New Leader, New Season,
Growth in Moral Leadership

Five years ago, Dato’ Kathleen met Jacqueline Novogratz, the founder of Acumen – a non-profit global venture capital fund with a mission of using business tools to eradicate global poverty and build a dignity-first world, at a philanthropy conference. They quickly discovered that they shared a common desire.

“We share a common aspiration – to raise generations of leaders rooted in human values, leaders with the audacity to drive change in their communities and leaders who have the courage to serve everyone, including the underserved, with dignity.” - Dato’ Kathleen Chew

Following their meeting, Jacqueline proposed the idea of establishing an Acumen Academy chapter in Malaysia. The Academy, also referred to as the ‘World’s School for Social Change’ is an extension of Acumen that has positively influenced the moral leadership landscape in India, Pakistan and East Africa, and was looking to expand to other regions.

“It made sense to bring the Academy to Malaysia as it would provide our local movers and shakers with a unique opportunity to develop their moral imagination and practise their moral leadership skills in their efforts to build a more just, inclusive and sustainable Malaysia.” - Dato’ Kathleen Chew

Hence, Malaysia Acumen Academy was established in 2019 by YTL Foundation and Acumen Inc.

As virtual learning continued due to ongoing lockdowns, new challenges surfaced. One that required urgent dialogue was students having to learn while managing mental health outside their regular school environment. We hosted an online session on 25 June, 2021, covering some key topics:

Managing in a Pandemic: What Counts as Success? by Professor Julie Allan, Bethen Morris-Tran and Francesca Peruzzo
TrustCircle: Tracking the Social Emotional Well-Being of Students by Sachin Chaudhary
Mental Health & Well-Being Among School-Going: The Malaysian Perspective by Rebecca Lin, Pamela Guneratnam and Yong Gan Chok

The aim of the discussions was to educate the public on how to track, manage and improve the mental health of students and those in the educational sector.

Session Highlights:

The current education system, with its emphasis on examinations, performance and comparisons, is not conducive to good mental health and wellbeing.
With talks of returning to ‘normal', research has shown that potential negative effects could return, particularly to minority groups or the disabled. This is because previously unaddressed issues will likely resurface – including perceptions that it is ‘normal’ for some to lack access to education materials and devices. These groups will continue to be at a disadvantage, especially if old ways of assessment and furthering studies continue.
A consideration would be to rethink or reset the education system as we recover from the pandemic. Some possible changes:
- Less emphasis on exams and assessments
- More comprehensive curriculums
- More inclusive and culturally relevant methods of teaching
Technology has proven its importance through online education, where it acts as a channel to foster creativity, freedom and autonomy. It has also enabled students to learn from failures and mistakes in a non-competitive environment. Yet, despite its success, it has also been the downfall for some students - predominantly those without access to technology.
How should we as a country move forward? These are vital to ensuring the mental health of students, teachers and communities:
- Work out new methods for students facing challenges accessing online learning.
- Move away from the narrative on getting 'back on track' and 'building back better' as it adds stress on students.
- Address the digital divide between the fortunate and less fortunate.
- Increase spending on mental health services as there is an increasing need.
- Response to the pandemic needs to cause less disruption to the education system.

To find out more on the session, you may watch the full dialogue here.

About Our Speakers

Professor Chris Grovenor

Professor of Materials Science and Head of the Materials Science Department at Oxford University.

His work includes studying the effects of prolonged radiation exposure on steel in nuclear power plants. Born in Malaysia, he spent the first 6 years of his life here. He loves indulging in Nasi Lemak and speaks basic Malay.

Professor Martin Speight

Fellow in Biological Science at St. Anne's College

Throughout his career, much of his research was based in Southeast Asia, focusing on coral reef ecology, tropical marine establishment and impacts, as well as tropical rainforest management and impacts on insect diversity. He visits Malaysia often and never misses an opportunity to explore the forests of Johor or the coral reefs of Sabah.

Professor Chris Grovenor

Head of Materials Department, University of Oxford and Fellow in Materials at St. Anne’s College

He studies the effects of prolonged radiation exposure on steel in nuclear power plants. Born in Malaysia, he spent the first 6 years of his life here & loves Nasi Lemak & speaks basic Malay.

Professor Martin Speight

Senior Fellow and Fellow in Biology at St. Anne’s College

Throughout his career, much of his research was based in South East Asia, focusing on coral reef ecology, tropical marine establishment & impacts, as well as tropical rainforest management & impacts on insect diversity.

Meet Our Fellows

2020

2021

2022

Baitulhusna Ahmad Zamri

Nazkids

David Chak Shan Chun

Arus Academy

Fariz A. Rani

Inspirize Consulting

Dr. Hartini Zainudin

Yayasan Chow Kit

Hazwan Razak

Sarawak Multimedia Authority

Ian Yee

R.AGE

Ida Thein

Closing The Gap

Jayne Kennedy

Epic Homes

Juliana Adam

Biji-biji Initiative

Lakshwin Murugamoorthy

Women Of Will (WOW)

Maheswari Jaganathan

Cancer Research Malaysia

May Wong

Taylor’s Education Group

Michelle Usman

Usman & Partners

Nik Nasha Azmee

Rohingya Women Development Network

Pamela Guneratnam

HumanKind

Rudie Yaakub

BTOP Sports Academy

Tharmelinggem Pillai

Undi18

Wah Hoo Chun

GivingHub

Xiao Cheng Wong

Earth Heir

Zi Xiang Chan

Langit Collective

Awang Safieluddin

Grit Event Management

Catherine Ooi

Kasih Hospice Foundation

Cheryl Goh

Grab

Cher Chua-Lassalvy

Batu-Batu Resort- Pulau Tengah

Daniel Lee

KLBUG Academy

Daniel Teoh

Native

Devasharma Gangadaran

MySkills Foundation

Haslina Abdul Malek

All Aboard Young Leaders Centre

Kelvin Tan

Project ID

Logeetha Balakrishnan

PichaEats

Rabia Bazeer

Yayasan Chow Kit

Samantha Ong

People Systems Consultancy

Siti Aishah

SPOT Community Project

Su Thye Teh

Global Peace Foundation Malaysia

Subarna Sivapalan

Project Asli

Suwannit Chareen

University For Society (U4S)

Will Chua

FOLO Farms

Zaim Mohzani

Impact Malaysia

Adrian Banie Lasimbang

Tonibung

Amnani Abdul Kadir

Women's Aid Organisation

Dr. Darshni Kashinathan

JujucareMedic

Izza Izelan

WOMEN:girls

Kenneth Chai

The Learning Curve

Mildred Voon

Leadership Institute of
Sarawak Civil Service

Nirmala Supramaniam

AKPK

Wan Dazriq

ETHIS Malaysia

Wong Chen Li

Akar Umbi Society

Yuet Kim Lim

PichaEats

Our Partners

Collaborations with like-minded partners help turn our goals to reality. We work with a diverse group of corporations, NGOs, social entrepreneurs, government agencies and individuals to ensure that Malaysians have access to good education and leadership opportunities.

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YTL Foundation Scholarship Programme

Our scholarship programme is for students seeking to complete their tertiary education at a public or private university. STPM, Matriculation, 'A' Levels, or other foundation programme graduates may apply. Up to 30 scholarships are available each year.

APPLICATION CRITERIA

Must come from a family that finds it a challenge to finance tuition fees and living expenses.
The applicant must be a Malaysian citizen.
The ability to study full-time is required.

REQUIREMENTS

SPM /IGSCE - Min 7As
STPM/ Matriculation /Foundation - Min 2As/ CGPA 3.7
‘A’ Levels - Min 2As
IB - 36 points

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BUTTON TEXT

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

Our Fellows

Acumen Fellows are social innovators who see the world as it is, yet dare to imagine the world as it could be. They are:

Social Entrepreneurs

Leaders who create impact by co-founding enterprises that provide critical goods and/or services to the disadvantaged and marginalised. These enterprises can be for-profit or non-profit ventures.

Public Sector Leaders

Leaders who create impact by working with the government to create policy changes and partnerships, or to adopt new models in tackling poverty or social injustice.

Intrapreneurs

Leaders who create impact from within existing institutions by changing the culture and using resources to tackle poverty and/or social injustice.

Social Entrepreneurs
Leaders who create impact by co-founding enterprises that provide critical goods and/or services to the disadvantaged and marginalised. These enterprises can be for-profit or non-profit ventures.
Public Sector Leaders
Leaders who create impact by working with the government to create policy changes and partnerships, or to adopt new models in tackling poverty or social injustice.
Intrapreneurs
Leaders who create impact from within existing institutions by changing the culture and using resources to tackle poverty and/or social injustice.

Programme Overview

"

This one-year programme requires Fellows to maintain their current jobs while attending five in-person, multi-day intensive seminars. At the same time, they are required to take part in online content in between.

The Malaysia Acumen Fellows includes the following activities:

In-Person Seminars

Our Fellows come together four times a year for six-day seminars and two-month-long virtual workshops. This enables Fellows to develop a more nuanced knowledge and application of our leadership programme.

Virtual Content

Our unique virtual content uses Acumen Academy’s library of content as well as Acumen’s twenty-year history of training social sector leaders.

A Community of Practice

We provide the space for our Fellows to connect across lines of difference, practice self-reflection, broaden their perspectives and identify areas for professional development.

Focus on Real World Adaptability

Our curriculum is designed to be relevant and applicable to our Fellows' lives and work. Mentoring sessions and motivational programmes are provided for leaders in the social sector, especially those who work on issues of poverty and social injustice.

In-Person Seminars
Our Fellows come together four times a year for six-day seminars and two-month-long virtual workshops. This enables Fellows to develop a more nuanced knowledge and application of our leadership programme.
Virtual Content
Our unique virtual content uses Acumen Academy’s library of content as well as Acumen’s twenty-year history of training social sector leaders.
A Community of Practice
We provide the space for our Fellows to connect across lines of difference, practice self-reflection, broaden their perspectives and identify areas for professional development.
Focus on Real World Adaptability
Our curriculum is designed to be relevant and applicable to our Fellows' lives and work. Mentoring sessions and motivational programmes are provided for leaders in the social sector, especially those who work on issues of poverty and social injustice.

A Note From Our Programme Lead

"

Economic growth is like a rising tide that lifts all boats.” The saying ignores the plight of millions who are clinging to leaky rafts – or who have no boats at all.

- Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize Winner quoted in A World of Three Zeros.

Oga Chan, Head of Acumen Academy Malaysia

We live in a time of rising inequality due to continued wealth concentration. Rather than further divide communities with fear, we can choose to influence change with value and respect. That is the goal we have at the Acumen Fellows Programme. For change to happen, it requires a collective effort from a solid and diverse cohort of impact leaders ready to push for change.

As no one can do it alone, the Fellows aims to build a strong community of private, public and social sector leaders here in Malaysia to achieve the improvements we all envision.

"

We believe that as Malaysia experiences a renewed sense of civil possibility, moral leadership is needed to harness the strength and dynamics of our diversity that is fundamental to the development and harmony of the country.

The Malaysia Fellows Programme brings together a group of extraordinary leaders who are tackling the country's most pressing social issues to bring the nation to an equitable and fulfilling future for all Malaysians.

The first cohort of Acumen's Fellow Programme launched in 2020, with 20 Fellows from all-around Malaysia embarked on a collective yet personal journey of leadership transformation. Today, this movement has grown into 49 Fellows and will continue to increase annually. Throughout the programme, our Fellows are embedded with the moral imagination to demonstrate a new type of leadership driven by shared prosperity for all.

The Malaysia Acumen Fellows Programme is a one-year leadership transformation programme dedicated to building and growing a diverse collective of local leaders who share common values for rebuilding a Malaysia that’s based on dignity.

Our Partners

Collaboration with like-minded parties helps make our goals a reality. This is why we work with and assist a diverse group of corporations, NGOs, social entrepreneurs, government agencies, and individuals to ensure that all Malaysian children have access to quality education.

LEARN MORE

Our Theory of Change

Our ultimate aim is to offer Malaysian communities with educational and leadership opportunities so that they can perform at high levels.

LEARN MORE

"

We believe that education moulds minds, inspires achievements, unleashes potential and is the basis on which every society progresses.

This is why YTL Foundation was established in 1997. Our journey began by providing scholarships to deserving university students. Along the way, we realised the need to make available quality education for all. So we began broadening our reach to include a more comprehensive view of the education journey.

Our endeavours to equip future generations continue today via 21st-century learning - from education opportunities, to thought leadership, to opening doors and connecting people.

To ensure verifiable and meaningful results, we channel our resources and skills into a carefully curated selection of programmes. We invite you to find out more, and see the opportunities in partnering with us.

Sign Up for Our
Touchpoints Newsletter

Find out about how we are impacting our communities. Sign up here for our quarterly newsletter!

Julie Allan

Professor of Equity and Inclusion and Head of the School of Education, University of Birmingham

Speaker

Colin Diamond

Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Birmingham

Speaker

Kristján Kristjánson

Professor of Character Education and Virtue Ethics, University of Birmingham

Speaker

Chan Soon Seng

CEO of Teach For Malaysia

Panelist

Puan Chee Poh Kiem

Headmistress at SMK St. Mary's

Panelist

Professor Arnoud De Meyer

President of Singapore Management University
Speaker

The fourth President of Singapore Management University. He was previously Director of Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge. He was also associated with INSEAD for 23 years, where he held senior academic and administrative positions, including the Founding Dean of INSEAD's Asia Campus in Singapore. He holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, as well as an MBA and PhD in Management from the University of Ghent, Belgium. His areas of interest include manufacturing, technology, and the implementation of new manufacturing technologies.

Robert M C Yap

Deputy Chairman & Executive Director at Y3 Technologies
Moderator

Deputy Chairman and Executive Director at Y3 Technologies since June 2015. Prior to this, he was part of the DFS Group’s global leadership for over 10 years, holding the position of President at DFS Venture, and was also a company board member. He was also Executive Vice President of DFS Group, owned by the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) Group, and CEO of the East Asia region for PSA International in Singapore. He holds a Bachelor's degree with Honours in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Engineering Science.

Tengku Azian Shahriman

Director of Education and Strategic Reform Initiatives (SRI) - Human Capital Development. PEMANDU
Panellist

Director of Education and Strategic Reform Initiatives (SRI) - Human Capital Development. Prior to this, she was a participant of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit, Prime Minister's Department (PEMANDU). She was also the Head of Corporate Finance in RHB Investment Bank Berhad.

Wing K. Lee

Chief Executive Officer of YTL Communications Sdn Bhd
Panellist

CEO of YTL Communications Sdn Bhd. With a deep understanding of communications and Internet technologies, he constantly finds ways to innovate in this field. Prior to this, he led the product development of mobile Internet at Clearwire in the United States. He also held a senior management position at Sprint Nextel and spearheaded IT Architecture for the launch of the first nationwide wireless data network in the U.S.

Professor Leong Tze Yun

Professor of Information Systems (Education) at the Singapore Management University
Panellist

Professor of Information Systems (Education) at the Singapore Management University. Her area of interest is the use of decision-theoretic concepts in artificial intelligence and the nature of reasoning and learning as change occurs in complex environments, especially in biomedical and health informatics settings. She has also been part of the Working Committee on Research and Technology of the Information and Communication Technology and Media Master Plan 2025 in Singapore.

Lai Chang Wen

CEO and Co-Founder of Ninja Logistics Pte Ltd
Panellist

CEO and co-founder of Ninja Logistics Pte Ltd. Prior to this, he worked as a trader at Barclays before starting Marcella. Being a discerning entrepreneur, his first business as a student was putting together second-hand bicycle parts to sell. His passions include using technology to improve livelihoods, and adapting classical mathematical models to real-world solutions.

“I was so worried when lockdowns were imposed and Shavitra had to stay at home and missed school. The online classes keep her time well occupied and give her an opportunity to continue with her education. She loves quizzes, maths, Mandarin and other subjects as well. I feel assured that she’s not missing her learning even being at home and able to learn independently (zooming on her own) now that I’m back at work.”

Selva Malar

(mother of 8-year old Shavitra - SJKT St. Joseph, Sentul)

“The online classes are really beneficial for my kid during this challenging time. He gains extra knowledge and gets to know a lot of friends… the teachers are good and friendly too.”

Thaenmoli Ramasamy

(mother of 7-year old Dorvenesh - SK La Salle, Sentul)

“I would like to express my gratitude to the teachers at Leaps Academy for teaching our students patiently and willingly with love. Despite these difficult times amid the Covid-19 pandemic, 40 of our students were given an opportunity to learn second languages like Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin. This is really useful and benefits our community as learning these languages will help us to integrate better with the local community.”

Benjamin Lian Sian Mung

(School Coordinator for Ruth Education Learning Centre – a refugee school for the youth in Pudu)

“Krupa finds learning online fun and interesting particularly with group discussions as she gets to interact with teachers and other students. Now she gets to learn new things in drama, science, maths and other subjects. She also makes new friends along the way.”

Saravana Kumar

(father of 12-year old Krupa - SK Convent 1, Sentul)

54C After-School Educational Programmes

Since our centre's launch in December 2015, there has been a combined attendance of 10,000 for our various after-school programmes. More than 13 distinct programmes and workshops are held weekly with the sole purpose of empowering children with the necessary skills to be well rounded individuals.

We cover academic, vocational and soft skills. Our regular sessions include English, mathematics, music, speech & drama, arts & craft and computer studies. Through the years, we have supported 620 underprivileged children from 18 community schools and over 80 volunteer teachers.

54C Holiday Programme

Over the school holidays, 54C runs free programmes for the children of YTL staff, all to ensure they could acquire new skills, make new friends, and have fun while learning. The children participate in science experiments, arts & crafts, drama, ukulele lessons and money-smart skills.

54C Christmas Party

To cap off a good year of learning, we organise our annual Christmas party for the children of YTL employees and children from underprivileged communities and refugee schools.

Although physical meetings came to a halt during the pandemic, we continued to spread the Christmas spirit online, bringing the party to life through games, performances by teachers, comedy skits, balloon modelling, and even organised a 15-minute performance by Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC).

01

We provide children and young people access to age-appropriate, high-quality learning resources and opportunities in education.

02

We support high-potential individuals in cultivating the values, skills, interpersonal relationships and competencies necessary for transformation in leadership.

03

We provide parents and educators with high-quality educational tools to support learning.

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The new and well-designed Frog Classroom is a good example of a learning space that has influenced teacher pedagogy and student learning behaviour. It should be emulated by all schools throughout the country.

- Professor Dr Radha M K Nambiar, Project Head, University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

"

In the Frog Classroom, even my rowdiest students settle down fast and show interest in the lesson. The classroom calms them and gets them excited to start learning.

- Mr. Chong Zhi Xiong, Teacher, SMK Puchong Batu 14

Learn From Home

Making online learning available to children in B40 homes through partnerships with YTL Communications and FrogAsia.

Learn More

Leaps Academy

Transitioning from physical to online classes, ensuring that education never stops.

Learn More

Puan Sri Kai Yong Yeoh Book Prize

Nurturing potential talent through the discovery and expression of creativity, especially for the children of YTL staff.

Learn More

Frog Classroom

Innovating classrooms to be technology ready; fostering creativity, collaborative learning, critical thinking and communication – the components of 21st Century learning.

Learn More

KelasKita

Allowing education implementers to provide tuition through volunteers to children in local communities using our Learn From Home materials.

Learn More

Jun 2023

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New Leader, New Season, Growth in Moral Leadership

Session Highlights:

About Our Speakers

Professor Chris Grovenor

Professor Martin Speight

Professor Chris Grovenor

Head of Materials Department, University of Oxford and Fellow in Materials at St. Anne’s College

Professor Martin Speight

Senior Fellow and Fellow in Biology at St. Anne’s College

Meet Our Fellows

2020

2021

2022

Baitulhusna Ahmad Zamri

David Chak Shan Chun

Fariz A. Rani

Dr. Hartini Zainudin

Hazwan Razak

Ian Yee

Ida Thein

Jayne Kennedy

Juliana Adam

Lakshwin Murugamoorthy

Maheswari Jaganathan

May Wong

Michelle Usman

Nik Nasha Azmee

Pamela Guneratnam

Rudie Yaakub

Tharmelinggem Pillai

Wah Hoo Chun

Xiao Cheng Wong

Zi Xiang Chan

Awang Safieluddin

Catherine Ooi

Cheryl Goh

Cher Chua-Lassalvy

Daniel Lee

Daniel Teoh

Devasharma Gangadaran

Haslina Abdul Malek

Kelvin Tan

Logeetha Balakrishnan

Rabia Bazeer

Samantha Ong

Siti Aishah

Su Thye Teh

Subarna Sivapalan

Suwannit Chareen

Will Chua

Zaim Mohzani

Adrian Banie Lasimbang

Amnani Abdul Kadir

Dr. Darshni Kashinathan

Izza Izelan

Kenneth Chai

Mildred Voon

Nirmala Supramaniam

Wan Dazriq

Wong Chen Li

Yuet Kim Lim

Our Partners

Our Partners

YTL Foundation Scholarship Programme

APPLICATION CRITERIA

REQUIREMENTS

"

Our Fellows

Social Entrepreneurs

Public Sector Leaders

Intrapreneurs

Social Entrepreneurs

Public Sector Leaders

Intrapreneurs

Programme Overview

"

This one-year programme requires Fellows to maintain their current jobs while attending five in-person, multi-day intensive seminars. At the same time, they are required to take part in online content in between.

The Malaysia Acumen Fellows includes the following activities:

In-Person Seminars

Virtual Content

New Leader, New Season,
Growth in Moral Leadership

Sign Up for Our
Touchpoints Newsletter

Sign Up for Our
Touchpoints Newsletter