For more than three decades, Cheryl T. Hansen has built a career spanning international business, media, entrepreneurship, sustainability initiatives and beauty pageants. Having lived and worked across Asia, Europe and Australia, she credits her global experience with helping her understand different cultures, build meaningful networks and create opportunities across borders.
Beyond her own achievements, Cheryl is passionate about developing others through mentorship and collaboration. Whether promoting environmental awareness through Miss Earth Singapore, supporting emerging entrepreneurs or bringing together people with different skills and experiences, she believes lasting success is built through adaptability, professionalism and teamwork.
Your career spans entrepreneurship, international business, media, sustainability events and beauty pageants. Looking back, what has been the common thread connecting everything you have built over the past three decades?
The common thread has been my international experience and the connections I have built across different countries.
I grew up in Sydney and have had the opportunity to live in many different parts of the world. I spent five years in Tokyo, 15 years in Copenhagen, 21 years in Singapore, and also lived in the Philippines and spent time in Spain. I have travelled extensively across Europe and Asia as well. Along the way, I picked up five languages — English, Japanese, Tagalog, Danish and Spanish.
These experiences made it easier for me to understand different cultures and expand both my business and social networks.
While living in Europe, I was able to build strong connections across several European countries. The same happened in Asia and Australia because I travelled frequently and interacted with people from diverse backgrounds.
That international exposure and connectivity have provided the foundation for many of the businesses, projects and partnerships I have developed over the years.
Many people see Miss Earth Singapore as a beauty pageant, but you have spent more than two decades using it as a platform for environmental awareness. How do you balance commercial success with creating meaningful social impact?
I believe commercial success and social impact can, and should, go hand in hand. A successful business should not only create financial value, but also create value for society and the environment.
I’m particularly passionate about environmental sustainability, and I believe businesses have a responsibility to think beyond short-term profits. By innovating, reducing waste, using resources responsibly, and building sustainable practices into the business model, we can create a long-term growth while making a positive difference. My goal is to grow commercially in a way that contributes to a healthier planet and a better future for the generations to come.
For me, the real measure of success is building a profitable and sustainable business that can continue to grow while leaving a positive legacy for future generations. I don’t see sustainability as a limitation to commercial success. I see it as an opportunity for innovation, resilience and long-term growth.
I want to build businesses that are profitable today but responsible enough to create a better tomorrow!
Having worked across Europe, Asia and Australia, you have experienced very different business cultures. What do you believe entrepreneurs in the East and West can learn from one another?
Entrepreneurs need to learn how to adapt to different cultures while respecting local traditions and business etiquette.
Eastern and Western cultures often have very different expectations, communication styles and ways of conducting business. Some people remain deeply attached to the traditions they grew up with, which can make cross-cultural collaboration challenging.
The key is to remain open-minded and willing to learn. When entrepreneurs respect cultural differences and adjust their approach accordingly, they can communicate more effectively and build stronger relationships.
Throughout your career, you have collaborated with governments, multinational organisations, NGOs and community groups. What have these partnerships taught you about creating lasting change that businesses cannot achieve alone?
The greatest lesson has been the importance of teamwork.
Meaningful projects are extremely difficult to accomplish alone. Strong partnerships bring together different resources, perspectives and areas of expertise. Leadership, professionalism and credibility are also essential. Without good leadership and professional standards, even the strongest ideas may struggle to gain support.
Today, collaboration across generations is especially important. Younger people often bring technological knowledge, digital skills and familiarity with AI, while more experienced professionals contribute industry knowledge, judgement and established relationships.
Bringing those strengths together creates a more effective team. Lasting change happens when people combine experience with new capabilities and work towards a shared purpose.
When did success become more about creating opportunities for others than achieving personal milestones?
Success became more meaningful when I experienced the satisfaction of helping someone else grow and succeed.
Mentoring is not about what you receive in return. It is about helping another person develop the confidence, discipline and mindset required to reach their goals.
When I work with start-ups or emerging entrepreneurs, I often begin by helping them develop themselves. Attitude is extremely important, especially in how they approach their work, relationships, responsibilities and personal discipline.
When people change their mindset, they begin to see themselves and their opportunities differently. That personal development often leads to stronger projects, businesses and long-term success.
Seeing someone become more capable and successful because of the guidance they received is deeply rewarding.
What challenge in your life are you most grateful for today, and how has it shaped the person you have become?
I am grateful for the many challenges I have faced, both professionally and personally, because they have helped me mature.
Challenges appear in many forms. They may involve losing an important business deal, facing an unexpected setback or simply dealing with everyday disruptions. Even something as small as a cancelled ride on a rainy day can test your patience and affect your plans.
Life presents challenges constantly, and I have learnt to view them as opportunities to respond more calmly and wisely. I have also learnt to never be scared of making mistakes. I learn far more from my mistakes than from my success because mistakes show me what doesn’t work – as the saying goes, “It’s far better to try something and fail than try nothing and succeed!”
Failure has also shaped me. I do not see failure as final unless I choose to treat it that way. Instead, I see it as a lesson and an opportunity to improve the next time.
That mindset has made me a more positive person. I believe that most problems have solutions, and our responsibility is to remain calm, explore different possibilities and continue moving forward.
What is your vision for Singapore over the next five years?
I believe Singapore’s business and social environment will change significantly because of AI, technology and changing generational attitudes.
The way people work, communicate and approach environmental issues will be very different from how it was over the past decade. We now receive enormous amounts of information every day, whether accurate or inaccurate, and that inevitably influences how people think and make decisions.
Businesses and organisations will need to adapt to these changes while learning how to use technology responsibly.
If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and why?
I would choose the ability to bring love, peace and harmony to the world.
There is so much conflict, uncertainty and division around us. If I could help people experience peace, even for one day, I believe it would create greater understanding and compassion.
Connect with Cheryl: MissEarthSingapore, Facebook and Instagram.
Cheryl is a member of Rainmaker, a revolutionary movement that rallies like-minded people together based on the values of Love, Authenticity, Respect, Kindness and Youthfulness (LARKY).
