Sharon Ho-Norton

Self-driven and motivated SME entrepreneur passionate about turning innovative ideas into tangible results. Core experience in business positioning, strategic product development, and 360 marketing know-how in B2B & B2C segments. Industries: conferences & exhibitions, niche fashion, specialty F&B.

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

FOUNDER-BUSINESS OWNER 12/2019 to Current 

• Incorporated Kekoon Designs Pte Ltd in Dec 2019 which owns and operates 2 brands: Mothers en Vogue and Cake Botanica.
• The Mothers en Vogue brand, a specialty maternity and nursing wear label, was founded in 2003. This brand now operates under the Kekoon Designs company and is managed solely by myself on a day-to-day basis, covering all aspects of its daily operations.
• Cake Botanica is a specialty cake brand that was conceived and founded in 2020, specializing in plant-based whole-food confections for a wide range of special needs (e.g. vegan, lactose-intolerance, gluten intolerance). Fully hands-on with day to day running of business.
• Since its inception as an online-specialty bakery in February 2020, Cake Botanica now has an established and growing consumer base.

BUSINESS CONSULTANT (CONTRACT) 06/2019 to 04/2020 

• Homestay Care - an ASX listed technology company - suite of software applications and data analytics geared towards supporting independent senior living.
• Evaluated situations with trials and user adoption, trouble shoot existing challenges and presented feedback and recommendations.

FOUNDER-DIRECTOR 11/2003 to 01/2019 

• Founded specialty maternity and nursing wear brand - Mothers en Vogue (MEV) and company by the same name Mothers en Vogue Pte Ltd, in 2003.
• Grew from an online start-up with annual turnover of S$70K to S$3 mil in 2012.
• Staff strength grew from 1 to 30 during this time.
• Retail and franchise stores grew from 1 to 10 across Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia,

Qatar, Vietnam and Cambodia.

• Established reseller and distributor networks in over 20 countries.
• Deeply connected to the company and brand in all aspects of growth. While my role grew to include a lot of big-picture vision and long term objectives, continued to wear multiple hats especially heading areas of product strategy-development, and branding and marketing.
• Personal and Brand Milestones:

2007- Spirit of Enterprise Nominee

2008 - Greatest Women of Our Time Nominee by Singapore Women's Weekly 2009/2010 - Expat Living Reader's Choice Award

2010 - Anmum Breastfeeding Role Model Recognition Award

2011 - Mother & Baby Award for Best Nursing Top for Play: Fleurette Top

MARKETING-COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER 06/2000 to 06/2001 

• Designed and setup protocols and plans for company's marketing and communications. Reported to MD.
• Researched, gathered and analyzed content for press releases, including dissemination and execution of press and media events.
• Steered and managed globally-initiated rebranding for Singapore market including guidance for rest of Asian offices.
• Cultivated strong corporate image and identity with clear branding.

PROJECT MANAGER 03/1996 to 03/2000

International Conference Consultants, Limited, Hong Kong

• ICC is an events consultancy; as project manager, orchestrated breadth of regional B2B and B2C events such as business conferences, trade exhibitions and governmental / NGO meetings.
• Events covered a broad spectrum of industries, worked closely with academia and key businesses in respective fields.
• Tenure at ICC furnished me with excellent project management skills, particularly stakeholder communication, project budgeting and contingency planning.
• Managed projects from procurement to commission. Identified plans and resources required to meet project goals and objectives.
• Orchestrated projects within strict timeframes and budget constraints by solving complex problems and working closely with all stakeholders.

MANAGEMENT TRAINEE 03/1993 to 03/1996

Asian Business Press (thereafter Miller Freeman Exhibitions), Singapore, Hong Kong

• Asian Business Press (thereafter Miller Freeman) set the foundation for my career in marketing and project management.
• Beyond fundamentals in publishing and advertising, acquired skills in tight project management particularly in instances of high-volume exhibitions.

Simon Fraser University , Canada Bachelor of Arts, Communications

Simon Fraser University , Canada Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts Certificate