3 minute read
Modern entrepreneurship has increasingly become sophisticated, particularly in Asia, where ever-changing consumer preferences and technological advances aggressively dictate the demand and supply of markets.
In an event in Kuala Lumpur for Alumni and friends of the ANU College of Business and Economics, four young Malaysian entrepreneurs shared their lessons on management. Huiqi Low, Kah Meng Wong, Marcus Fei Xiao Song, and Winnie Chua spoke about their entrepreneurial spirit, and how to balance various life committments. In a panel discussion, these speakers discussed their blind spots, “uncool” techniques and unconventional approaches to run a successful business.
Huiqi Low
The Malaysian start-up industry is a very helpful, supportive, and encouraging environment. Ten years ago, young entrepreneurs would go for big corporates but in the recent years, there has been a shift. Fresh graduates now look to join start-ups.
Winnie Chua
In the start-up world, you need to juggle a lot. You are paying rent, doing tax, going to civic officials. As a founder, I clean my office toilets, clear my office pantry, and pick up my intern to go to work. A typical start-up founder will not tell you these things because they want to maintain their coolness.
Marcus Fei Xiao Song
My father was very entrepreneurial. He had started three or four companies and faced several ups and downs. What I learnt from him is that in all kinds of business there will good and bad times, and you need to manage them all.
Kah Meng Wong
The first two years of starting my company were an occupational hazard where I was trying to solve every problem. But I eventually understood that all problems cannot be solved. From my experience stakeholder management and communication skills are the hardest yet most basic part of the job
The event in Kuala Lumper offered a terrific opportunity for our alumni community to meet, network, and reminisce their time at ANU, in Australia and abroad. The ANU College of Business and Economics will host more of these events in Australia and overseas in the coming months.