Eliza (third left) celebrates the award with the other recipients.
KOTA KINABALU (March 5): A name synonymous with success, philanthropy and empowerment, Datuk Eliza Goh has long been a distinguished figure in Kota Kinabalu’s entrepreneurial landscape.
As a business leader with keen acumen and a generous heart, Eliza, the founder and owner of Zara’s Boutique Hotel, has made significant contributions to both commerce and society, earning widespread admiration.
Her remarkable achievements were recently recognised at the State-level International Women’s Day 2025 celebration, where she was among six outstanding Sabah women honoured with the “Outstanding Women Entrepreneur Award”. Organised by the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK), the event celebrated the exceptional contributions of women excelling in their respective fields.
Despite her business success, Eliza remains humble and grounded, attributing her achievements to her mother, who provided her with the opportunities and guidance that shaped her journey.
“My mother shaped me into the person I am today,” she said. “Her passion for humanity, her love for helping women and families in need, and her brave and enthusiastic demeanour in starting businesses to help others have been a lifelong inspiration to me.”
She described her mother as a strong and tenacious woman who was unafraid of hard work to improve her family’s life.
“Without any experience in the oil industry, my mother started the first Shell fuel station in Weston,” Eliza recalled.
Her mother’s wisdom, coupled with unwavering determination, became the foundation of Eliza’s own entrepreneurial journey. Facing the challenges of a male-dominated industry, she not only persevered but thrived, proving that resilience and vision can break barriers.
Beyond her professional pursuits, she is known for her warmth, compassion and dedication to uplifting others, particularly women striving for economic independence.
A strong advocate for women’s empowerment, Eliza actively encourages women to build their self-confidence and assert their presence in the business world. She believes financial independence is pivotal in enhancing self-esteem and enabling women to express themselves more openly.
“To become a successful female entrepreneur, firm belief and unparalleled confidence are crucial qualities,” she affirms. “Women should not hesitate to take up challenges, pursue their ambitions, and create their own paths to success.”
Her words and actions continue to inspire aspiring female entrepreneurs across Sabah, proving that with determination, wisdom and a heart for others, women can break barriers and redefine success on their own terms.
“Confidence plays an important role in everything in life, giving you unlimited opportunities for success,” she added.
She also emphasised the need for resilience, as the local business environment can be challenging.
“Women must not take business matters personally or become overly emotional; otherwise, their chances of success will be greatly reduced,” she advised.
She pointed out that successful women are often perceived through rigid stereotypes, with many assuming their success is due to inheritance or mere luck. However, she believes that genuine female empowerment differs from the broader feminist movement.
“I align myself with the former and firmly believe that a strong family is the key driving force behind a successful society,” she explained. “I do think the feminist movement may sometimes go too far, as seen in other countries. We simply hope that women can participate more openly in the country’s economic development. Women have made progress in both the Malaysian government and the private sector.”
Eliza credits her values to her parents’ teachings, which instilled in her a sense of social responsibility, strength, empathy for others, and the importance of standing up for oneself. She believes that truly successful female entrepreneurs are passionate, diligent, determined and humble, continuously striving to improve their skills rather than becoming complacent with their achievements.
“Becoming a social entrepreneur is not as easy as it seems,” she joked. However, with her heart and enthusiasm, she makes everything seem effortless. “The greatest achievement is to devote yourself to the business of helping and inspiring women.”
One of the challenges she highlights is the lack of women in the labour market, as many do not return to work after childbirth. However, she encourages women to continue striving for self-improvement to create a better future for themselves and their families.
In an impromptu interview, a member of her team revealed that Eliza even teaches them how to become better mothers and how to motivate their children through moral and ethical examples.
Many employees of Zara’s Boutique Hotel have attested that their quality of life has significantly improved since working there, demonstrating Eliza’s impact as a true social entrepreneur.
Long-term employee Maklin Sichoi, who has been with the hotel since 2011 and now serves as the hotel’s account manager, expressed her appreciation for the opportunities and experiences she has gained over the years.
“I didn’t start from zero when I joined the hotel, but I still learned a lot from Datuk Eliza, who never tires of providing support and guidance to her staff. I have been here for almost 15 years, and I can truly say that I am very happy,” she said.
She added that Eliza fosters open communication with her employees, making it easy to share ideas and suggest improvements.
“I also find Datuk Eliza very helpful — not just to her staff but also to people outside the hotel. She is actively involved in charity as well. To me, Datuk is a great boss. She encourages her staff to stay positive and is always supportive.”
A foreign colleague who recently moved to Kota Kinabalu commented, “I have never heard anyone say anything negative about her. All I hear are stories of her good deeds and generosity. In fact, Eliza has never spoken a negative word about anyone.”
Eliza recalled facing skepticism when she first started.
“This women’s concept hotel will not succeed,” some had told her openly. She simply nodded and smiled.
Now, more than 13 years later, her vision has proven successful. Her track record speaks for itself — she has trained hundreds of hoteliers, women entrepreneurs, and business owners, many of whom have returned to their hometowns to establish their own retail businesses.
The other recipients of the Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur Awards are lawyer Datin Seri Panglima Vicky Yee, Life Water Berhad executive director Chin Lee Ling, The Best Solution Management founder and managing director Dr Ts Sally Chen, LXY Gems (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Angeline Liew and Colform Group Berhad executive director Vicky Kang Phui Yie.
The post Outstanding woman entrepreneur inspiring empowerment, success appeared first on Borneo Post Online.