From Malaysia to the World: Malaysia's Halal Playbook

Malaysia has held the top spot on the Global Islamic Economy Indicator for 12 straight years, and other countries are now racing to build sectors of their own. MATRADE’s S. Jai Shankar joins us to talk about how Malaysia built its lead through platforms like MIHAS, and what it will take to maintain…

Sensitivity, Accountability, and the Modern Manager

Geeva Samynathan, Founder, Principal Trainer and Behavioral Strength Coach at ECTAA, and co-author of Social Sensitivity in the Changing Workplace, tells us social sensitivity actually means and how it differs from empathy or emotional intelligence.  We get into how to give direct feedback without…

Designing an AI That Knows How to Say Sorry

More businesses are letting AI make decisions that directly affect customers, including how they handle complaints. But does a bot apology land the same way as a person's? Alexander Eng, Associate Professor at Asia School of Business, tells us what an effective AI-powered complaints system should …

A SME Survival Guide to a High-Cost Economy

Bank Negara Malaysia recently found that almost 80% of businesses it engaged with are feeling the squeeze of higher costs. Azfar Asa'ad from CPA Australia and CK Chang, Founder of homegrown apparel brand Ox White, give us two very different vantage points on the same problem, one from the accountan…

Behind Malaysia's Local Cinema Box Office Surge

Local films are outpacing Hollywood at the Malaysian box office this year. Finas data shows 7.55 million admissions for local titles through July, ahead of 6.94 million for Hollywood releases, with five local films crossing RM10 million each. Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, CEO of Finas, and Lina T…

Using AI to Nudge Better Employee Behaviour

Can AI be used to encourage employee behaviour that aligns with company goals? Or to monitor employee happiness and wellbeing? Tareef Jafferi tells us how the intersection of AI and behavioural science can be applied in the workplace, and how nudges toward small actions, like giving feedback, can p…

AI Is Here. Are Retailers Ready?

Adyen's latest Retail Index found that 74% of Malaysian consumers now use AI while shopping, up more than 50% from last year, yet more than half remain uncomfortable letting AI complete a purchase for them. Lee Soon Yean joins us to unpack how retailers can prepare for this shift in consumer behavi…

Enterprise Explores - Sep 2, 2026

Social enterprises are businesses, but they're built to solve social problems first. Azuar Zainuddin joins us to talk about the passion driving social enterprises, the biggest challenges they face in Malaysia today, and how programmes like Creative Sprint 2026 can help them access funding, mentorsh…

Rethinking Growth: The Humane Economy

Economic growth creates jobs, attracts investment, and raises living standards, but growth alone doesn't always tell us whether people are actually better off. Prof Saadiah Mohamad joins us to unpack the idea of a "Humane Economy," what it would mean for businesses and SMEs to put human dignity and…

The Business Cost of a Higher Minimum Wage

As the government reviews Malaysia's minimum wage, Rabin Nijhar of Cisco Security Systems joins us to share a business owner's perspective. He walks us through how his company absorbed the last minimum wage hike, what another increase would mean for a labour-intensive business like his and what sup…