Enterprise Explores

Palm oil has long been a cornerstone of Malaysia’s economy, but evolving global regulations, shifting consumer perceptions, and sustainability expectations are reshaping the landscape. In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we speak with Belvinder Sron, CEO of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, about how Malaysia is navigating these challenges. We discuss the impact of the EU Deforestation Regulatio...

Pitching in Malaysia’s creative industry often feels like a leap of faith. Ideas are shared in good faith, but sometimes end up being reused without credit or consent. This conversation looks at why idea theft happens, what legal protections actually exist, and how creatives can safeguard their work in a system that does not always protect them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when brands mishandle nostalgia, misalign messaging, and fail to control spokesperson narratives? In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we unpack three critical branding lessons from Disney’s troubled Snow White remake. Skribble’s Teng Chan Leong and Dana Lai join us to explore how unclear positioning, mixed creative direction, and poor audience management can derail even the most i...

Can AI really help teachers teach better, or are we just adding more pressure to an already overloaded system? Malaysia is planning to retrain over 100,000 teachers using AI-powered tools, with hopes of modernising classrooms across the country. But questions remain — are schools ready? Will this help or hurt teacher morale? And are we solving the right problems? In this episode, we speak with Cha...

In a world chasing innovation, why are brands looking backwards to move forward? We sit down with Lina Esa, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Cult Creative, to unpack the booming business of nostalgia. From global revivals like Care Bears to local throwbacks that tap into Malaysian childhoods, we explore how memory is being turned into marketing and sentiment into sales. What does it take...

Bookstores keep disappearing, but our love for books hasn’t gone anywhere. If people still read, why do these spaces keep shutting their doors? And why are some independent bookstores still standing strong while others vanish? In this episode, we look beyond the headlines and nostalgia to find out what’s really keeping bookshops alive. Is it just the books? Or is it the careful curation, the sense...

In the race for top talent, especially in high-demand sectors like AI and tech, some companies are now paying employees not to work, just to stop them from joining competitors. Is this smart business, an ethical grey zone, or a sign the talent war has gone too far? We explore how golden handcuffs — lucrative or restrictive retention strategies — are changing how companies protect talent in Malaysi...

In its 24th year, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Malaysia programme is once again spotlighting the country’s most visionary and resilient entrepreneurs. This year’s theme, “The Shapers,” celebrates entrepreneurs who are navigating uncertainty and actively shaping the future of business in Malaysia. On this episode of Enterprise Explores, Philip Rao, Programme Director of EY Entrepreneur Of The Ye...

With World Intellectual Property Day around the corner, Enterprise Explores why IP protection is no longer just a legal checkbox, it’s a business essential in today’s digital-first economy. Joining us are two advocates from the Bar Council’s IP Committee, who shed light on the real-world risks faced by Malaysian creators, startups, and entrepreneurs, and why safeguarding your ideas might be the sm...

In this episode, Enterprise explores how businesses can rejuvenate a toxic workplace. This is based on the 2025 Workmonitor research done by Randstad - the world's largest talent agency, which reveals 59% of talent resigned to leave toxic workplaces. To learn more about the impact of a toxic workplace towards a business, we speak with Fahad Naeem, Country Director at Randstad Malaysia and Dr Siti...

Is equity crowdfunding (ECF) really a viable option for serious investors, or is it a playground for “dumb money” and bloated valuations? On Enterprise Explores, we unpack the data, dispel myths, and debate the future of this funding model with Bikesh Lakhmichand of 1337 Capital and Kashminder Singh of pitchIN. Drawing on the latest data from the Securities Commission of Malaysia, we explore the d...

On this episode of Enterprise Explores, we reflect on 50 years of Microsoft, one of the most influential tech companies in history. From the rise of personal computing to the cloud and AI revolution, Microsoft’s impact has been felt across industries, economies, and daily life. Joining us is Amin Ashaari, CEO and Co-Founder of SoyaCincau.com , to unpack how Microsoft helped shape the digital era,...

Raising capital is a major milestone for any startup, but buried in the fine print of a term sheet could be clauses that haunt you for years. From clawbacks to poison pills, the wrong terms can quietly seal your startup’s pending death. In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we speak with two ecosystem players who’ve seen both sides of the table: Dr. Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Co-Chair of the Soonico...

In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of corporate trust in Malaysia, based on findings from the latest Ipsos Trust Track report. Covering over 160 brands across 19 industries, the latest edition of the report reveals a sharp decline in public trust, dropping to 49 from a steady 56 maintained between 2021 and 2023. Joining us to unpack the key trends behind this shift, discuss which i...

Southeast Asia’s food delivery sector is heating up once again. In 2024, the market grew 13% year-on-year to hit US$19.3 billion, outpacing the broader F&B industry. But the battle is far from over. In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we speak with Weihan Chen, Head of Insights at Momentum Works, to unpack the biggest takeaways from their fifth annual food delivery report. They discuss why...

Is there a deliberate strategy behind the Trump administration’s flawed tariff math — or is it just chaos cloaked in policy? In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we unpack the ripple effects of President Donald Trump’s so-called “reciprocal tariffs,” including a 47% tariff on Malaysian goods. Dr. Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center for Market Education, joins us to break down the flawed logic be...

From Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) schemes to equipment leasing, Malaysia’s booming non-bank credit ecosystem is on the verge of a regulatory overhaul. Enter the Consumer Credit Bill 2025 — a key piece of legislation designed to improve consumer protection, clamp down on unlicensed operators, and bring order to an increasingly fragmented sector. But is the bill striking the right balance? Or could it...

Malaysia is setting its sights on an ambitious goal of 31.4 million international tourist arrivals in 2025 and MATTA thinks pickleball might help get us there. With global interest in the sport exploding, MATTA is launching the Malaysia Pickleball Grand Slam 2025, a tourism initiative expected to attract over 1,000 players and 3,000 visitors to Sarawak. In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we s...

As AI advances at breakneck speed, the spotlight is often on innovation, automation, and productivity. But behind the buzz lies a growing risk, one that could have existential consequences. In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we speak with Chan Tzu Kit, an AI Risks and Safety Advisor who has worked with leading university groups at Stanford, Yale, and NTU, as well as Malaysia’s own National AI...

AI is only as smart as the data it learns from, and in Asia, where adoption is growing fast, that’s becoming a serious issue for businesses. From scattered data and outdated backups to AI models giving the wrong answers, many companies are starting to realise their systems aren't built to support the tools they’re investing in. So how do you fix what’s under the hood before problems get bigger… an...

When hackers targeted Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in a brazen cyberattack, demanding a US$10 million ransom, it wasn’t just a wake-up call for Malaysia’s aviation sector — it was a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities lurking in our critical infrastructure. As the government takes a firm stance against paying ransoms and calls for bolstering local cybersecurity capabilities, we spea...

As the global workforce decentralizes, countries are racing to position themselves as talent magnets. Malaysia is joining the competition, offering digital nomad visas, competitive costs, and a high quality of life. But beyond the headlines and visa schemes, there’s a deeper question: Are we attracting high-impact individuals who will drive innovation, or are we just becoming a stopover for remote...

Nearly 98% of the population in Malaysia are online, and over 25 million use social media — big numbers that reveal how deeply digital habits are shaping daily life in 2025. From how we search, shop, and spend, to the growing influence of AI and mobile-first behaviour, the Meltwater 2025 Global and Malaysia Digital Report highlights where consumers are heading. Joining us to break down the key fin...

In this episode, Enterprise explores how travelling has transformed from a luxury activity into a necessity for self-discovery and personal growth. Based on findings from Klook’s latest Travel Pulse research, key insights from the study reveal that 9 in 10 young travelers can't travel as often as they’d like, 92% experience post-travel blues, and 84% have already planned international trips this y...

Foreign investors are pulling back, capital is flowing out, and recently, China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng met with CEOs of Apple, Pfizer, and Mastercard in a bid to rebuild confidence. What’s really going on beneath the surface of this latest charm offensive, and what does it mean for Malaysia and the region? From shifting supply chains to rising geopolitical risks, we explore whether ASEAN nations...