you’d like to set up your own food business, check out
our Entrepreneurship in Food and Beverage course, which will get you set up in this exciting, fast-paced
industry.

References:

https://www.futurelearn.com/info/futurelearn-international/most-successful-entrepreneurs-philippines