LEAD 2023 Recap

by Athirah Sofea

The annual YTL Leadership Conference, known as LEAD, made a return to the JW Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on November 16, 2023. Boasting our largest attendance yet, with over 700 participants hailing from various companies within the Group, this year’s event marked a significant milestone.

YTL is operating in a transformative era characterized by the presence of five generations in the workplace, setting the stage for the theme of this year’s LEAD Conference, ‘Waves’. This theme draws inspiration from the well-known Chinese proverb that compares a river’s flowing waves to the ceaseless changes brought by new people and new things with the lapse of time. The participants gained valuable insights as they had the privilege of hearing from industry experts on sustainable building design, global engagement via digital platforms, and emerging trends in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Executive Chairman’s Address

The conference kicked off with the inaugural speech delivered by Tan Sri (Sir) Francis Yeoh, Executive Chairman of YTL. In his opening address, he mentioned that YTL was once overlooked in market capitalization but now, a new recognition is dawning on us as solid financial foundation establishes us as an enduring player. Beyond the typical conglomerate model, we are dedicated to developing both physical and digital infrastructure, focusing on core businesses that directly impact lives. Our commitment extends to providing services that contribute to the betterment of our nation. The Executive Chairman also underscored the imperative of navigating the AI era and the need to comprehend how to leverage on AI to future-proof our endeavours while staying anchored in our core values.

Keynote Addresses & Seminars

Tan Sri Francis’ speech was followed by a keynote address by Bobby Gruenewald, Founder and CEO of YouVersion. Titled ‘Leading and Growing Through the Many Lifecycles of Business’, Bobby covered the journey from YouVersion’s initial struggles to becoming the world’s most downloaded Bible app. He also highlighted the factors behind YouVersion’s current success, including a renewed vision and a dynamic leadership team. Attendees gained insights into leadership principles that contributed to over 700 million installs across YouVersion apps, along with Bobby’s strategies for leading the team into the future.

The second keynote address was ‘A Conversation with Hann Yeoh and Foong Chee Mun’. In this fireside chat, Hann Yeoh, Executive Director of YTL Power International and Chee Mun, previously the Co-Founder of MoneyLion and currently Head of Fintech, YTL-Sea Digital Bank Project discussed fintech innovation, AI’s transformative impact and our journey towards greater financial inclusion in the market. Leveraging insights from Chee Mun’s experience with MoneyLion, the conversation highlighted the drive to solve financial challenges, differentiating MoneyLion and reshaping the American financial landscape.

Turning the focus to Malaysia, the keynote outlined our Digital Bank’s mission to address specific challenges, from service innovation to talent readiness to drive financial inclusion among all walks of life. It was a concise, engaging exploration of charting the future of digital banking in Malaysia.

The third keynote address was presented by Lyndon Neri, Co-Founder of Neri&Hu Design and Research Office. In his compelling keynote, titled “Beyond Boundaries: Creating and Designing in a Changing World”, he shared 19 years of design evolution in contemporary China. From challenging conventional boundaries to achieving global acclaim, Neri emphasized integrating local culture into innovative design. The talk highlighted Neri&Hu’s ongoing pursuit of design possibilities through AI innovation for enhanced human experiences and sustainable practices. It offered a concise, forward-looking perspective on adapting to the evolving needs and challenges of the world.

The day was jam-packed with seminars specially designed for the participants. The two sessions unfolded, each presenting a distinctive line-up of seminars tailored to provide participants with a diverse and enriching experience. On top of hearing about exciting updates from the Directors’ Seminars, participants gleaned from a suite of topics on leadership, sustainability, workplace communication, wellness and more from external speakers such as Microsoft, Leadership Resources, REGEN Physio, SEAD, grow X dignity and re:mind Psychology Center and Story Circle.

Directors’ Panel & BTRT Awards

The absolute highlight of every LEAD was the Directors’ Panel and of course, we had to save the best for last. Moderated by the dynamic duo, Dominic Hua, AVP Commercial at YTL Power International and Aizat Izyani Mujab, Senior Strategy & Planning Consultant at FrogAsia, the panel brought wisdom and provided insightful advice for the leaders of YTL.

Following the thought-provoking Directors’ Panel, a seamless transition brought us to the much-anticipated announcement of the 2023 BTRT Awards. The atmosphere in Mayang Sari Ballroom brimmed with excitement as the crowd eagerly awaited the recognition of this year’s distinguished achievers. Winners as listed below:

Joshua Lai Chee Hong, Data Center Solutions Director of YTL Construction (SPYTL)
Melisa Ann Sellvadurai, Head of Content & Production of YTL e-Solutions
Shahrizan Bin Shahron, Contracts Manager of YTL Communications (YES)
Sharon Law Wai San, Head of Finance Department at YTL Land
The Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Department of YTL Construction (SPYTL)

It’s a Wrap!

The dynamic day concluded with closing remarks from Managing Director, Dato Yeoh Siok Kian. The finale of LEAD 2023 unfolded at Bayu Ballroom, featuring a delightful dinner and an After Party celebration. The night took on a lively tone with a karaoke battle and a spectacular performance by an electronic trio featuring mesmerizing visuals and lights. As the evening reached its peak, numerous Lucky Draw prizes were announced, enticing participants with rewards ranging from the coveted Grand Prize of an iPhone 15 to luxurious hotel stays, F&B vouchers, and more. The mix of prizes left many participants delighted, bringing the eventful day to a memorable close.