The Journey

MESSAGE FROM PATRON Successful corporations require a pool of high-calibre managers in respective fields. As Malaysia strives to climb the economic ladder, this workforce is critical in the country’s endeavour to develop and sustain an economy that is sustainable, competitive, dynamic and resilient.

I acknowledge the active role of the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Malaysia in organising senior management development programmes in Malaysia that are conducted by the Harvard Business School professors.

As Patron of the Club, I find your efforts in guiding young and middle-level managers commendable as it opens up an avenue to sharpen their thinking skills in the area of business and management strategies, based on actual case studies of other established companies.

However, the Club must be fully committed not only to providing training in the field of management of business and finance, but also in the areas of ethics, morality and values.

Ethics in business and government are important. Wealth without work, knowledge without character, and business without morality leave a trail of scandals and failures that we can only be ashamed of.

Members of the Harvard Business School Alumni Club comprise those who had served or are serving in the Malaysian government and the private sector at senior levels. You have a common interest. You should contribute and share your expertise and knowledge in business and management with the younger generation.

The future leaders in business and government are the youth of today. They must be given ample opportunity to acquire knowledge, gain experience and explore new things, especially in this Digital Age. The graduates of tomorrow should also aspire to be job creators, not mere job seekers.

The advent of the gig economy, the sharing economy and the K-economy demands a thorough overhaul of how things are taught in classrooms and on campuses.

The Harvard Business School alumni should take the lead by sharing the ethics, relevant ideas and useful feedback with policy-makers and other stakeholders in reshaping our education system to meet the fast-changing pace of the Digital Age. Former prime minister of Malaysia & Club Patron, TUN DR MAHATHIR MOHAMAD