Kota Kinabalu: A new initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs is putting children as young as 13 years at the centre of a business community’s efforts to develop future leaders.
Business organisations must look beyond traditional networking as well as courtesy calls where not only it’s time consuming but also less efficient whereby organisations should fully invest directly in preparing young people to take over from the current generation.
This was said by Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah President Datuk Dexter Lau when launching the Next Generation Entrepreneurs Organisation (NGEO) inaugural workshop at Hakka Hall, here, Saturday.
He said succession planning should begin long before young people enter university or the workforce. Children from business families, he said, could benefit from early exposure to work, leadership and entrepreneurship.
Drawing from his own experience in a family business, he said he had been exposed from a young age to the workings of an organisation, learning through observation and participation.
“Young people are like a sponge. They can absorb so much,” he said, arguing that repeated exposure to business activities could help children develop confidence, communication skills and leadership abilities before they formally enter the workforce.
The initiative also seeks to build relationships among children from business families, creating a network that could eventually develop into valuable professional connections.
“Friendships established during childhood could potentially become lasting business relationships when these children one day grow up to be managers, business owners and leaders.” he said.
Lau added that other chambers and organisations were heavily focused on their existing responsibilities while paying insufficient attention to succession and the development of future leaders.
Earlier, the members-only programme, Mid-Autumn Snowskin Mooncake Making Workshop, attracted around 30 children aged 13 years and below.
Lau welcomed the surprising strong turnout where organisers designed the workshop around practical business lessons.
The children were taught how to make mooncakes from scratch while learning about ingredients, costs, pricing and profit margins. Participants were even given calculators to work out how much their products would cost to produce and how much they should charge.
“The initiative represents more than a single workshop. It is an attempt to use MCCC’s network and resources to give young people the exposure, friendships and practical knowledge they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.
“With NGEO Chairperson Charlene Chea and Deputy Chairperson Katryn Haw, as well as Treasurer Aerith Lee, spearheading the programme where the approach may appear ambitious for such young participants, the focus towards business is intentional.
“After all, we are still the chamber of commerce. Everything has to relate down to commerce and doing business,” he said.
Lau urged other MCCC and local organisations to identify what younger generations need and create meaningful programmes around those needs.
