Cover Chong Jinn Xiung, Khor Sue Yee, Tan Shi Wen, Ivan Eng
Chong Jinn Xiung, Khor Sue Yee, Tan Shi Wen, Ivan Eng
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In May, Gen.T collaborated with fashion label Boss for a networking event featuring a panel discussion on what makes a leader
On May 9, Gen.T co-hosted a networking event with the fashion label Boss at Bōl, a chic restaurant and bar located within a pre-war establishment in Kuala Lumpur. The main highlight of the event was a panel discussion featuring entrepreneurs from the Gen.T community talking about what it takes to be a boss.
Being a boss is not about titles or holding a position of authority, but about having the necessary skills, qualities and mindset to lead effectively. And these are qualities that the three panellists embody.
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The panellists—Tan Shi Wen of Save Environment Save Ourselves (SESO) Malaysia, Khor Sue Yee of Zero Waste Malaysia and Ivan Eng of Havan Clothing—shared their insights and experiences on how they became bosses in their own right. They also discussed the obstacles and opportunities of being a boss in today’s fast-changing and competitive world.
Tan began by sharing the challenges when she started her non-profit organisation, which focuses on combating food waste and poverty. Without much cooking skills, Tan remembers having to help prepare food to be distributed to homeless people around Kuala Lumpur. But advice and support from family members and friends helped her overcome that hurdle. She also had to deal with the loss of a core member of her team, who passed away suddenly from a heart attack. The absence of the team member, who was familiar with the city’s homeless community, initially made it difficult for the rest of the team to connect with them, but with patience and persistence, the trust and connection grew over time.
Gen.T and Boss co-hosted a special panel that discussed what it means to be a boss
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When it comes to stress, Eng believes that cultivating a positive mindset and embracing challenges can turn a negative experience into a positive one. “I am driven to overcome crises because it affords me an opportunity to learn something new and improve my business acumen. Rather than allowing stress to control me, I choose to harness it and use it to my advantage.”
Tan also shared that during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020, she had to make one of the most difficult decisions: whether to continue running SESO or not. In the end, the decision was clear: “We wanted to continue helping those in need. So we devised a way to provide aid while staying safe by connecting with transporters and establishing a drive-thru system to minimise direct human contact,” she said.
Ensuring people, especially employees, feel safe and supported is key and for that, Khor says having empathy is one of the most important leadership qualities. “As an NGO leader, it’s crucial to be a patient listener and show empathy towards volunteers since they contribute their time to the cause. We work with many volunteers and are accountable to stakeholders, so it’s important to make them feel valued and appreciated.”
During the question and answer segment, Warren Chan, CEO of ParkEasy, asked the panellists how leaders can re-centre themselves during moments of doubt. Khor shared that meditating and removing all distractions will help leaders to see that their problems are not insurmountable but solvable.
The conversations continued long after the discussion ended, with guests enjoying a variety of Peranakan-infused canapés including keluak chicken sliders, bak foie and rojak tarts.
See more honourees from Malaysia on the Gen.T List.
Credits
Images: Fady Younis
