Enterprise Explores

The semiconductor industry has long been a cornerstone of Malaysia's technological and economic landscape. In response to soaring global demand, Malaysia has launched an ambitious US$5.3 billion National Semiconductor Strategy to cement its position as a key global player. This strategy, structured into three phases, aims to drive technological advancements, enhance talent development, and promote sustainability.Today, we explore Malaysia’s semiconductor landscape and the new strategy with Dato’ Seri Wong Siew Hai, President of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA). We also discuss how these initiatives are set to transform the industry, focusing on the critical role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the prospects, challenges, and support systems for the semiconductor sector and its integral SMEs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that Malaysia is Wise’s fastest growing market in APAC and that Asia represents around 20% of revenue today? Following Wise’s expanded presence in Singapore along with new local leadership hires, in this episode of Enterprise Explores, we explore what this signals about the company’s focus and strategy for the rest of the region, including Malaysia, with Shrawan Saraogi, the Asia Pacific Head of Expansion at Wise, formerly known as TransferWise. Join us as we explore how Wise changed the status quo and revolutionised the way money moves across the globe, Wise’s recent expansions in the APAC region, including their strategic growth in Singapore and Malaysia, the underlying infrastructure and technology behind Wise’s services, which have made instant, low-cost, and transparent international payments possible, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Boards are never static. They should be agile. They should be refreshed every now and then. And they should be diverse.” Michele Kythe Lim, Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM)Enterprise Explores why Malaysian boards and directors need to step up or step out in an era of escalating risks with Michele Kythe Lim, President and CEO of the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM).We’ll start with the organisation's mandate, before discussing the top themes and trends impacting companies, boards, and directors. We’ll then shift the conversation over to the critical roles that board members need to play today, as well as the importance of effective board-management dynamics, the significance of progressive board architecture and culture, the challenges of ESG and sustainability, and overall, the crucial changes needed at the board level to elevate Malaysian companies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The topic of layoffs, particularly in the tech and gaming industry, has been a concern over the last couple of years and by the looks of it, 2024 is shaping up to be even worse than 2023. In fact, reports suggest that the gaming industry saw at least 8,100 people laid off in just the first two months of 2024. Some of the notable companies that went through layoffs include:(25th JAN) IGN and The Verge first reported that Microsoft was laying off 1,900 people across its various gaming businesses, including Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and ZeniMax. (22nd JAN) Riot Games, the developer and publisher behind League of Legends and Valorant, announced that it was cutting 530 jobs or about 11% of its total workforce.(27th FEB) Sony with 900 people across its worldwide games business affecting several of its studios, including the creator’s of The Uncharted series, Naughty Dog and Imsoniac, the studio behind Marvel’s Spider-Man. (28th FEB) Electronic Arts (EA) announced it would lay off 670 people across their divisions(29th MAR) and at least 8,800 employees have been (or will be) laid off this year at SEGA, the company behind Sonic. Considering this ever-changing nature of the gaming industry, we speak with - Alexander Fernandez, CEO and Co-Founder at Streamline Studios, to explore why layoffs are becoming more prevalent in the gaming sector, how has this impacted game development companies, keeping in mind the fast rise of AI as well as what needs to be done before it’s game over.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Testing business models, product designs, and strategies are part and parcel of building and doing business, and in recent decades, behavioural and social science has become more commonplace in business, particularly in branding and marketing. Today on Enterprise Explores, we’re going to expand upon this and dive into the role that experiments and the scientific method can play in making better data-driven decisions and evidence-based policy, applicable to policymakers, but also business decision makers.To explore this, we speak with Dr. Joanne Yong, ICMR Distinguished Fellow and Founder of Research for Impact, a Singapore-based think tank, as well as Nadhirah Ibrahim, Senior Analyst, Institute for Capital Market Research Malaysia (ICMR). She led ICMR’s recent RCT research to assess the impact of financial education interventions on Malaysian youth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enterprise Explores OPEC+ and its new strategy, which includes extending production cuts and publishing an 18-month output schedule for key members. Despite efforts to stabilize the market, oil prices continue to slip, reflecting complex market dynamics and potential internal tensions within the group.Formed in 2016, OPEC+ is a group of oil producing nations consisting of members of The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as well as other Non-OPEC oil-producing nations such as Russia.Joining us to break down the details and implications of these announcements is Emma Richards, Associate Director of Oil & Gas at BMI. We will explore OPEC+'s shift towards defending market share amid evolving global energy dynamics and the transition towards renewable energy. Tune in for expert insights on the strategies and broader impacts of OPEC+'s latest moves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enterprise Explores the evolving nature of the green economy with insights from this year’s Southeast Asia Green Economy 2024 report published by Bain & Company, GenZero, Temasek, and Standard Chartered. As Southeast Asia stands on the verge of a green transformation, this Bain & Company's Report offers critical insights into the region's progress and future potential in sustainable development. Released in mid-April, the report provides an in-depth analysis of the key drivers, challenges, and opportunities shaping the green economy in Southeast Asia. Malaysia, with its ambitious National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), is at the forefront of this shift, demonstrating significant advancements in renewable energy and private green investments. We speak with Dale Hardcastle, the Director of Global Sustainability Innovation Centre, and Shazrul Asari, Managing Partner for Malaysia, at Bain & Company to explore how policy initiatives, regulatory measures, and innovative solutions are propelling Malaysia towards a sustainable future. We will discuss the impact of increased private investments, regulatory changes, and international trade dynamics on Malaysia's green economy, as well as the nation's progress towards its 2030 goals for electric vehicle adoption, energy efficiency, and forest conservation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s work environment, the integration of technology is reshaping traditional job roles and organisational structures. The rise of hybrid work models, increased focus on employee well-being, and the ever-growing emphasis on diversity and inclusion are just a few of the trends influencing the modern workplace.As businesses strive to adapt to these changes, there is a palpable shift towards leveraging advanced technologies to enhance productivity and foster innovation. One of the most significant developments in recent times is the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across various industries. Employees are increasingly using AI tools to manage workloads, boost creativity, and streamline processes, while leaders grapple with the challenge of embedding AI into their strategic vision.The 2024 Work Trend Index, jointly released by Microsoft and LinkedIn, provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving landscape of work in the era of AI. This year’s report, titled "AI at Work Is Here. Now Comes the Hard Part," highlights the rapid adoption and integration of AI tools in workplaces worldwide, with 75% of global knowledge workers now using generative AI and 84% of Malaysian employees embracing this technology.We speak with K Raman, the Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia, and Rohit Kalsy, Head of Sales for Emerging Markets (SEA) at LinkedIn, for more details about the report, particularly the implications for both global and Malaysian workplaces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

33,000 Malaysians lost RM1.3 billion lost to scams last year, and that’s only the number that was reported. With estimated that only 48% of cases are reported, Malaysians could have lost around RM2.6 billion last year (if we extrapolate).Scams are back in the news following news last week that a senior citizen lost over RM4 million to an investment scam. We also saw two of national badminton stars share their own experiences of falling victim to investment scams, losing millions of their hard-earned savings. This highlights a continued and growing concern in Malaysia, with the National Scam Response Centre reporting losses totaling RM1.3 billion from 33,234 scam cases between January and December last year.With this in mind, Enterprise Explores how to spot and avoid scams, as well as the rising trends in the world of scams with Raymon Ram, Certified Fraud Examiner and Anti-Money Laundering Specialist from Graymatter Forensic Advisory. Raymon will help us understand the tactics scammers use and how we can protect ourselves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enterprise Explores delves into the intricacies of family business legacies, the strategies to keep the family business together, and navigating key challenges such as different leadership styles, holding onto traditions too tightly, and much more. We speak with Tai Lai Kok, Family Business Tax Leader at KPMG Private Enterprise in Malaysia, about all this as well as the findings from the recent KPMG survey on family businesses.We will discuss the key components of legacy building, the importance of transgenerational entrepreneurship, and the opportunities and challenges faced by family businesses in Malaysia. Tai will share insights on how integrating change and innovation can drive family businesses towards a lasting legacy, ensuring their sustainability and superior performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.