This year, there are three Learning Labs being offered for Summit participants that are not attending the Summit Roundtable in the afternoon session of the Summit. It is important that you register early to secure a place in the Learning Lab of your choice. Places are restricted because of the size of the space allocated to the Lab, and to optimise opportunities for interaction and learning. 

1. MAKING YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU - Facilitated by Citibank

Do you worry whether you’ll have enough cash to last until your next pay check? Are you the sort that lives from one pay check to the next, with nothing saved? How do you start saving to buy your first home or even, buy another one for investment purposes? Do you put aside enough to ensure you have a comfortable retirement? What should you do?

These are a few of the many financial aspects that most people worry about, especially in light of higher prices and a challenging economic environment. If you have been adhering to a strict budgeting process, then you may have to relook your plans to adjust to these changes. If you haven’t started on a proper financial budget with goals, it’s never too late but you must start now.

In this Learning Lab, Citibank’s financial experts will give you an overview of what pro-active steps you can take today to secure your financial future. Participate in this interactive workshop to learn skills and insights that will help you to take a more analytical and strategic look at your finances and be the proud owner of your own home.

Chin Wan Keang is the Sales and Distribution Director for the Retail Bank, Citibank Berhad and oversees distribution of all consumer products for Citibank’s affluent and emerging affluent market segments for Malaysia, which includes Citigold, Citibanking and CitiBusiness.

A Banking & Finance industry specialist, Wan Keang has in-depth knowledge and experience in the areas of strategic planning, sales and marketing management, change management as well as project management.

She has worked in Singapore, Hong Kong and Brunei. She has an MBA from the UK and is a Fellow of Chartered Public Accountants of Australia (FCPA) and a Chartered Accountant of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

Goh Ching Chee, the Mortgage Business Director for Citibank Malaysia has more than 20 years in the banking industry and has built Citibank’s mortgage business into a force to be reckoned with. He leads a sales team that focuses on Citibank’s core value of providing unrivalled products and services to consumers.

Since joining Citibank in 1985, Goh has been involved in Programming, Auditing, Quality Assurance, Sales Management, Business Development and Business Management and was instrumental in the opening of Citibank’s Johor Bahru branch in 2000. He has been involved in numerous business taskforces and has shared his expertise with counterparts in Korea, Taiwan, India, Australia and the United States.

2. GET SMART: KEEPING FINANCIALLY FIT IN CHALLENGING TIMES - Facilitated by Maybank

Life today is more challenging for local SMEs with the global economy slowdown which is compounded by the rising cost of raw materials, fuel and overheads. With their budgets tightened and Ringgit stretched, more and more small and medium-sized companies are forced to find better ways to sustain their business growth.

Maybank’s Learning Lab entitled ‘Get Smart: Keeping Financially Fit in Challenging Times’ The aim of this session is to assist SMEs to maintain sustainable business growth and profitability by introducing the concept of self-help, good financial and business practices and the effective use of banking products and services.

The facilitators from Maybank will offer insights gleaned from their many years of experience in the banking industry. Subjects such as Cash Liquidity Management, Lending Options, Product Packaging, Hedging of Foreign Exchange and Interest Rate Exposures and Insurance cover will provide a fresh and meaningful perspective for the vulnerable SMEs in these challenging times.

Come to this Lab to find out what you can, and need to do for your business to continue to thrive.

Facilitators’ profiles 

Saly Ann Foley heads the Marketing & Sales Unit of Business Banking, which handles performance tracking of the 39 business centres, marketing and cross selling initiatives across the Maybank Group and advertising & promotions. She joined Maybank after graduation from the University of Malaya, starting out doing branch banking and then the card business for several years.

Zaherah Mohamad Azmi started her career in the banking industry with Maybank Berhad where she held the position of Relationship Manager. Having spent eight years in the corporate world, Zaherah has experience in managing the portfolio of public listed companies and multinational companies involved in various industries. She currently heads the Cash Management’s Corporate and Government Business Team. She holds a BA in Accountancy Studies from Portsmouths University, United Kingdom.

3. NAVIGATING THE CHALLENGES OF LEADERSHIP - Facilitated by Rhea Duttagupta of CorporateDNA Consulting 

  

This learning lab is sponsored by Shell Malaysia

A maze or a labyrinth is an image with a long and varied history in ancient Greece, Asia and Medieval Europe. As a contemporary symbol it conveys the idea of a complex journey towards a goal worth striving for.  Passages through labyrinths are not simple or direct and for women who aspire to navigate the maze and reach the top, routes to the centre of the maze exist, but they are full ot twists and turns. 

But getting to your desired destination IS attainable and worth it - all it takes is the ability to master a number of codes or laws that take you there.

Rhea Duttagupta, an international leader and corporate entrepreneur will introduce her 19 laws of WNLM (Women Navigating the Leadership Maze(c)) for corporate women. 

These are rich with examples, lessons. interactive input and real experiences.

These include:-

LAW 5: Political Savvy

LAW 2: Being Authentic

LAW 8: Teaming with Men

LAW 4: Building Your PR

LAW 9: Making your words count

LAW 6: Managing your emotions

LAW 1: Knowing what you want

 … and others. Come along to discover more.