CIMB Young ASEAN Leaders 2018: Lessons Learned From the Program

I was quite lucky to be selected as one of the 50 delegates from 1,400 applicants for this year’s CIMB Young ASEAN Leaders held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was held by CIMB Foundation and UCTC-UKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/National University of Malaysia) under the theme of “Resilience and Innovation towards a Green and Prosperous Lifestyle: Smart City” from October 19th – 25th, 2018.

Packed with a super hectic schedule (plus an all-nighters) full of lectures, site visits, and group projects, it really tested my ability to lead myself (and leading others, as I was appointed as the leader of group 3). Nevertheless, it was a really fun experience because I was surrounded with a lot of good friends (and good food, for sure!).

Another highlight of my journey here is my experience to represent the delegates for media interview with New Straits Times, Malaysia’s national English newspaper. You could check them here: 

https://www.nst.com.my/education/2018/11/428991/makings-smart-leaders-tomorrow

Now let me tell you the key takeaways that I learned from the program:

(P.S. more photos available at the bottom)

UNDERSTANDING SUSTAINABILITY AT ITS BEST

Sustainability, by its simplest understanding, is to ask “can you do the thing forever?” and thinking about the future (short-term vs long-term). Before this program I often associate sustainability solely with “eco-friendly” and other environmental-related issues. 

But then, it turns out that sustainability speaks beyond them; it consists of 3P (people, planet, and profit) which related to social, environmental, and economy sector respectively. Going in-line with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we need to start seeing this issue in a wider perspective by using those indicators.

However, the key challenges, especially for ASEAN countries, is to create the awareness of this issue towards the citizen. Furthermore, we need to apply a mindset change so that society will think sustainability is not solely about themselves but more on asking “is it fair for the community and environment?” 

On this note, we need to think with a long-term perspective in every decision as simple as bringing your own water bottle and shopping bags. 

Because sustainability starts with YOU.

Sustainability sharing by CIMB

The interested part of this event is a lecture session on Sustainable Banking, a term that never crossed my mind before. Banks as a financial institution that matters a lot to the society have a power to influence sustainability practices and discourse. Banks have roles as investors, risk assessors, influencers, financiers, and climate change advocates on the issue of sustainability.

CIMB are the very first bank in the region to move and take the action as a sustainable bank, and I’m really happy with the progress that has been made by them. This included having an environmental impact analysis for every major project financing process, decreasing the carbon and waste footprint by going paperless, and many more.

CIMB is currently standing with 5 (five) sustainability focus, which is

- Sustainable business

- Sustainable action

- Governance and risk

- Stakeholder engagement and advocacy

- CSR

This session finally answers my curiosity on why CIMB as a financial institutions are really supportive for the issue of this year’s program, which is sustainability and smart city, and I hope CIMB will contribute further and continue to share the spirit of sustainability and its best practices to the industry and the world.

SMART CITIES: WHY IT MATTERS

Our group's 3D Model is focusing on Melaka, an UNESCO world heritage city in Malaysia

Smart cities are becoming more important than ever because 65% of world’s population will live in urban area by 2050. However, amidst an increasingly unequal world with a widening gaps in wealth, education, health, technology, and many more, we need to act quickly before we’re running out of time.

On the rise of The Fourth Industrial Revolution with the likes of IoT, AI, sensors, big data and analytics, and more to come, the application of smart cities are widely (and quickly) spread all over the world. Beyond technology, there are also several issues regarding smart city, including age-proof cities which needs to be inclusive and children-friendly, and the concern of “walking and social equity” (A  pedestrian-friendly city means more citizens will take the walk while indirectly increasing the social equity by providing a 5 km/h perspective within an eye level. The example is increasing number of stores that will be more accessible for the people, thus could trigger more customers for them)

Here are several essentials smart city fundamentals:

- smart energy,

- smart mobility,

- smart water,

- smart public services,

- smart buildings,

- smart data center,

- smart integration

with a smart collaboration consists of planning and design, solution and implementation, operation and optimization, and business concern. Another lectures thought us about the importance of having a creative city with more open spaces so it could create more engagement with the citizen, resulting in a better “smart people” as the main stakeholders (and users) inside the smart cities itself.

We also had specific lectures on renewables energy and smart building and site visits to see the practice of these theories directly. Firstly we went to UEM Edgenta office, an asset and facilities management company where they do control of several smart buildings in the city, including UEM Tower and Menara CIMB. 

A glance of the control room at UEM Edgenta

We visited their “contact and command center”, where they had this huge wall of monitors with many charts and data available, for instance the monthly electricity and water consumption, analytics of the future consumption, live footage of some part of the buildings, and many more. They also have a HR (human resources) management system where they could monitor staffs of the company work as well as customer’s complaints handling by the technicians 24/7 via the designated system.

Miniature of the building

Then the next day we went to Energy Commission of Malaysia building in Putrajaya (Malaysia’s federal administrative center) which also called “diamond building” because of its unique shape built to prevent more sunshine to came directly into the office (indirectly saving more energy for cooling). They also have photovoltaic (PV) panels all over the roof, and dome to channel the natural sunlight from the top, plus a rain water purifying system for building’s daily usage.

Furthermore, they also use light sensors that will automatically turning on the light if the days are becoming darker (less sunshine are coming inside the building). This innovative technology resulted in annual electricity saving of 63% and water saving of 65%, utilizing only 85 kW/sqm/year compared to the average Malaysia’s building of 120 kW/sqm/year.

THE CEO TALKS ON DIGITAL DISRUPTION AND THE FUTURE OF BANKING

CEO of CIMB Group, Tengku Dato' Sri Zafrul Aziz

I need to add this specific section because of its currently being a hotly-debated issues, plus we were given a chance to hear directly the thoughts of Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Aziz, CEO of CIMB Group on this issue under the title of “FORWARD Your Leadership for the Workforce of Tomorrow”

He started by explaining changes and disruption happening at no time currently. Since change is the only constant, he said, the pace of innovation is accelerating, resulting in several developing trends causing disruptions (i.e. millennials -> I want it NOW generation, open regulatory regime, new age business, automation, rise of platform giants, and high smartphone penetration)

As a bankers, he also talked about changes in the banking landscape and disruption from challenger banks, platform players (i.e. Google and Alibaba), and fintech start-ups. Next, he told us about bank of the future’s key characteristics where customers will “be online” instead of “going online”, five senses engagement, and transaction enhancement with sensors and wearable devices, which lead to three key solutions:

- Embrace technology

- Explore partnerships

- Enhance analytics

Current and future CEO of CIMB =D

He continued by explaining what CIMB has done with technology to keep innovating and fulfilling customer’s needs, including using analytics and CRM across all customer’s touchpoints, using predictive modelling and real time triggers, and customized solutions for individual customers using artificial intelligence (A.I.). Internally, CIMB also established 3D Academy (Digital Data Disruption) to prepare their staffs for the upcoming Fourth IR. 

He ended the talks by leveraging several skillsets needed in this new age of technology, which are:

- Creativity and innovation

- Leadership

- Emotional intelligence

- Adaptability

- Problem solving

CROSS-CULTURAL + #feelASEAN EXPERIENCE

Together with the professor, they took my hand to dance together in front =D

This is the most challenging yet the most memorable part of the program. Right on our first night (not even day 1!) after arriving in Kuala Lumpur, we were told to perform a traditional dance in the next morning (!!!) with each group represent 2 countries given by the committee (ours was Malaysia and Myanmar).

I remember it was 9 p.m. and the opening ceremony starts at 8 a.m. in the next day, so we have about only 12 hours J So we quickly discuss and decide what to perform at that 10 minutes slot, learn and memorize the move until the midnight, and perform it the next day (don’t ask me how was the performance going on LOL)

Me, Kak Rilla, and Humairah are dancing Zapin (as a Malay descent 😅)

Traditional dance of Myanmar

Right after the ceremony, we started the first session of ASEAN identity and unity, where we had a group quiz about ASEAN using an app called Kahoot. We also need to perform a group cheer using words from ASEAN countries’ language. We also talked a lot regarding cultures with each other during the program, especially the traditional attire since we need to wear it on the opening and closing ceremony.

This is a really invaluable experience for me to experience first-hand on what is it like to be ASEAN. Knowing more about its people, while embracing similarities and celebrating diversity that we had on each other. To be honest I got goosebumps every time they played the ASEAN song there, because I watched the video clip and realizing that I’m here, standing together with future young ASEAN leaders and taking part for the region’s betterment.

GOING BEYOND LIMITS

Presentation of our 3D Model at Menara CIMB

I always hinder myself from being selected (or promoting myself) as a leader, since I know I’m really bad at leading myself, so why should I bother on leading (and taking care of) others?

I had a cold and fever since my arrival on the program. Then my fellow members appointed me as a leader in this condition, how could I handle this?

Behind the scene of Group 3's project

We need to pull an all-nighters since day 1 to prepare the cultural performance, but how should I control this pain?

Diverting my major to fine arts for a week (?)

I never work on building a physical 3D model, I’m really bad at arts and drawings, and I never learned any city planning method with models before, yet we need to work and finish the project in less than 3 days.

Cheap labor 😆

That excuses are keep popping out of my head when I attend the program. But you know what? I could finally overcome all of them because I thought “I put my own limits, and now I’m here to break them”.

My advice and take-home messages: unlock your potential and go beyond your own limits! You don’t know what lies ahead, right?

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Photos with director of UCTC-UKM (left) and CEO of CIMB Foundation (right)

As pointed out by Ms. Luarne Sieh and Mr. Hussam Sultan from CIMB, “We are part of the problem, but we have the power to be part of the solution”. As an aspiring youth ASEAN leaders, the very least that I could do to contribute is by utilizing social media and blogs (this post as an example) to share this fresh perspective, disseminate, and creating awareness on sustainability and smart city issues.

The next step for me is to put my knowledge into practice by providing ideas, perspectives, and solutions for the problems faced by urban areas. I really hope in the near future I could show my concrete contribution and initiatives to bring a betterment towards the region we call home. 

I couldn’t stop thanking God for giving me this moment to join the program, together with my fellow friends from ASEAN countries to be the region’s future leaders and change makers.

Thank you for CIMB Foundation and University Community Transformation Center (UCTC) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) for selecting me to be part of this memorable journey, my supportive parents, and of course my 50 fellow participants :)

Prosperity, peace, and harmony...

PHOTOS OF SUSTAINABLE FRIENDSHIP 

To celebrate the monthversary of the program (yap), here's some great photos from the program (Miss you guys already!!! I'll start saving money and planned to visit all of you)

During campus walking tour

Group 3 in Putrajaya Botanical Garden

#TeamIndonesia! This is the real definition of diversity because we came in from different areas thousand kilometers apart (Banda Aceh, Jakarta, Semarang, Malang, Makassar, Bali) yet we could still stand as one Indonesia!

We took a group photos even if inside MRT train LOL (courtesy of @ccchest)

Petronas Twin Towers! Last time I visited this place is in 2006 (also from @ccchest camera)

Look at how happy we are :D