PETALING JAYA: The Star Outstanding Business Awards recently launched a new range of activities as part of its effort of “Powering Tomorrow: Driving Sustainable Growth”, the theme that defines what small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can expect for this year.
Called SOBA Next Wave, these events are designed to be masterclasses and workshops, where business owners can come together, mingle and learn from past SOBA winners, judges and even topic experts on how to take their businesses to the next level.
Organiser Star Media Group (SMG) has envisioned three separate sessions that cover “The Financial Advantage”, which was held on Aug 20 at Menara Star.
The upcoming two SOBA Next Wave events will take place tentatively on Sept 8 and Oct 1, in Menara Star.
In the inaugural event, four speakers presented on various topics, the first on how to “Unlock Your Business Potential: Financing Your Growth” by SOBA sponsor Credit Guarantee Corporation chief business officer Sean Tan, who was also the topic expert.
Next Wynkids Education Group founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Elwin Goh shared his “Best Practice” as past SOBA winner and ambassador, on the topic of “From Stability to Scale: Our Cash Flow Strategy”.
In the third session, finance topic expert and SOBA sponsor RHB Bank Bhd (RHB Bank) has its SME credit support head Lim Yew Kit present a masterclass and workshop on “Navigating Bank Approvals and Financial Assessment”.
Last but not least, SOBA judge and Malaysia Digital Chamber of Commerce (MDCC) emeritus chairman Dr Chris Daniel Wong gave an insightful talk on “Evaluating Financial Strength: A Judge’s Perspective”.
The presentations concluded with a mingling and networking session where the participants were able to exchange their thoughts and ideas at a deeper level with the speakers. They will also have the opportunity to perhaps forge alliances with one another.
According to Goh, the sustainable growth of any business starts with a solid cash flow strategy. “Use positive cash flow and the right expansion model to scale your company healthily,” he advised.
While Tan cautioned that: “Risk is part of every business. The real difference is knowing how financiers see that risk, being financially ready to address it and showing how it can be managed.
“That is what turns risk into opportunity.”
Lim said “A successful loan application starts with clarity and preparation — from knowing what you need financing for to demonstrating sound cash flow and having the right documents.”
Wong pointed out that “Financial strength is more than strong numbers. It must be supported by consistent evidence, reliable documentation and
conduct that stands up to scrutiny and stress.”
The upcoming Next Wave will focus on the subject of technology adoption, “SOBA Next-Wave 2 The Technology Advantage” on Sept 8, to be held at Menara Star.
The topics that SMG will explore will be on how artificial intelligence (AI) can augment the employees’ efficiency at work, (“AI + People: A Smarter Way of Working” with topic expert Vernon Chua, who is Innergia Labs founder and CEO).
This will follow a best practice sharing session on “Beyond the Technology: Crafting a Winning Innovation Story” by SOBA winner and ambassador of Kanika (M) Sdn Bhd CEO Vinnie Ang. Then SOBA judge and advisor (former chairman)for Persatuan Industri Komputer dan Multimedia Malaysia (Pikom) Datuk Dr Sean Seah will be discussing “From Good to Outstanding: Evaluating Technology Stories”.
The third SOBA Next Wave (Oct 1) will focus on how SMEs can make use of “The Business Advantage”, with PKT Logistics Group chief operating officer Dr Jason Cheah to speak on “From Chaos to Control: How Strong Operations Drive Business Success”.
ICE Holidays Sdn Bhd managing director Mita Lim will present “Lessons From Building a Strong Market Presence as a SOBA Winner”, sharing best practices of a past SOBA winner and ambassador in the second session.
Then SOBA judge and MDCC secretary general Arlene Tan will enlighten participants on “What Defines an Outstanding Business in the Eyes of Judges”.
SOBA 2026 is organised by SMG with Credit Guarantee Corporation Bhd, PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd, RHB Bank, U Mobile Sdn Bhd as main sponsors while Great Wall Motor Company Limited Malaysia is co-sponsor, with Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) being the official trade promotion partner.
It is audited by BDO while radio stations 988 and Suria are official media partners.
SOBA 2026 submissions deadline is on Oct 15.
For more information, call the SOBA Hotline at 017-231 1789, or go to www.soba.com.my
