Many things can prompt a shift in organisational culture; New leadership, strategic pivots, market dynamics, technological strides… And this is why transforming your company culture is crucial to not only stay relevant but also for optimising team dynamics, fostering innovation, and ensuring a harmonious workspace for all. Organisational Psychologist and CEO of O-Psych Hetal Doshi gives us the recipe to the secret sauce in transforming workplace culture, without losing the organisation’s essence.

Startups are the heartbeat of innovation, powering economies, creating jobs, and attracting investments. And while Malaysia has a buzzing startup ecosystem, more needs to be done to elevate its landscape including deepening our capital pool and fostering local investor engagement. CEO of Beyond4 S.T Rubaneswaran joins us to discuss strategies for bridging the startup funding gap, igniting a dynamic startup culture in Malaysia, as well as mapping out a roadmap for our digital economy.

In a recent survey by Randstad Malaysia, 1 in 2 respondents said they would leave their jobs to pursue healthier work-life balance. But that's not all – the data paints an intriguing picture of a dynamic job market, with one in three Malaysians planning to switch jobs this very year. It's a movement spearheaded by the millennials, with a staggering 42% of them considering job shifts. We speak to our friends from Randstad Malaysia about this transformative shift, exploring how our perspectives on work are evolving, driven by the quest for balance and fulfillment.Photo credits: Shutterstock

There’s a new breed of online shoppers in Southeast Asia. While most of us return to the malls for the bulk of our shopping after the pandemic, this segment of savvy, loyal e-commerce shoppers continue to buy all they need online - accounting for almost half of the total e-commerce purchases in the region. Our friends from Ninja Van Malaysia give us some insights into this segment of the population, and what local e-commerce players can do to win the hearts of these e-shoppaholics.Photo Credits: Shutterstock

Under Belanjawan 2023, an additional RM40 million has been allocated to the Malaysia Co-Investment Fund (MYCIF) to further enhance the liquidity of equity crowdfunding (ECF) and peer-to-peer (P2P) markets in a bid to better serve the financing needs of this important segment of the economy. We take a closer look at P2P financing and the MyCIF facility, including why, how, and when SMEs and Social Enterprises should tap into this for their financing and working capital needs, with Chai Kien Poon, Country Head of Funding Societies Malaysia.Learn more about Belanjawan 2023 at https://belanjawan.mof.gov.my/manfaat/

In tabling the revised Belanjawan 2023 in February, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) will offer over RM1bil in financing, focusing on micro SMEs. We speak to BSN’s CEO Jay Khairil on what is available for MSMEs, the process to apply for some of this financing, and more.Learn more about Belanjawan 2023 at https://belanjawan.mof.gov.my/manfaat/

In Belanjawan 2023, the government spent some time talking about initiatives to support SMEs, from financing to funding, and tax cuts and even a Digitalisation Grant Scheme. We speak to Datuk William Ng, Chairman of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (Samenta), for his thoughts on the budget and the various initiatives to support SMEs.Learn more about Belanjawan 2023 at https://belanjawan.mof.gov.my/manfaat/

The key to talent retention is giving your employees what they want, when they want it, in that particular phase of their lives or career. But how do you recognise what each individual employee wants or needs, to deliver this, and do it at scale? Terrence Yong from Visier gives us the low down on People Analytics, and how it helps us understand the fundamental questions and actionable truths to elevate our employees—and our business—to new heights.Photo credits: LinkedIn|Terrence Yong

Last week, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) launched the Horizon – Digital Economy Publication 2022.During the launch, BFM moderated a panel discussion exploring the purpose of this publication, how Malaysia’s digital economy compares regionally, the role of the private sector in driving the digital economy, and what Malaysia’s digital future looks like.BFM had this discussion with Ts. Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of MDEC, Smita Kuriakose, Senior Economist at World Bank Group, and Eric Cheng, Founder and CEO of Malaysia’s first unicorn Carsome.To download the publication, visit https://mdec.my/publications/horizon

Strong branding is intrinsically linked with higher customer acquisition rates, customer loyalty, and increased sales. But how do you gauge just how well your brand is doing?How do you measure brand strength, track its progress, and potentially pivot when market sentiment shifts through the seasons?We discuss.Photo Credits: LinkedIn | Uri Snyder

A recent 2022 GlobalData survey revealed that nearly 40% of Malaysians are either flexitarians or low meat eaters.To help the food service sector in Malaysia better address and tap into this trend, Unilever Food Solutions brought in The Vegetarian Butcher, allowing them to supply the F&B sector with plant-based solutions and ingredients. We speak to Dhillon Ng, Head of Country with Unilever Food Solutions to learn more about how they’re supporting the food service industry and tap into this trend.

Now into its 18th year, Brandfest is Malaysia’s highly informative annual brand marketing forum; where experts share updated ideas, insights and information from the brand marketing function. We hear from two of this year's speakers, Kenneth Soh, Shopee & Dr Wong Chin Chin, Axiata Digital & Analytics (ADA)

Flexible pay access, also known as instant pay, is becoming increasingly popular as inflation creeps up and workers struggle to make ends meet. This allows employees to access a portion of their earned wages before payday, which can be a lifesaver for those who are struggling to cover unexpected expenses. We speak with Richard Kim from Paywatch about how flexible pay access helps improve employee satisfaction and reduce turnover, as well as how it can be a valuable ESG measure for businesses.Photo Credits: Paywatch

With 45% of Malaysian employees feeling that their salaries are not keeping up with inflation, how can businesses, especially SMEs, navigate this issue? Kevin Fitzgerald from Employment Hero talks to us about how payroll providers can support employees during inflation (without a raise!) as well as enable better cash management that supports business profitability and employee retention.Photo Credits: BusinessToday

According to research, employees and organisations with high levels of Digital Dexterity are 3 times more likely to succeed. What is Digital Dexterity, and how can it empower you and your employees to get more done in less time? And how does this feed into employee satisfaction, and an organisation’s competitive advantage? Megawaty Khie from Google Cloud shares some tools to unlock productivity gains without a herculean effort.Photo Credits: SWA

What does it take to run a Fortune 500 technology leader? How do you lead best in class global teams to bring great products and solutions to a highly-competitive market? And is there a formula to spotting the best tech bets in the industry to ensure you’re always leading the pack, and setting the rate and pace of innovation? In a rare one-on-one with President & CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, Lisa Su talks about the successful transformations at the tech giant, and their mission to build access and resiliency in all kinds of critical technology, including semiconductors. Photo Credits: Twitter | AMD

In this ever-changing world of consumer preferences, what can businesses learn about innovating and evolving while at the same time keeping in line with customer expectations?In this episode, we preview the upcoming 18th BFM Brandfest with two of the speakers Klaus Landhaeusser and Vaibhav Manrao as we explore the connection between brand promise, innovation and modernization.

AI is not only revolutionising the way employers find and hire talent, but also the way candidates improve their marketability in the job market. From resume-writing to skills-needs assessments, AI has the power to substantially improve your chances of landing that dream job. We speak to Peter Bithos from SEEK about AI-powered job hunts, boundaries in the ethical use of AI in recruitment, as well as the lingering challenges for both employers and candidates in the AI-enhanced job market.Photo Credits: LinkedIn | Peter Bithos

We’re all experiencing changes at work. Work is now no longer confined to the conventional notion of a job, and the workplace no longer refers to a specific physical location. Even our roles, and expectations of what work should do for us, has evolved. How do organisations and workers navigate this new boundaryless world of work? Our friends from Deloitte give us a glimpse into shifting boundaries at work, and how we can re-learn to work with technology and one another.Photo Credits: Freepik

How do you tell if your company is future-ready? How can you scale up attributes that will help your organisation or business withstand and thrive amid potential future disruptions? We speak to Professor Howard Yu, Head of IMD’s Centre for Future Readiness about industry leaders in the field of future-preparedness, and why some tech giants (even amongst the FANGs!) are just not as resilient as they seem.Photo Credits: IMD

Running a small business often means wearing many hats; you’re sending emails, paying suppliers, invoicing, building workflows, and putting together all sorts of reports. On top of that, the ever important job of actually delivering the product or service that customers are paying for.With this in mind, it gets even clearer why it's important to embrace digitalisation, and a key part of helping make running a business easier means modernising the way they do accounting.Rhys Brown, CEO of ABSS, gets into what businesses should keep an eye on when getting an accounting software, but also takes us through the evolution of ABSS and its products over the years, and how their offerings differ from other players in the market

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and ESG share some of the same end goals – the main one being supporting the creation of long-term value by (and for) organisations. Chairman of The Board of Directors at the International Institute of Enterprise Risk Practitioners (IERP) Ramesh Pillai joins us to discuss the critical linkages between ERM and ESG, and some of the trends that have the potential to significantly alter the risk landscape for businesses, and change how we respond to and manage risk and ESG.Photo Credits: Freepik

ChatGPT may be the current craze, but there are so many other ways AI is adding value to businesses and our lives today. James Ang from Dataiku gives us example after example on how AI can transform the way we live and work, and why the workforce should embrace it and lean into the futurePhoto Credits: Freepik | user6702303

The intersection of healthcare and social media can be a tricky one for marketers, but if your audience is there, then that is where you must go. From Youtube to TikTok, we speak to Jason Lim from Stratgeist about the best practices for leveraging social media to reach and educate patients, the challenges that come with marketing in this highly regulated industry, as well as the fight against misinformation and disinformation online.Photo Credits: Freepik | Drazen Zigic

It’s the buzzword of the week, the month, and possibly the year.Generative AI has taken the world by storm and Adobe’s latest offering, Adobe Firefly pledges to take its simplicity of use, and impact to the next level. At the Adobe Summit 2023, we explore the next phase of Gen AI, its ethical considerations, as well as concerns around the ownership of the content it produces.We also look at the challenges in developing and training generative AI systems, as well as the exciting possibilities for innovation and creativity that they offer, not just creatives but marketers as well.Photo Credits: Freepik | Racool_studio

Real time data plays a critical role in becoming a data-driven business. By collecting and analysing data in real time, organisations can make informed decisions quickly and adapt to changes in the market or customer behaviour. But is real time data essential to every business? And how do we build a culture that values data-driven decision making and empowers employees to use this data effectively? Deb Dutta from DataStax talks to us about the real value of real time data.Photo Credits: Freepik | our-team

Bots have been polluting the internet for years now, causing digital ad fraud in the APAC region to cost an estimated $17 million per day. Patricia Freijo from TrafficGuard, a company that provides ad verification, measurement, and fraud protection services, joins us to discuss common types of ad fraud stealing e-commerce customers, the implications of ad fraud on the retail industry, and ways to detect and defend against ad fraud.Photo Credits: Freepik

According to a report by MDEC, 84% of SMEs have been affected by cyber threat incidents while 76% have suffered from more than one attack. Why does this continue to happen - and happen repeatedly to businesses that have protections in place?Our friends from Tec D Malaysia talk to us about evolving cyber threats, and the best approach to manage security adequately, and cost effectively.Photo Credits: Shuttershock | 13_Phunkod

‘Challenging’ is a critical part of the innovation process. But studies have shown that women today are challenged to challenge, as they are held back in a plethora of ways both externally and internally. In conjunction with International Women’s Day 2023, we speak with organisational psychologist and CEO of O-Psych Hetal Doshi about what continues to hold women back in the workplace, as well as what organisations and leaders can do to make it psychologically safer for women to challenge the status quo.Photo Credits: Shuttershock | fizkes

More than 25% of the Malaysian population are now gig-workers. And chances are - if you study your employment contract carefully - you could be one too. We discuss the rapid growth of the gig economy with General Manager of FastGig Joelle Pang, including how organisations, giggers, and non-giggers can prepare for the continued flourishing and growth of the freelance economy.Photo Credits: Shuttershock | Harbucks

Some have called it APAC’s burning challenge - the move to tackle climate change and transition to clean energy. Jimmy Yam from power management player Eaton talks to us about how businesses are in a unique position to deliver on the net-zero emissions agenda, including why EV charging is placed to be a key turning point in energy transition for commercial buildings, and why it’s important to rethink the way we look at buildings to accelerate a low-carbon future.Photo Credit: Shuttershock | Andrii Yalanskyi

Sustainability in the floriculture world doesn’t stop at the florist. In conjunction with Valentine’s Day, we speak to Brenda James, Principal Florista at Nook Flowers about “Responsible Floristry”, and some of the uncomfortable truths behind the cut flower industry, especially on the most important day of the floral calendar.Photo Credit: Facebook | Nook Flowers

The problem with injustice is, it’s perceptual. While some cannot condone the slapping of two teenage volleyball players by their coach, others don’t see a problem with it. The same happens outside of the sporting world - whether it’s the “hairdryer treatment” from a supervisor, unsolicited sexual advancements from a colleague, or even bullying in the workplace. Organisational psychologist and CEO of O-Psych Hetal Doshi talks to us about setting safety standards on and off the court, so that offensive behaviour cannot continue to be normalised or condoned.Photo Credit : Shutterstock | l i g h t p o e t

Social & Conversational Commerce in Malaysia is booming, and this is down to the 16 million tech-savvy Malaysians driving its growth. But to leverage on this growth, local businesses and brands have to incorporate messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or WeChat into a single integrated platform. What does this involve, and how will this really change the game for you and your business? Gerardo Salandra & Iaroslav Kudritskiy from Malaysia-based social to conversational commerce platform Respond.io talk to us about missed opportunities, and how to leverage on how your customers interact with you.Photo Credit : Shutterstock | Chaay_Tee

TikTok has become one of the most used apps in the world, and brands that know how to tap into its unique capabilities are leveraging on its viewership and the attention of its growing audience to market their products. Momentum Commerce CEO Hans-Peter Ressel talks to us about the key pillars for business success on TikTok, as well as how brands can create new demand instead of riding on saturated trends on the platform.Photo Credit : Shutterstock | Chaay_Tee

What does it take to find success in venture capital and startup funding? Do you have to hand over a pitch deck, your P&L, and your valuation up front? How can you tell if an investor is the right fit for your startup? Fong Wai Hong from Storehub, which recently raised more than RM60 million in a pre-Series B round, shares his perspective on fundraising to give us “the truth” vs. “what we were all taught to think by VCs”. Here’s the real story on what VCs don’t want you to know.Photo Credit : Shutterstock | Dilok Klaisataporn

The term “Burnout” was coined in the 1970s to describe the consequences of severe stress and high ideals in “helping” professions like doctors and nurses, who often sacrifice themselves for others and would end up exhausted, listless, and unable to cope. Today though, almost everyone claims they’re burned-out. We discuss this dark side of self-sacrifice at work, its causes and consequences, as well as what we can all do to prevent burnout in 2023.Photo Credit : Shutterstock | vectorfusionart

In this Year in Review Special on Resource Centre, Jostein Aksnes from Bangkok-based Seven Peaks talks to us about navigating Asia’s booming digital economy, as well as digital trends we can expect to see in business in 2023.Photo Credit : Shutterstock | SFIO CRACHO

According to a global study by Adobe, more than 165 million new creators joined the Creator Economy in the last two years. In this Year in Review Special on Resource Centre, Simon Dale from Adobe Southeast Asia & Korea talks to us about who these new creators are, what they do, as well as the feasibility of content creation-related businesses in the years to come.Photo Credit : Shutterstock | Sutipond Somnam

2022 has been a tumultuous year coming out from the height of the pandemic, with businesses and the workforce transitioning to a normal that was unlike the normal we remembered. In this Year-in-Review special on Resource Centre, Lee Yun Han from Deloitte shares some key 2022 highlights around human capital in Malaysia, including how we coped with FWA, cost of living and minimum wage - as well as what HR leaders need to focus on in 2023.Photo Credit : ShutterStock | Pressmaster

It all started with The Great Resignation. Then came Quiet-Quitting. And now, Moonlighting. In this Year-in-Review special on Resource Centre, Organisational Psychologist & CEO of O-Psych Hetal Doshi joins us to discuss the ebbs and flows the workforce experienced in 2022, and what to expect in 2023. Image Credit: Shutterstock | CeltStudio

For more than a decade, marketers have fretted over winning the notoriously fickle Millennial Generation. And now the Gen Z have entered the fray, gaining buying power while they cement brand preferences. This coupled with very fragmented digital touchpoints today means marketers have their work cut out for them. Sean Valencia from Treasure Data sheds some light on the challenges marketers continue to face as they try to crack the code on digital natives, as well as how brands can play into the instant gratification culture, and balance privacy with hyper personalisation. Image Credit: Shutterstock | Ground Picture

Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, All-Natural. These are some of the claims brands and businesses commonly make about their products, as they jump on the sustainability bandwagon. But are these claims for real, or are they just marketing ploys to frame themselves as ESG conscious? Well according to Isentia, there’s plenty at risk for industries and brands when it comes to Greenwashing. We discuss the repercussions, and if there’s hope for those who’ve incurred the wrath of Malaysian consumers.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Black Salmon

We all understand the positive impact professional coaching brings; it can not only help you meet organisational goals, but the ripple effects can be felt on leadership, performance and well-being as well. So why does it still feel like coaching is only for the C-Suites and high-paid executives? Why can’t we all enjoy this tool to adapt, navigate and reskill for the modern work life? And how can digital coaching help employers and employees during this “Big Quit” era? We discuss.Image Credit: Shutterstock | fizkes

In the conversational economy we live in today, consumers want brands to consistently deliver richer, more intuitive, personalised experiences across channels, and they want this anytime, anywhere. This is where Conversational AI-enabled solutions like intelligent bots or digital assistants can make a huge difference. Beerud Sheth, CEO of Gupshup, talks to us about the evolving role of conversational AI in customer engagement, and how it’s magically helping brands deliver a truly seamless, personalised, omnichannel experience for every consumer.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Thapana_Studio

Shazurawati Abd Karim, Executive Vice President of TM One, shares the need for Malaysian organisations to innovate, and how they can move forward into the next phase of economic growth.

On this, the finale of our five-part series on Succession Planning, organisational psychologist & CEO of O-Psych, Hetal Doshi, runs us through the seven things executives should never do if you want to be CEO, as well as some unexpected insights from a 10-year Genome study on CEOs. Image Credit: Shutterstock | GaudiLab

A recent study by Workday has found 79% of organisations in Malaysia are lagging in terms of digital agility. This, despite the opportunity to accelerate digital transformation and increased technology adoption during the pandemic. What is digital agility, and why is it pivotal for sustainable business growth? Sandeep Sharma, President of Workday Asia shares the various implications of digital agility across all functions of an organisation, as well as where Malaysia stands against the wider region. Image Credit: Workday Official Website

Mental health disorders have become a global health concern, with increasingly stressful work environments a key contributor. To help overcome the stigma associated with mental disorders, employers need to ensure that employees feel supported and are able to seek help, beyond traditional employee benefits. Tung Hsiao Ley, Chief Corporate Solutions Officer at AIA talks about their first-in-market mental health solution that aims to support businesses in prioritising mental wellbeing in the workplace.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Africa Studio

E-wallets are quickly becoming an all-purpose payment method in Malaysia, with significant growth seen for over-the-counter purchases, especially at physical F&B outlets and retail stores. Arun Menon from Ipsos Malaysia gives us more insights into our usage patterns, as well as other cashless payment options Malaysians are leaning toward.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Ronnie21

On this, part four of our five-part special on Succession Planning, Organisational Psychologist & CEO of O-Psych, Hetal Doshi focuses on the things you can do to increase your readiness as CEO, as well as her six career catapults to fast track your future to the top.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Qualit Design

While salary transparency is a big step towards pay equity, experts say Malaysia is quite a ways away from embracing open communication about compensation for various reasons. Derek Toh from Hiredly talks to us about first steps in Malaysia; if it’s OK to openly speak about your salary, and how this will impact employees and organisations here.Image Credit: Shutterstock | eamesBot

Now that we’re transitioning into endemicity, CEOs around the region are shifting their focus from business preservation to business growth. Pok Tzai Ming from Ernst & Young joins to discuss how CEOs are using tools like mergers and acquisitions to boost capabilities in technology, talent and innovation, as well as ESG and sustainability strategies in their pursuit for growth. Image Credit: Shutterstock | ImageFlow

As marketing tends to be the first on the chopping block when an organisation’s cost-cutting measures begin, marketers need a solution to do more with less. This is where Marketing as a Service (MaaS) comes in - a transformative, data-driven approach that enables organisations to achieve greater impact at lower cost. Yong Siew Mee from B2B marketing as a service firm 2X talks to us about the future of MaaS in Malaysia.Image Credit: 2X Facebook Page

According to Adyen’s 2022 Retail Report, Malaysian consumers are amongst the most discerning in the world. We have a taste for technology, and we want a big bang in our shopping experiences. So what does this mean for retailers? What kind of experiences do they have to create to engage and retain customers moving forward? Priyanka Gargav from Adyen gives us the deets.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Chaosamran_Studio

In conjunction with this year’s 65th Merdeka Day celebrations, we speak with Dzuleira Abu Bakar, who has just crossed her first year as CEO of MRANTI - the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation. We discuss the entity’s KPIs, mobilising the machinery to heal a fragmented startup ecosystem, as well as positioning MRANTI Park as the next tech innovation hub to stand tall globally.Image Credit: MRANTI Facebook Page

Whether driven by a wave of restlessness or fresh opportunities, workers everywhere are continuing to leave their jobs - and according to our friends from Deloitte, all signs are pointing to a need to “reimagine work” to create the stability and sustainability the workforce once knew. Lee Yun-Han, Consulting Director of Deloitte Southeast Asia talks us through the steps to do this, and how businesses can get started.Image Credit: Shutterstock | GOLDMAN99

While most of us have gotten used to the era of hybrid work, we’re still quite a ways from optimising the experience. Issues like burnout, the great resignation, a lack of autonomy - they continue to plague the workforce today, despite us having a couple of years of practice at hybrid working under our belts. Agnes Koh, Product Marketing Manager for ASEAN at Jabra joins us to discuss new data on hybrid ways of working, some solutions for managers, as well as how we can all better equip ourselves to optimise the experience moving forward.Image Credit: Shutterstock | eamesBot

As business leaders look at developing digital strategies to create better customer experiences, they are struggling with a shortage of talent with the right IT skills to implement and manage these technologies. Stuart Fisher, Regional Vice President, Asia Pacific and Japan for Couchbase talks to us about investing in mobile technology to bridge the APAC talent gap, and deliver unmatched customer experiences.Image Credit: Shutterstock | LookerStudio

Against the backdrop of about 650,000 unemployed Malaysians, MDEC’s MYWiT initiative aims to assist employers and assist alike to help with talent challenges.Apply before 31st August for MYWiT incentives. Find out more at mdec.my/mywit. Terms and conditions apply.Brought to you by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, MDEC.

On this, part three of our five-part special on Succession Planning, Organisational Psychologist & CEO of O-Psych Hetal Doshi shares her five secrets to great CEO selection - including tips on pivots, identifying the right fit, planning for the unexpected, as well as scrutiny over the CEO selection panel.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Jirsak

Founder and CEO of next-gen marketing services firm Entropia, Prashant Kumar joins us to discuss some ideas, concepts and theories from his new book/”Time Machine” - Made In Future, which is all about the principles and applications of marketing strategy in the new age.

Our friends from Shariah compliant Peer-to-Peer (P2P) financing platform microLEAP talk to us about the new found demand for P2P lending, and how it's been playing an important role in MSME financing behind the scenes. We discuss tapping into this traditionally untapped pool of impact investors, how it pays off for all stakeholders, and what the next iteration of P2P financing will look like in the near future.

Ahead of this year’s BFM Brandfest, our panel of speakers gives us a sneak peek into the kind of hard, pressing and heated discussions expected on stage next week. Rumaizon Abdul Malik from Ideascape Consulting Group, Mohan Alagappar from GBA Corporation and Andreas Vogiatzakis from AMV Plus Advisory talk to us about the inextricable link between purpose and profit, and how finding the right balance can help brands make money, and a difference. Image Credit : Shutterstock | eamesBot

Kevin Brockland from US-based seed stage venture fund Indelible Ventures joins us to discuss some of the common misconceptions regarding Venture Capital and startup investing in Malaysia, and the truths behind these myths and misconceptions.Image Credit : Photon photo | Shutterstock

 Virtual and hybrid AGMs helped maintain healthy levels of shareholder participation amidst social distancing measures during the pandemic. However, as we move into endemicity, the question of whether virtual/hybrid AGMs are here to stay depends on a myriad of factors, including tech, transparency and shareholder democratisation. Kasturi Nathan, Head of Board Advisory Services at KPMG breaks down the challenges and solutions to keeping these virtual AGMs in place, moving forward.  Image Credit: Kasturi Nathan Linkedin 

The need for constant upgrades for mobile phones has created a culture of waste: consumers are spending more money than they need to, for devices that end up in the bin before they know it. This is what the Device-As-A-Service (DaaS) model hopes to address, aiming for consumers to be able to experience the latest tech while also increasing the lifespan of devices through refurbishing. Teh Chai Peng, founder of enterprise Mobility-As-A-Service company, Complete Human Network, discusses offering this subscription service to enterprises nationwide, and how they’re determined to provide both a sustainable and cost-saving alternative to device purchasing. 

While ESG remains high on the agenda of APAC companies in a post-pandemic era, only a small percentage have actually developed ESG frameworks and procedures rigorous enough for the demands of today's economy. We speak to Michel Feijen, Managing Director, APAC of MetricStream, about incorporating ESG in boardroom discussions and delivering actionable insights for an effective ESG strategy.Image Credit: Michel Feijen LinkedIn

Every year, shareholders globally lose $112b because the wrong CEOs are picked to lead companies. So in this, the second episode of our five-part special on Succession Planning, organisational psychologist & CEO of O-Psych Hetal Doshi talks to us about CEO myths - who they are & who they’re not, the types of biases we often see in the CEO selection process, as well as what we can do to reduce the impact of these biases.Image Credit: shutterstock | Gajus

As the next generation of business owners strengthen their position in the family business, how will their actions today on key business issues such as digital and ESG help them take their business to the next level? Is it enough to follow in the footsteps of the current generation, or redefine what being a leader means to them? Loke Shu Kew, NextGen Club Lead at PwC Malaysia, provides insights into the NextGens' outlook on the future, as well as key takeaways from PwC's Global NextGen 2022 Survey.Image Credit: shutterstock | Amorn Suriyan

When a crisis hits, the way an organisation acts and communicates often determines how the crisis plays out. We speak to Sabrina Azmi from Carma Asia about the challenges in dealing with crises in a digital world, the role of data in effective crisis management, as well as how businesses can use data, during and in preparation for a crisis.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Jirsak

Our friends from corporate services firm WeCorporate go back to basics with us; breaking down the steps to incorporate a legal entity in Malaysia, the cost to start and maintain a business, tax registration, licensing, and more.Image Credit: Shutterstock | LightField Studios

At the heart of every Smart City lies data - data to improve our lives, financial health and security. How far are we from achieving a Smart City status? And how will 5G aid in the development of Smart Cities around the world? Mohamad Rejab Sulaiman from TM One answers these questions and more on moving towards Smart and Sustainable Cities.Image Credit: Shutterstock | jamesteohart

In this, the first of a five-part special on Succession Planning, organisational Psychologist & CEO of O-Psych Hetal Doshi talks to us about the high cost of poor succession planning and the barriers to effective execution, as well as how doing it right is imperative to business success.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Olivier Le Moal

A difficult emotion like grief has the ability to severely impact an employee’s performance, and the work environment as a whole. We speak to NLP Coach and Founder of Human Equation Sheila Singam about creating a safe environment for those coping with loss, what managers and colleagues can do to support their grieving team mates, and how to manage performance and productivity issues that tag along on this emotional ride.Image Credit: Shutterstock | fizkes

It’s the dawn of a new age. Soon, we’ll all be working in a Smart Workplace, where technology enables people to work better, faster and smarter. How can you create a smart workplace at your organisation, and what are the basics needed to pave the path forward? And what role does leadership play in making this happen? CEO and co-founder of ProSpace, Steve Ong gives us all the hacks to a smart workplace.Image Credit: Shutterstock | 4 PM production

Why do some leaders intimidate, manipulate, and use fear to get what they want? Are certain personality types more susceptible to becoming bullies after they become leaders compared to others? And how do we address organisations that continue to glorify and promote high-performing leaders who bully? Organisational psychologist and CEO of O-Psych Hetal Joshi joins us to discuss bullying leaders and their effect on organisational performance.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Littleaom

For 25 years, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has been driving Digital Investments into Malaysia, primarily through the MSC Malaysia initiative. This has led to the catalysation and growth of Malaysia's technology and ICT industry through the presence of global technology companies in Malaysia, many which are still thriving here, including Dell. MDEC's CEO Mahadhir Aziz together with TS Koay, Senior Director, Dell Digital and General Manager, Dell Cyberjaya join us as they reflect on their success and unfold their plans for the future.

Zoom. Slack. WhatsApp. While technology has helped us stay connected and productive over the course of this pandemic, it has also led to unique stressors that contribute to burnout. So how can organisations reform their workplace communication policies and methods to limit the undesirable effects digital communications has had on the workforce and their work output? Victor Phang, CEO of end-to-end HR solutions provider WorkSmartly, talks to us about the tools and strategies to bring the human touch back to work.Image Credit: Shutterstock | fizkes

Branding. Many regard it as a buzzword rather than a bedrock. Alleena Abdullah, Brand Advisor & Coach and  Founder of Yellow Tree Malaysia, joins us to discuss why branding is foundational to effective goal and market setting, PR efforts and ongoing success - not just for international and established entities, but for microbusinesses and underserved communities such as the orang kampung and home-based businesses.

Covid-19 has forever changed how organisations manage their workspace and human capital. We speak to Scalable Malaysia, which specialises in workplace solutions, about how decentralised employment has influenced office space management, finding the balance between productivity and wellbeing at the office, as well as how to design an effective work ecosystem, as the nation enters the endemic phase of Covid-19Image Credit: Scalable Malaysia Website

Do you feel safe at work? Seems like a simple question right? But while you may feel safe speaking up about what you know at work, do you feel the same revealing what you don’t know? Do you feel comfortable openly admitting mistakes, or sharing a differing view from your boss? Organisational psychologist and CEO of O-Psych Hetal Joshi joins us to discuss psychological safety in the workplace, how to measure it, and how to create, build and strengthen it in your organisation.Image Credit: Shutterstock | Nadia Snopek

There’s a glut in unemployed graduates. Employees are leaving their jobs without a safety net in place. People are rejecting gainful employment. You can’t help but wonder, what’s going on here? We speak to Ikhram Merican, Regional Director of professional employee organisation (PEO) Hexa Business, about pressing talent issues in the Malaysian workforce; how to create meaningful employment, how to engage and up employee happiness at the workplace, and most importantly - Why you shouldn’t allow your employees to decide if they should WFH. Image Credit: Shutterstock | djile

Group CEO of Panpages Trinity, Christopher Ng, gives us some hard truths about digital media and digital marketing as we transition into the endemic phase of covid-19. Question is, can you handle the truth?Image Credit: Shutterstock | everything possible

Mental Health is finally at the forefront of Corporate Malaysia. But two years into this pandemic, organizations are still struggling to identify and implement mental health strategies that truly address, protect and empower their workforce. Organisational psychologist and CEO of O-Psych Hetal Doshi joins us to discuss the 9 reasons why these strategies aren’t working, and how to fix them.Image Credit: Shutterstock | stockfour

With a new year, comes new KPIs. And in the next few weeks, many organisations will be focusing their efforts on just that - designing KPIs to drive greater impact and achievement in the workplace. Claudia Cadena from Thread Advisory talks to us about how to contextualise the performance planning process, and some best practises to drive an effective framework for success in your organisation in 2022Image Credits: Shutterstock | Becris

It’s that time of the year again when we start to give up on our New Year resolutions… but not if Hetal Doshi has anything to do with it! The organisational psychologist and CEO of O-Psych gives us the 411 on the true purpose of resolutions, why we continue to fail and recycle these goals, and most importantly - how to increase the success rate of your self-change goals in 2022, at work and on the home-front. Image Credits: Shutterstock | ina9

Entrepreneurship is on the rise. Despite the pandemic or because of it, we’re seeing more Malaysians venture into new business and with this - the need for funding. We open 2022 on Resource Centre with a look at what VCs are looking for here in Malaysia, a deep dive into their due diligence framework in this endemic, and tips on what you can do to increase your chances of success in the venture capital investment process.Image credits: Shutterstock | ImageFlow

As local MSMEs continue to grapple with a post-pandemic landscape, solutions providers like TM have developed initiatives to help businesses thrive again. Through a number of key pillars and focus areas, Unifi Business aims to provide the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises community with a much-needed boost in terms of technology and connectivity. We speak to Sharliza Mohd Haris, Head of SME Business Solution, Unifi Business, about catering to the needs of the local MSME community as well as providing access to more robust business solutions.

The Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) are constantly looking at new and innovative ideas, solutions, platforms and scientific discoveries that will benefit Malaysians.One of the key pillars it focuses on is the use of technology and digitalization as a means of delivery of key public services to the rakyat. Last year, MOSTI took the bold step of calling on all innovators, software engineers, subject matter experts – as well as concerned Malaysians, to come together to help co-create solutions that will help improve how these services are delivered, and thereby improve the wellbeing of the rakyat. MOSTI has organised a nationwide series of hackathons called MYHackathon. We catch up with Rafizah Ghazali, group CEO of Cradle Fund to learn more.

If you want to target your customers better, understand their needs and behaviours, know where to find them and what makes them tick - then you need data. We speak with Mritunjay Kumar, CEO of data exchange platform InsightzClub, about using data science to help retailers make data-driven decisions to stay ahead of consumer demand, and deliver promising ecommerce growth. Image Credit: Zapp2Photo | Shutterstock

Bill Gates once said, "If I were down to my last dollar, I'd spend it on PR." Yet, despite all its achievements, there is still a poor perception of Public Relations - many view it as the next best thing AFTER Marketing & Advertising. We speak to Jeremiah Rodrigues from global media intelligence company CARMA Asia about the importance of earned media, the art of measuring its ROI, as well as how to leverage on your campaign results for valuable insights on public perception. Image Credit: wellphoto | Shutterstock

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is well on its way, and companies that want to thrive will have to get with the times whether they like it or not. While making significant changes is never easy, adopting new tech and driving IR4.0 standards are crucial when it comes to staying on the global supply chain. We spoke to Malachy Martin, Global Director - Center of Excellence, Digital Supply Chain, SAP, about the do's and don'ts when transitioning to an Industry 4.0 workflow, the digitalization of old machines, as well as SAP's plans for Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP) 2021. Brought to you by Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific. Image Credit: Ant Rozetsky | Unsplash

As the National Trade Promotion Agency, MATRADE wants to position Malaysia as a globally competitive trading nation by offering specialized services to Malaysian exporters. MATRADE is also often the first reference point for foreign importers, making it the perfect platform for business matching opportunities for Malaysian companies and foreign importers. In conjunction with Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP) 2021, we spoke to Naim Abdul Rahman, Director, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) about Malaysia's potential as a global powerhouse within this ecosystem, as well as MATRADE's plans to engage with other global players through the Malaysian Pavilion at ITAP 2021. Brought to you by Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific. Image Credit: Christopher Burns | Unsplash

Drones are often seen as tools of the future, but these machines are already being used across various industries to increase precision, productivity, and efficiency. As a nation with some of the world's leading drone companies, Malaysia is a prime example of how to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution and IR4.0 technologies. We spoke to Dzuleira Abu Bakar, CEO, Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) about the unveiling of the Dronetech Roadmap, engaging with global players in this space, as well as TPM's plans to launch this initiative at Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP) 2021. Brought to you by Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific. Image Credit: Orange Deer studio | Shutterstock

The global manufacturing community is lagging behind in its adoption of IR4.0 tech. More than 70% of companies are stuck in pilot purgatory, while only a select group of leading manufacturers are able to deploy advanced manufacturing at scale. So to close this gap and accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies in manufacturing, the World Economic Forum set up the Global Lighthouse Network. And just last month, Western Digital’s factory in Batu Kawan was announced as the first and only Malaysian member of the WEF Global Lighthouse Network. Our friends from Western Digital talk to us about the program, and what this means for the manufacturing sector here in Malaysia.

When we think of Microsoft, we often picture operating systems, computers, and XBox consoles. But the industry giant is also a prominent driver of IR4.0 adoption in the manufacturing space. In conjunction with Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP) 2021, we spoke to Saj Kumar, Regional Business Lead, Manufacturing, Microsoft Asia, about the region's potential as a global manufacturing hub, enhancing adoption of new technologies, and how supply chains worldwide are adapting to a post-pandemic workflow thanks to IR4.0 solutions. Brought to you by Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific. Image Credit: JeanLucIchard | Shutterstock

It’s the most wonderful time of the year - Appraisal Season. And in preparation for year-end evaluations, we speak to Claudia Cadena from Thread Advisory about the good, the great, and the perils of using the 360-Feedback assessment tool to measure employee performance, especially during a pandemic year. Image Credit: Eviart | Shutterstock

The Great Resignation just keeps getting greater. As the world moves into the recovery phase from Covid-19, many companies have started insisting that we come back to the office full-time. And in response, people are quitting their jobs in droves. Organisational psychologist and CEO of O-Psych Hetal Doshi talks to us about this “march toward freedom”, the root causes, and how organisations can retain their talent during this phenomenon. Image Credit: Piscine26 | Shutterstock

British tech giant Sage has gone to great lengths to ensure employee wellbeing and happiness against the backdrop of this raging pandemic. We speak with veteran tech MD Arlene Wherett about their much deserved nomination by Glassdoor as one of the Best Places To Work in 2021, the company’s “flexible human work” model, and how organisations can emulate their success in consciously putting their employees first. Image Credit: 4 PM production | Shutterstock