Lessons for success: Lim will be one of the two SOBA alumni who will be sharing their success stories at the workshop.
PETALING JAYA: The recent spike in Covid-19 cases has led to stricter movement restrictions that has brought negative implications for businesses and the economy yet again, but small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can take advantage of the upcoming virtual SOBA LAB on Oct 23 to stay abreast of the situation and learn how they can survive the storm.
Themed recovery, reinvention and restoration, the online workshop will be held from 8pm to 9.30pm in Mandarin. Those interested can register at bit.ly/SOBALab20206.
Unlike past SOBA LABs, this one will start off with an opening keynote from SME Association of Malaysia (SMEAM) president Datuk Michael Kang, who will share insights into the business outlook and latest updates for SMEs.
It will be followed by a panel discussion titled Road to Recovery in Restoring Business Sustainability, featuring Digi SME direct sales head Thew Soon Kheng and RHB Bank Bhd SME banking head Yip How Nang.
The session, which will be moderated by SMEAM national council member and SMEs committee chairman Koong Lin Loong, will see the panellists discussing how SMEs can build resiliency and sustainability into their businesses through various aspects.
These include optimising digital platforms to improve existing operating processes and business models, understanding the shift in customer preferences, ensuring a proper support system to cater to a virtual workforce, as well as leveraging business growth avenues to support cash flow management.
Thew: Focus on digitalisation and leverage technology to survive and thrive in the ‘now’ normal.
The session will also feature past SOBA winners, namely Empire Sushi Group Sdn Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Nicole Lim and Inhome Engineering Works Sdn Bhd founder and CEO Terry Chong.
The two SOBA alumni will share their tips on optimising SOBA applications, as well as share their success stories on how they have built, managed and grown their businesses into award-winning companies.
In addition, they will also speak on their experiences in managing their companies in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, which participants can look forward to.
Yip: SMEs must review their strengths and weaknesses, then decide on whether to save or invest wisely.
Organised in conjunction with SOBA 2020 as part of the education element of the awards programme, SOBA LAB was designed to arm business leaders and entrepreneurs with the necessary knowhow to take their businesses to the next level.
SOBA 2020 is organised by Star Media Group Bhd with Digi, PKT Logistics Group and RHB Bank as the main sponsors, Credit Guarantee Corp Malaysia Bhd as co-sponsor and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp as the official trade promotion partner. It is endorsed by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, supported by Bursa Malaysia and audited by BDO with dimsum, 988 and Suria as official media partners.
Terry Chong
Submissions for SOBA are now open. Locally incorporated enterprises not part of a multinational or listed group with foreign equity not exceeding 50% can participate by completing the application form online via www.soba.com.my or submitting the hard copy to the organiser at Menara Star, Petaling Jaya. The deadline for entries is Dec 4,2020.
For more information on SOBA 2020, call The Star Events Business Unit at +603 7967 1388 ext 1871 (Lily)/ 1104 (Shamenei) or visit www.soba.com.my.
