Enterprise Explores

In 2022, about 29% of graduates had starting salaries below RM1,999 a month and around 40% of degree and diploma holders were underemployed, this according to research conducted by the Rapid Youth Success Entrepreneurship (RYSE) projectGiven the tougher and more uncertain job market, could the development of entrepreneurial skills and traits in children and younger people be the answer to higher salaries and better employment? Even if they don’t end up starting their own businesses?In conjunction with World Children’s Day, today we focus on why we should nurture and develop entrepreneurial skills and traits in children with Bikesh Lakhmichand, Founder of 1337 Ventures, and Manmeet Kaur, Super Curriculum Coordinator at HELP International School.Image Credit: LinkedIn | Bikesh Lakhmichand & Manmeet KaurSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technological innovation has repeatedly impacted the business ecosystem, whether it's the disruption that word processing or emails caused when they were first introduced, or the current rise of AI with platforms like ChatGPT.At the foundation of this is the support of R&D initiatives, the development of IP, and of course its monesation and commercialisation.With that in mind, it is important to not just understand the importance of technological innovation and how we foster that, but also how we commercialise and monetise these innovations, apply them into day to day operations, tapping unmet markets, and more.Helping us with this discussion is Dr. Viraj Perera, Director of Industry Partnerships & Commercialisation, FoNS, Imperial College London. Dr. Viraj will be in Malaysia next week for MRANTI’s I-Nation 2023 conference which will be held at Connexion, Bangsar South on November 20th focused on the theme "People & Planet” with engaging dialogues on accelerating innovation, the role of ESG principles, women in sustainability, AI, and much more. Register at www.mranti.my/i-nation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The e-Conomy Southeast Asia (e-Conomy SEA) is a multi-year research programme launched by Google and Temasek in 2016, and Bain & Company joined the programme as lead research partner in 2019. The research leverages Temasek’s insights; Bain’s analysis; Google Trends; primary research, expert interviews, and industry sources to shed light on the digital economy in Southeast Asia.The latest 2023 report launched earlier in November, is the 8th edition of e-Conomy SEA, with the tagline – Reaching new heights: Navigating the path to profitable growth- which highlights that the Southeast Asia region has shown resilience against global economic challenges, with GDP growth above 4%, inflation at 3%, and a rebound in consumer confidence. Despite a decline in private funding, the digital economy in SEA reached $100 billion in revenue in 2023, growing at a 27% CAGR since 2021.But what should you be paying attention to from this 124 page report?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Job security and talent retention are perpetual hot topics, but especially so in today's economic landscape. Today, we dive deep into these issues with May Leng Kwok, Regional Head APAC for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, also known as CIPD.If you're an HR leader, an employee looking to advance, or an entrepreneur wanting to understand the talent landscape, you will learn more about key HR Talent Trends, including how the shift to remote and hybrid work is influencing what employees are looking for, and how companies are trying to retain them.We also touch on the burnout and rising prominence of mental health, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, as well as career advancement and professional networking and how these themes factor into talent strategies.Joining us for this is May Leng Kwok, Regional Head APA of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Softbank-backed WeWork, the co-working firm that was once valued at $47 billion, has been forced to file for bankruptcy. On the back of this, we take a Malaysian lens and explore bankruptcy and insolvency, including what it means for businesses and business owners, how it differs between sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations, support for firms that are financially distressed, and the potential ramifications for directors if they’re not careful about personal guarantees.Helping us with this conversation is Christopher Guo, Legal Associate at Kenny Tan & Co.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last month during the tabling of Budget 2024, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that Visit Malaysia Year will be set for 2026, instead of the initially scheduled 2025. The Prime Minister said that the government has targeted 26.1 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2026 with domestic spending of RM97.6mil. Notably, the government has allocated RM350mil to boost tourism promotions and activities to make Malaysia the world's top tourist destination again.It is worth noting that the number of targeted arrivals for 2026 is the same as in pre-pandemic 2019 at 26.1 million, but in terms of receipts, Malaysia is targeting 13% more tourist spending than the RM86.1 billion achieved in 2019.With all that in mind, today we look into how we can best use that funding to best promote and support Malaysia’s tourism sector and as a tourism destination to achieve those stated goals, by taking a look at the success of past tourism campaigns, promotion, and branding, such as Malaysia Truly Asia. Helping us with this conversation is Anna Loi, Co-Founder and Director of Content and Digital Marketing at Good & Honest Co., and Gary Bowerman, Director at Check In Asia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this day and age, the hustle culture is very common among enterprises of all levels. Over the years, it has become a pervasive part of modern life, with entrepreneurs pushing themselves to the limit to succeed in their business ventures. This relentless pursuit of productivity and success can have serious negative effects on mental health.Today on Enterprise Biz Bytes, we unpack whether the hustle culture has brought sustainable success for enterprises particularly the SME sector, how modern work practices can increase efficiency without bringing negative impacts to employees as well as breaking down the generational gap or mindset at the workplace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk's first AI product, Grok; Rumours may be true that X has started rolling out initiatives to sell disused usernames; OpenAI reveals several new upgrades; Polish company appoints humanoid robot as its "experimental CEO."; Takeaways from UK’s AI safety summit; Beetles resurrected via use of AI; AI fueled fake pornographic pictures and videos; And study suggests that highly paid professionals with no managerial duties may be most affected by the use of AI.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an era marked by increasing environmental concerns and a growing awareness of our planet's finite resources, the fields of design and architecture are undergoing a profound transformation.Today, we delve into the significance of sustainability in design and architecture with Lillian Tay, the Vice President of VERITAS Design Group, exploring its key principles, benefits, and the role it plays in shaping a brighter, more environmentally-conscious future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lazada Malaysia’s LazMall Gala is an annual event to honour and recognise the outstanding achievements of the LazMall brand partners and celebrate the milestones achieved together with its strategic business partners.Lazada is committed to further develop the eCommerce ecosystem in Malaysia and contribute towards accelerating the digital economy across the region.It continues to empower international brands, as well as local MSMEs and homegrown brands to digitalise their businesses and thrive online, while offering consumers across Malaysia value-for-money and a differentiated customer experience.Today, we speak with Alan Chan, CEO of Lazada Malaysia, on the annual Gala, the significance of the recipients’ achievements, and how they contribute to the eCommerce ecosystem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.