Datuk Seri Vijay Eswaran, founder and executive chairman of the QI Group.
DATUK Seri Vijay Eswaran and the QI Group have come far over the last 25 years. Today, the QI Group is headquartered in Hong Kong, with its regional headquarters in the 15-storey green-certified QI Tower in Petaling Jaya. It has a presence in over 30 countries, and employs more than 2,000 people globally.
Its business interests span various sectors, including wellness and lifestyle-focused direct selling, travel and leisure, retail, financial services, real estate, and education.
Vijay, the Penang-born founder and executive chairman of the QI Group, has been at the helm of this multinational conglomerate since its inception.
In the early stages of his career, Vijay made the momentous decision to leave Malaysia in search of opportunities abroad. However, he chose to return home and strengthen the local presence of his business.
This year, as the QI Group prepares to mark its 25 th anniversary, Vijay reflects on the legacy of the company that he started with a small group of people by the lanes of Manila in 1998, at the height of the Asian economic crisis.
“My journey as an entrepreneur began out of necessity rather than from a background in business. My partners and I found ourselves at a crossroads in the direct selling business we were involved with, and the livelihoods of nearly 2,000 people depended on us,” Vijay recalls.
“We decided to take on the challenge and start a business to support the people who had placed their faith in us. All we had was hope, prayer, belief in ourselves, and the Lord’s hand honour head,” he adds.
RYTHM Foundation’s Water for Africa project in Tanzania.
Celebrating milestones
“In those early days, if someone had told me I would one day be here celebrating our 25th anniversary, I would have laughed. We would have been happy to survive the first 12 months back then!”
“We believed in what we were doing and in each other. And we believe in our mission called RYTHM – Raise Yourself To Help Mankind. And that is the foundation on which we chose to build what is today the QI Group,” Vijay explains.
Over the last 25 years, Vijay has taken on a multitude of roles – entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, speaker, and thought leader.
He has written several bestselling books and is a regular speaker at the World Economic Forum events worldwide. His opinion pieces advocating for the power of Asean have appeared in leading publications in the region, and he has been feted for his philanthropic initiatives by several organisations.
Throughout this time, he has deftly steered through ever-changing currents while maintaining an unswerving focus on continuous growth and collective prosperity.
“We stand here now only because we have overcome some truly amazing battles over these last 25 years,” Vijay says.
In addition to the direct selling business that launched his entrepreneurial journey, Vijay’s business empire today includes a 99-year-old heritage Swiss watch brand, a supermarket chain with organic and all-natural products on the islands of Hawaii, hotels and resorts in Asia and Europe, and his passion project – Quest International University (QIU) in Ipoh.
Education for all
“I firmly believe that quality and affordable education is an effective means of eradicating poverty, building peace, and creating sustainable development.
For years, the trend has been for Asian students to go to the UK, the US or Australia for higher education. I wanted to reverse that trend by making a similar quality of education accessible to students closer to their homes, at a much more affordable price,” he explains.
About 12 years since the private university was established, QIU has welcomed approximately 7,000 students from almost 50 countries. The university focuses on nurturing curiosity, industry relevance, and environmental consciousness through its six faculties and two centres.
More recently, the QI Group originated the Sukuk Ijarah programme that was structured and completed by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB) – a renowned development financial institution.
Vijay’s passion project, Quest International University – was established 12 years ago.
The programme marks the QI Group’s maiden voyage into Malaysia’s esteemed capital markets. Proceeds from this programme will fund the construction of a new QIU campus in Gunung Lang, Ipoh, Perak.
This initiative aims to create an ecosystem that fosters holistic learning and innovation, preparing students to become skilled leaders ready to tackle future challenges.
“We believe that planting the seeds of curiosity in students from the outset will inspire them to make knowledge-seeking their quest in life,” Vijay notes.
“Any university can provide its graduates with a degree and an education. But we’re here to produce graduates who change the game, innovators who leave a legacy in their creations, and leaders who push for positive change. And above all, to shape caring, responsible, and respectable individuals who care for others and the world around them.”
Vijay, QIU chancellor Tun Arifin Zakaria, and vice-chancellor Prof Zita Mohd Fahmi are committed to shaping the next generation of leaders, innovators, and intellectuals. This commitment is evident in QIU’s academic achievements and research excellence.
Recognised as one of only 19 Malaysian universities listed in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2021, QIU has been awarded a four-star rating by the Higher Education Ministry.
Leading the way
An advocate of value-based leadership, Vijay has ensured the QI Group adheres to sustainable practices in its business and operations.
The company has globally incorporated a meat and plastic-free policy in all its offices to reduce their environmental impact. Additionally, employees of the QI Group have donated over 100,000 volunteer hours to more than 750 ecological and social causes in more than 20 countries.
Down To Earth organic retail stores in Hawaii is one of QI Group’s many businesses.
Further impact of the QI Group is evident in its dedication to empowering lives and transforming communities through RYTHM Foundation – its social impact initiative, and one that reflects its commitment to sustainability through its unique corporate ethos.
Vijay explains the philosophy: “It may sound like a catchy buzzword, but to us, RYTHM is interwoven into the fabric of the organisation. In its simplest form, it means empowering yourself before you can help someone else. And this philosophy has held us in good stead for over two decades because it’s the driving force of everything we do.”
RYTHM focuses on education, empowerment, and the environment, aligning its efforts with the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The foundation has collaborated with more than 135 partners since 2005 to execute over 75 transformative projects benefiting approximately 80,000 people.
As the company approaches its milestone anniversary, Vijay looks to the future with hope and optimism in the team he has built for a quarter century.
“People have always been our greatest asset. Growth is automatic if you have the right people in the right roles and empower them. No business can survive without a good team behind it,” says Vijay.
“I’ve realised that fresh ideas come from the most unexpected sources. You must start with the belief that everyone has something to contribute. Finding your value in them is your duty.”
