0830 - 0900
Registration
0900 - 0910
Opening Performance
0910 - 0915
Emcee Opening
0915 - 0920
Welcome Address
0920 - 0940
Opening Address:
From the Edges of Borneo to the Heart of Impact
When social entrepreneurship was still a foreign concept in many parts of Malaysia, Sabah stood quietly on the sidelines—home to fewer than five accredited social enterprises, often operating in isolation and with little systemic support. But that narrative was about to change. Under the leadership of Viviantie, CEO of SCENIC, Sabah’s ecosystem began to transform—not through replication, but through reimagination.
This is a journey of how Sabah emerged as one of Malaysia’s top three states for social enterprises. From championing local founders in rural areas to unlocking government and corporate partnerships for social procurement, SCENIC’s model of community-rooted innovation has proven that great impact can come from the margins. With SEWF Rural now set to be hosted in Sabah and a growing pipeline of resilient changemakers, Sabah’s story is no longer about catching up—it’s about leading with purpose.
0940 - 1000
Second Day Keynote Address:
Key to Poverty Alleviation - Economic Development through Social Entrepreneurship
One of the biggest barriers to economic development is the high rate of poverty. Social entrepreneurship offers economic opportunities, especially for the underserved, as it prioritizes social wealth creation over economic wealth creation - creating value for other people, as opposed to capturing value. Social entrepreneurship has been found to broaden access to financial services, develop social cohesion and innovation, as well as create jobs. One of the most vulnerable groups in society are farmers, including urban farmers. They frequently suffer from unfair trade, lack of access to market, finance, knowledge and technology. Farmers are the foundation of our critical food chain: no farmers, no food. Yet, they are often the poorest and the hungriest, especially rural farmers. Social enterpreneurship gives us the opportunity to do the right thing and level the playing field.
1000 - 1100
4th Plenary:
Family Offices - from Scholarship to Entrepreneurship, Evolving the Pathway to Greater Social Impact
Many Asian families like to fund traditional causes like education. While it is a noble and needed cause, perhaps family offices could consider diversifying their philanthropy and/or investments into innovative vehicles that are directly addressing societal problems. Social enterprises offer solutions that are more sustainable than charities, and they often focus on the root of societal problems, rather than just the symptoms - systemic rather than specific funding. In many cases, these align well with the family values. While recipients are always asked to be more creative in their solutions, correspondingly, families should also be more creative in their giving beyond scholarships. Together, we can bring about greater purpose driven social impact.
1100 - 1120
Morning tea break
1120 - 1140
Inspire Me 3:
Character-Based Finance - Because It Matters
We have always vetted the potential of an investee (and/or beneficiary) based almost entirely on their numbers - term sheets, balance sheets, P&L, projected returns. Given the number of high-profile failures in recent times, ie: eFishery, Theranos, WeWork, FTX, FashionValet, etc. Do financial numbers alone tell us everything we need to know? We've clearly seen that financials can be manipulated and/or mismanaged. An organisation is only as good as its leader. So when a leader lacks moral integrity, or character, the financial numbers can only tell us so much of the story. Our due diligence should also include the assessment of the Founder's character and reputation alongside financial history. This holistic approach will provide better insights for better decision-making. Ultimately, because it matters.
1140 - 1220
Fireside Chat:
Building Collaborative Good through Bridging Divides
In today's increasingly fractured world, the popular saying: divide and conquer has not aged well. As we recognize and celebrate that we are better together, unite and collaborate works more effectively. Reaching across the divide to offer understanding and empathy will always deliver stronger results. Salt is composed of two poisons: chlorine and sodium. If you ingest either by itself, you can die. But put them together and you have ordinary salt - one of the most common and useful substances on planet earth. And so it is with us. When we can unite and collaborate, we too can transform into one of the most effective good on planet earth.
1220 - 1240
Case Study:
Building Collaborative Good through Bridging Divides
1240 - 1250
Closing Remarks
1250 - 1300
Group Photo
1300 - 1400
Lunch Fellowship
1400 - 1800
IMPACT TRIPS!