As a community, our goal is not only to help our honourees expand their network, but to also bring the right people together. 

Our networking events have a specific goal: to encourage conversations, connections and collaborations that create shared value. We have connected people who’ve become co-founders, investors and investees, mentors and mentees, and on occasion, life partners. These events come in different forms, from mastermind groups to a spirit appreciation workshop. 

Earlier this year, we launched our Gen.T Connect platform to enable honourees to meet and drive meaningful conversations on their own, while leveraging on Gen.T's network. Led by the community, this programme sees Gen.T selecting one honouree to represent their country or city as a Gen.T Connect ambassador—their role is to plan and host discussion groups and small-scale meet-ups, to engage with others about topics, ideas and projects that can result in actual change. We currently have ambassadors planning gatherings in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, with more to be announced soon. 

More recently, we also launched The Catalyst Series, a programme of roundtables co-organised with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, to catalyse the impact of entrepreneurs on the Gen.T List. Each event features a guest speaker, a leader in their field, who provides actionable insights that our honourees can take back to their business.

Our inaugural event took place at Tatler House Hong Kong in August, and featured Bernard Chan, president of Asia Financial Holdings and convenor of Hong Kong’s Executive Council as the guest speaker.

See also: In Pictures: Gen.T Connect Event In Shanghai On Mindful Leadership

Through strategic partnerships with other companies and brands, we strive to help honourees establish a presence and reach that extends beyond their industry or community. 

In the last three years, for instance, Gen.T has teamed up with Credit Suisse to organise the Gen.T x Credit Suisse Social Impact Awards. Together, we recognise Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow who have dedicated their lives to building innovative solutions for society’s biggest problems. This year, the awards recognised 10 honourees who are using cutting-edge technology to solve problems in the social impact and sustainability sectors.

In Malaysia, we’ve also partnered with telecommunications giant Maxis to fund organisations bringing about positive change. This led to the launch of the inaugural Maxis Awards this year, which will support two entrepreneurs from the Gen.T List who are harnessing digital tools to bring about meaningful change within their community.

The prize includes a grant worth up to RM150,000 (around US$36,000) in monetary funding and Maxis digital solutions for a year for each winner, as well as publicity on its marketing channels. Upon its launch, the awards received numerous entries from honourees of different industries, from renewable energy to healthtech. Stay tuned—we will announce the two winners later this month.

Such partnerships often also give honourees access to exclusive or ticketed events, either as an attendee, speaker or private guest. Case in point: a select few honourees from across the region were invited to attend the Breakthrough Prize ceremony in California in 2019, also known as the “Oscars of science”. During the three-day trip, they mingled with some of the world's leading scientists, Hollywood stars and Silicon Valley tech titans; had brunch with Breakthrough founders Yuri and Julia Milner; toured the headquarters of Facebook, YouTube and Impossible Foods; and attended a special Breakthrough Prize Symposium.

Last year, Gen.T also held two virtual conferences. Gen.T Stream, which took place in May and October 2020, featured keynotes and fireside chats with prominent thinkers and global experts in innovation and entrepreneurship. Speakers included Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales, Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie and media entrepreneur Maria Ressa.

Come June 2022, Gen.T will host its first Asia Summit in Hong Kong. An in-person event for entrepreneurs and creatives, the programme features talks and experiential activities. More details will be announced soon.

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