Entrepreneurial Achievement Recipients

Entrepreneurial Achievement Recipients

Jennifer Harper | Chih-Hua Kuo | Peng Choong Leng

Jennifer Harper
Nominated by Brock University

Jenn Harper is the Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty, a Canadian cosmetics company known for its clean, vegan, and sustainably made beauty products. Based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Cheekbone Beauty has grown into an internationally recognized brand carried by major retailers while remaining rooted in its mission of creating beauty with purpose.

Jenn founded Cheekbone Beauty after a vivid dream about Indigenous children covered in lip gloss, which inspired her to build a business that could create opportunities for Indigenous youth and increase representation within the beauty industry. Since launching, the company has focused on supporting Indigenous education and community initiatives while demonstrating how business can be used as a platform for positive change.

Under Jenn’s leadership, Cheekbone Beauty achieved B Corporation certification, meeting rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. The company prioritizes responsible sourcing, vegan formulations, and thoughtful packaging while proving that profitability and purpose can work together. Jenn’s work has been recognized nationally and internationally for its innovation and leadership in purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Through Cheekbone Beauty, Jenn continues to advocate for representation, sustainability, and inclusive economic growth, using entrepreneurship to inspire change and create opportunities for future generations.

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Chih-Hua Kuo
Nominated by Chang Jung Christian University

Mr. Chih-Hua Kuo is the co-founder and the General Manager of Chi-Kang Material Company, Ltd. and he is a distinguished figure in Taiwan’s precision manufacturing sector. With a career spanning over 30 years, Mr. Kuo has successfully transformed a traditional sheet metal operation into a high-tech "Hidden Champion" through digital innovation and the unique "Servitization of Manufacturing" strategy.

A former Gold Medalist in national skills competitions, Mr. Kuo holds a Ph.D. in Cultural and Creative Design and an EMBA. He applied this blend of technical and management expertise to establish the award-winning Taiwan Metal Creative Museum, which has been recognized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs as an International Highlight Tourism Factory for nine consecutive years.

Mr. Kuo is widely respected for his pioneering work in Corporate Social Responsibility. He founded Taiwan’s first "Special Subsidiary" dedicated to employing individuals with disabilities, maintaining an inclusive workforce ratio of over 20% for more than a decade. His leadership in social welfare has been recognized with the National Talent Development Award (2023) and the Golden Wingspan Award (2024).

In addition to his business duties, Mr. Kuo serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Chang Jung Christian University and a Municipal Advisor to the Tainan City Government, dedicating his time to vocational education and community service.

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Peng Choong Leng
Nominated by Chung Yuan Christian University

Dr. Peng Choong Leng is a Malaysian entrepreneur and regional leader in sustainable industry development and cross-border collaboration across the Asia-Pacific region. He is the founder of IQS Wood SDN. BHD., established in 2006 with a vision to modernize the traditional wood manufacturing industry through environmentally responsible and sustainable practices. Under his leadership, IQS Wood has grown into an internationally recognized supplier of eco-friendly and recyclable wood products, serving markets across Europe, the United States, Australia, and Asia. The company operates under globally recognized standards, including ISO, FSC, PEFC, CARB, and CE certifications. This demonstrates Peng’s strong commitment to responsible sourcing, environmental stewardship, and sustainable business leadership.

Beyond his entrepreneurial achievements, Peng is a strong advocate for industry–academia collaboration and regional talent development. He serves as President of the Association of Global Industry Academia Collaboration Malaysia, Honorary President of the Global Chung Yuan Christian University Alumni Association, and Senior Consultant to the UAiTED University Alliance, where he promotes partnerships that strengthen innovation, internships, and cross-border talent mobility across Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia.

Peng also actively supports educational and community initiatives that promote youth development, social inclusion, and sustainable innovation. In recognition of his contributions to education and international collaboration, he received the 2023 Global Outstanding Overseas Compatriot Student Alumni Award and the 2024 Distinguished Taiwan Alumni Award from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education.

In 2026, Peng was honoured with both the Beta Gamma Sigma Entrepreneurial Achievement Award and the Business Achievement Award, recognizing his outstanding leadership in sustainable entrepreneurship and his broader contributions to business, education, and society.

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