Yvon Bock
Yvon Bock (born 1 January 1979, Singapore) is an entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Hegen, that provides baby and nursing products for breastfeeding mothers.[1] Bock founded Hegen in 2015 to simplify the processes of expressing, storing, and feeding breastmilk. In 2021, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recognized her as one of the everyday heroes at the National Day Rally for her contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early life and education
[edit]Bock was born on 1 January 1979, in Singapore. Her father, Chan Ching, is the managing director of plastics contract manufacturer Fitson Singapore, a sister company of Hegen.[2]
She attended Anderson Junior College and later pursued a degree in Computational Finance and Mathematics at the National University of Singapore. She also completed a Fashion Design course at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).[3]
Career
[edit]Bock began her career in sales and marketing at Deutsche Asset Management Group Limited, where she worked from August 2000 to August 2004. Later, she joined her father part-time at Fitson and enrolled in a Fashion Design course at NAFA, sponsored by her father, with the intention of her joining Fitson upon completion of her course.[4]
Bock became an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).[5]
In 2014, Bock founded Hegen, a company dedicated to enhancing the nursing experience for mothers. The brand name "Hegen" is derived from the German idiom "hegen und pflegen". Bock started advocating for breastfeeding, protecting the integrity of breastmilk, and simplifying the process of expressing, storing, and feeding. The company operates in 24 international markets.[2][6]
In 2021, Bock opened the Hegen Experiential Centre amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, offering parents a holistic experience with products, education, and customer service.[7] The same year, Bock established the Hegen Lactation Centre, providing professional expertise and science-backed information through International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants and maternal specialists.[8][9][10]
Awards and honours
[edit]In 2016, Bock won the Great Women of Our Time award in the Finance & Commerce Category from Singapore Women's Weekly.[11]
In July 2018, Bock was the Overall Winner of the Nova Category at the Woman Entrepreneur Award by S. AUXANO.[12][13] Also, in October 2019, she received the SOE Award from the Spirit of Enterprise.[14] In October 2020, Bock received the Silver Stevie Award by The Stevie Awards.[15][16]
In November 2021, she was honored with the 'Asia's Women Empowerment Award' by Fortune Times.[9][14]
Yvon Bock received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 Singapore and the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 – Consumer Products awards and represented Singapore at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2024.[17][18][19]
Philanthropy
[edit]In 2018, Bock partnered with Safe Place for "Hegen | Safe Place: The Best Gift Edition," supporting pregnant women and their families by conducting annual workshops, offering education and advice on breastfeeding.[1]
In 2020, under the initiative Hegen Cares, Bock donated 1000 Hegen PCTO Express Store Feed Kits to frontline pregnant workers handling COVID-19 cases.[13]
In 2023, through the Breastfeeding Ally@Work program, Bock collaborated with companies to implement family-friendly practices and facilities, promoting breastfeeding in the workplace.[5] Bock is a member of the Alliance for Action to Strengthen Marriages & Family Relationships (AFAM).[20][21]
Personal life
[edit]Bock is married to Leon Bock, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Hegen. They have four children.[22][23]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Ma, Grace (15 July 2020). "This mother-of-four wants to make breastfeeding as easy as ABC". CNA Luxury. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Labour of love". The Business Times. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Tan, Lauren (11 March 2022). "Yvon Bock's business supports breastfeeding mothers". The Peak Magazine. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Tan, Marianne (8 February 2024). "Hegen Founder Yvon Bock Aims to Change the Lives of Mothers Around the World". PORTFOLIO Magazine. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b Thng, Stella (6 November 2023). "I'm a breastfeeding mother. Stop judging me on how much breast milk I'm producing and how I breastfeed my baby". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Ho, Jovi (30 November 2023). "Synagie bridges the gap between brands, marketplaces and online shoppers". theedgesingapore.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Genevieve Chia, Rachel (6 October 2022). "Yvon Bock, founder and CEO of Hegen is a mum on a mission". The Peak Magazine. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Wan, June (8 February 2024). "Find a Lactation Consultant & Get Breastfeeding Help in Singapore". SingaporeMotherhood.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b Chiew, Samantha (30 November 2023). "Hegen's Yvon Bock aims to be every breastfeeding mother's best friend". theedgesingapore.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Zara Chua, April (6 February 2024). "How the founder of Hegen turned a leaked design into one of her biggest lessons in business". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Congratulations To The Winners Of Great Women Of Our Time 2016". The Singapore Women's Weekly. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Leow, Annabeth (3 November 2017). "Baby bottle maker Hegen first Singapore brand featured in Alibaba Singles' Day extravaganza". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b Simon, Audrey (30 April 2020). "Serving Mothers Everythere". theedgesingapore.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Yvon BOCK, Founder and CEO of Hegen Was Awarded the "ASIA'S WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AWARD" at the 2021 Fortune Times Awards Ceremony". 26 November 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Made With Passion: For the mind, body and soul". Time Out Singapore. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Search All Past Stevie® Winners and Finalists". Stevie Awards. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Ho, Jovi; Lim, Nicole (30 November 2023). "Yvon Bock, founder of Hegen, named EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Singapore". theedgesingapore.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Mah, Sophia (27 November 2023). "Yvon Bock of Hegen Pte Ltd named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2023 Singapore". www.ey.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Yeo, Renald (27 November 2023). "Hegen's Yvon Bock named EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Singapore". The Business Times. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Kan, Francis (28 November 2023). "Empowering mothers through innovation". The Business Times. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Mama, Sassy (20 March 2022). "This Mama Lived with Her In-laws for 10 Years: Here are Her Top Tips". Sassy Mama. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Tham, Pearlyn. "Yvon Bock Makes Baby Bottles And Breastfeeding Hip | A Magazine Singapore". read-a.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Tan, Sumiko (14 January 2024). "Married at 23, mother of four by 31, Yvon Bock went on to build thriving baby bottle brand Hegen". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 7 June 2024.