KUALA LUMPUR: The Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business (OYAGSB), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) once again hosted the Big Tulip Summit 2024, aptly themed ‘CatalystHER: Enriching Business and Society’ at the Renaissance Hotel on Thursday.
Coinciding with UUM’s 40th anniversary, the summit celebrated the university’s commitment to excellence in education and business management. It gathered influential leaders, professionals, and policy makers to engage in meaningful discussions about the vital contributions of women and young professionals in fostering business innovation and advancing community progress.
The opening ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mdm. Hannah Yeoh.
In her speech she elaborated on the advancement made by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. She highlighted the expansion of sports categories that were gazetted under the Sports Development Act 1997 (Act 576), which now encompasses a total of 103 types of sports.
In addition, she also explained about the tax relief of RM1,000 applicable for training fees and the acquisition of sports equipment from 2024 to 2025, benefitting not only individuals, but also to parents, spouses and children.
The KBS development budget has increased notably, rising from RM329,918,700 in 2022 to RM498,251,100 for the upcoming year.
Mdm. Hannah also introduced the esteemed group of experts appointed to assist in the development of KBS, including Datuk Shalin Zulkifli, Datuk Nicol David, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Dato’ Hans Isaac, among others.
Finally, she also highlighted the facilities offered by KBS such as swimming classes for children aged 6 to 12 years from the B40 group and senior citizens, along with complimentary access to Bukit Jalil National Stadium for school sports tournaments.
Meanwhile, the Dean of OYAGSB, Prof. Dr Hassan Abu Bakar said, the Big Tulip Summit stands as a testament to the accomplishments attained and serves as a catalyst for future successes. This also exemplifies the dedication of OYAGSB and UUM to foster strategic thinkers for both business and society.
“I am confident that our discussions during this summit will yield insights, foster new connections, and empower one another to achieve greater heights,” he said.
The summit also featured Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Adjunct Professor at OYAGSB and former Minister of International Trade and Industry, in a keynote session. She imparted her valuable insights and extensive experience in shaping Malaysia’s trade policy, enhancing its global economic standing, and highlighting the significant contributions of women to the nation.
Forum 1 showcased an impressive lineup of panellists such as the Chief Executive Officer of the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), Datuk Nor Azimah Abdul Aziz; the Founder of Hans Advisory & Trust Co. Ltd, Mdm. Tang Kae Sue and the Chief Executive Officer of the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, Dato’ Siobhan Das.
Forum 2 featured distinguished leaders namely The Batik Boutique’s Chief Executive Officer, Mdm. Amy Blair; Chief Executive Officer of Sabah Creative Economy & Innovative Centre, Mdm. Viviante Sarjuni and Chief Executive Officer, Felora Group of Companies, Mdm. Thunisah Devi Santhira Segaran.
The “Beauty & Glow” session concluded the Big Tulip Summit, showcasing Mr. Azuddin Zan, Brand Manager at First Grade Resources.
These leaders imparted their leadership experiences, insights, and both professional and personal stories to inspire an audience of approximately 200 participants.
