TeAM Women Book snapshot

WOMENON TOP

The Stories of 15 Women WhoBlazed the Trail of Technopreneurship

Foreword by MDeC CEO Datuk Badlisham Ghazali

A Note From Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad

A Note from Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd

A Note from TeAM President Koh Lee Ching

Editor’s Note

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contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Koh Lee Ching

Dato’ Wenddi-Anne Chong

Maznida Mokhtar

Rani Wemel

Fu Ching Yee

Renuka Sena

Hajjah Ainon

Maggie Tham

Evelyn Samuel

Shahnas Oli

Heng Ling Jy

Jacqueline Ann Surin

Hayati Taib

Chong Sheau Ching

Nurshafieda Abdul Khalil

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Published by TeAM

TechnopreneursAssociation ofMalaysia

Technopreneurs Association of Malaysia (TeAM)Unit 204 Plug & Play Technology GardenC/O Kumpulan Modal Perdana Sdn BhdLevel 7 The Gardens South TowerMid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

www.team.net.my

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COPYRIGHT © Technopreneurs Association of Malaysia (TeAM) 2010First Edition October 2010

Edited by Bernice Low

ISBN 978-967-10122-0-8

All Rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any formor by any means without prior permission from the publisher.

Printed byFirst Enterprise16, Jalan Tuanku 4, Salak South Garden57100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

MDeC and TeAM have a

long history of cooperation,

given our common interest in

providing support, assistance

and encouragement to

technopreneurs, as well as

fostering technopreneurship in

Malaysia. TeAM’s endeavours

when it comes to encouraging

FoReWoRD BY MDec ceo DAtUK BADLIsHAM GHAZALI

Malaysians to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship have

always been inspirational and original but more importantly,

distinctively complimentary to MDeC’s own efforts to grow

technopreneurship and the field of ICT in Malaysia.

Our support of TeAM’s efforts to inspire ordinary Malaysians

through success stories to embrace technopreneurship began

with the Go For Broke series, and we are pleased to continue

this tradition with Woman on Top, which seeks to inspire and

encourage women to boldly stride into a field that to some,

is seen to be dominated by men.

One of the great advantages afforded by technology is that

it is gender-neutral. From writing software and manipulating

bio-organisms to creating content and finding ways in which

to make life easier and better through technology, neither

gender can claim a unique advantage. In the field of

technology, advantage comes not from size, or strength, or

physical abilities, but from the mind and the power of an

idea taken to its limits.

Malaysian women are already recognised as important

contributors to the country’s economic and social development.

With technology, Malaysian women will play an increasingly

important role in the national development of the country,

allowing greater participation in the economy. The future of

Malaysia is already partly in the hands of women and I hope

that this book will help inspire some of them to believe in the

power of their ideas, and to dream the technopreneur dream.

Chairman Mao once said, ‘Women hold up half the sky’.

In the foreseeable future in Malaysia, it is my sincere hope

that we will see more women technopreneurs at the helm

of MSC Malaysia Status Companies playing a greater role

in shaping Malaysia’s ICT industry, and together with their

male brethren, propel Malaysia and her economy towards

the goal of a high-income, high value society.

Datuk Badlisham Ghazali

Chief Executive Officer

I II

I wish to congratulate and commend

Technopreneurs Association of

Malaysia (TeAM) for their initiative

in coming up with Women on

Top, a book that will be a source

of encouragement and motivation

for technopreneurs both male and

female in Malaysia. Malaysian

Venture Capital Management

A note FRoM MALAYsIA VentURe cAPItAL

MAnAGeMent BeRHAD

Bhd. (MAVCAP) is particularly delighted with this effort on

the part of TeAM as MAVCAP has been mandated by the

Government to assist technopreneurs in their growth and

success. The narratives by various authors in this book are real

life stories that I have no doubt will serve as valuable lessons

and references for all technopreneurs.

MAVCAP, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Minister of

Finance Incorporated, was established expressly to develop

the venture capital (VC) industry in Malaysia. Our mission

is to lead in VC investments and to act as a catalyst in

the development of the venture capital industry. We offer

entrepreneurs not only financial assistance but also technical

expertise in developing business plans and strategies,

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corporate governance and extensive network access. Working

in close partnership with technopreneurs, we are committed

to empower them to create wealth and generating superior

investment returns. Towards this end, since its inception in

the year 2001 MAVCAP has been operating with a fund of

about RM970 million and have invested in 117 companies of

which 12 are listed on various stock exchanges worldwide.

I would like to assure TeAM that they can always seek the

support of MAVCAP when such is needed in the domain of our

operations and in line with MAVCAP’s objectives. We see an

opportunity in working with TeAM in assisting small or budding

ICT companies for whom it is often a challenge to compete for

market presence given their limited resources and capital. Over

time, it has become increasingly evident that these entrepreneurs

would require support in order to give their innovative ideas

and sound business plans a chance at success.

Once again congratulations to TeAM for this excellent book

which should enjoy a very good readership.

Husni Salleh

Chief Executive Officer

IV

First and foremost, I would like to

congratulate the Technopreneurs

Association of Malaysia (TeAM)

on the successful publication of

Women on Top, an inspiring

book that has a highly informed

pulse on the challenges of our

women technopreneurs, allowing

us a look into the true value of

A note FRoM cRADLe FUnD sDn BHD

their achievements. It truly inspires me to salute them for their

numerous milestones on their individual technopreneurship

journeys.

It is my sincere belief that the stories shared by the 15 women

in this book will serve as important inspiration points and

guiding lights to current and budding technopreneurs, in their

search for success.

Regardless of the additional demands on time, energy and

resources, these women show that the path to success requires

technopreneurs to be determined, persistent and unwilling to

allow themselves to be defeated by adversity.

V

Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), an agency under the Ministry

of Finance, Malaysia, is once again proud to be a strong

supporter of TeAM’s efforts within the industry and to co-

sponsor the first edition of this illuminating book for we

recognise the importance of emerging women technopreneurs

in creating a vibrant and dynamic economy for the nation.

As is well known, Cradle manages the Cradle Investment

Programme (CIP), which is Malaysia’s first development and

commercialisation funding programme intended to seed

innovative technology ideas into businesses and to spur

technology commercialisation, both within the public and

private sectors.

Funding alone however, is never enough. We understand the

complexity of the roles that technopreneurs have, and that is

why Cradle also offers an ecosystem of commercialisation

support ranging from mentorship, strategic partnerships,

training and competency building, networking, VC-pitching

and opportunities for media publicity support – to help kick-start

the budding ideas of technopreneurs, to commercialisation

and further growth.

Similarly, mistakes can be extremely costly for budding

technopreneurs. Our role in Cradle therefore is to ensure that

these technopreneurs start on the right footing, with proper

planning, funding and support.

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Hence, a partnership with Cradle does not just begin and end

with the funding provided – it is a lasting membership of the

Cradle business-building ecosystem for technopreneurs, which

has been built to ensure that more CIP-funded technopreneurs

will succeed.

It is the business-building environment that makes up half the

stimulus for growth and success – and Cradle is there to

provide it, for technopreneurs, such as in the case of Chong

Sheau Shing, who was one of Cradle’s early recipients.

Cradle is honoured to play a part in the success stories of

such women, and in fortifying the future of our nation.

Once again, congratulations to TeAM on the launching of

Women on Top. It is a significant landmark – one that will

be the catalyst to growing the number of successful women

technopreneurs in Malaysia.

Nazrin Hassan

Chief Executive Officer

One of the earliest games I

remember playing as a child

was masak-masak or ‘cooking’.

Masak-masak involves pretending

to cook - all the rituals of the

cooking process, from going to

the market and shopping for the

A note FRoM teAM PResIDent KoH Lee cHInG

ingredients, to finally cooking them up on a stove in a wok,

were part of the game. I remember making paper money to

buy my ingredients, collecting leaves and flowers to barter

with other players. A significant part of the game involved

role-play and we took turns being the buyers of goods, and

sellers of goods. Today of course, you don’t really need to

do any of this at all – Facebook’s ‘Café World’ now offers

everyone a digital masak-masak experience.

Looking back, I have come to realise that masak-masak,

aside from being an innocent, fun game at the time, contains

within it the seeds of entrepreneurial spirit and passion. I like

to think that there are many women out there who segued

from playing masak-masak to becoming owners of high-value

businesses that utilise the power of technology to generate

value, be it in the form of innovation, products or services.

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Indeed, a fair number of the entrepreneurs that are featured

in this book express a great love and passion for cooking.

Of course, they are equally matched by those who have very

little interest in cooking. Thus, masak-masak may have been

the inspiration to start a business for some of our female

entrepreneurs but for a number of them, it may have served

as a reminder to aspire to a life beyond masak-masak.

Many studies have shown that entrepreneurship is just like

any other potential career option. It is just like becoming

a doctor, an engineer or an accountant in that it can be

learnt. Technopreneurship is merely a natural extension of

conventional entrepreneurship, except that it demands a

technology component. The 15 technopreneurs who have

generously shared their stories in this book will affirm that

entrepreneurship can be learnt. And as their personal stories

will show, not all of them have technical skills, yet the

springboard of their businesses involves the use of technology

to create a business, a service or a product to enhance,

improve or create value.

Starting one’s own business may not necessarily be

something that is suitable for everyone. One must first have

a deep interest and passion, and in a sense, the daring-do

to venture forth and build something from nothing. Then there

is the continuous effort of acquiring the necessary skillsets

needed to become an effective and successful entrepreneur,

and by extension in the technology space, technopreneur.

It is not just one skill that is required: a successful

technopreneur must be a leader, a strategist, a problem

solver, an opportunist and wear many other hats as the

business evolves through its life cycle.

It is my hope that this book will serve as both an inspiration,

and an educational reference for all aspiring technopreneurs,

but especially women. I hope from this book that they will

realise anything is possible and anyone can make it if they

have set their mind and heart to it. Despite all the talk of glass

ceilings and chauvinism, gender plays no role in determining

the success of a venture. In reality, it is going to be about

the business, the product or services, the positioning, the

competition, the sales and marketing and cash flow. All of

which have absolutely nothing to do with biology.

As a member of the fairer sex myself and the first female TeAM

President, I hope that through this book, I can make my own

little contribution towards encouraging, empowering and

emboldening more women to make the leap, and enter the

world of technopreneurship. If the 15 women in this book are

anything to go by, we aren’t just good at it, but we are much

better at figuring out how to have our cake and eat it too.

For those who have already started the journey, I believe

this book will be a very useful opportunity to reflect back

upon your own journey and recognise that you are not alone

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in the path that you have chosen. I also hope you will be

motivated and inspired to reach greater heights by some

of the tremendously successful women featured here, which

include two owners of listed companies.

To all of you out there for whom masak-masak was once a

favourite pastime, perhaps it’s time to awake that dormant

entrepreneurial spirit that lurks within you. It is time to come

out into the real world, and cook up something real. It is time

to live your dream. Take that first step, whatever it is that

will move you forward, then the next and the next. And who

knows - it may be you gracing the pages of the next edition

of Women on Top.

Koh Lee Ching

PresidentTechnopreneursAssociation ofMalaysia

Finding candidates who were willing to appear in the

inaugural Women On Top book was not easy. TeAM

President Koh Lee Ching, the TeAM Council and Secretariat

had to put a great deal of time and effort into securing

the 15 candidates whose stories are shared in this book.

This was in marked contrast to the speed and eagerness in

which the mostly male candidates featured in TeAM’s Go

For Broke book stepped forward.

This creates the illusion that there is a shortage of female

technopreneurs when the reality is very different. Suitable

candidates were aplenty, but candidates willing to grace

the pages of the book and share their stories seemed few

and far between. Why the disparity in reactions? Perhaps

we women are a little more guarded, and cautious, about

marketing, branding and public relations than men. Perhaps

we don’t have that gung-ho ego that male entrepreneurs

have, and are not interested in preening for the public. Or

perhaps we simply prefer to beaver away at our businesses,

focusing on being highly profitable rather than highly visible.

Maybe the title ‘Go for Broke’ (which we later changed to

Women on Top) was an anathema to female entrepreneurs,

who as you will see from the stories here, are much more

judicious about taking risks.

eDItoR’s note

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Or perhaps it is simply because women entrepreneurs have

had a hard time being taken seriously by proper trade

publications in the past, and thus, assume that any feature

about them involves being dolled-up, glammed up and

answering questions about their fashion preferences, rather

than their business achievements.

Whatever the reason, I hope that this book will address those

concerns, and motivate more women to participate in similar

future endeavours. Highlighting the achievements, struggles,

challenges and yes, failures, of women entrepreneurs in the

technology space is an important endeavour, and serves an

important aim. It is only by sharing the stories, recounting

the trials and tribulations, and reflecting on the challenges

of those who came before, can those who come after be

inspired to reach for the stars.

Bernice Low

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WOMEN ON TOP DATO’ WENDDIANNE CHONG

Adores her five dogs.

Confesses she can’t live without her Blackberry Storm.

Supports women who dare to be at the forefront of medical technologies.

Her favourite golfer is KJ Choi.

Is a tireless campaigner and supporter of a large number of charities including but not limited to the Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Yayasan Tuanku Nur Zahira Foundation, Tengku Azizah Fertility Foundation, Rumah Hope and Ipoh Children’s Home.

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5 THINGS ABOUTDATO’ WENDDI-ANNE CHONG

“Passion, passion, passion…With passion in what you do,

you can overcome anychallenges that come your way”

DATO’ WENDDI-ANNE CHONG

WOMEN ON TOP DATO’ WENDDIANNE CHONG

Dato’ Wenddi-Anne is a co-founder and Executive Director of TMC Life Sciences Berhad (‘TMC Group’), a healthcare services provider listed on the Main Board of the Bursa Malaysia. TMC Group’s flagship hospital, Tropicana Medical Centre, is a multi-disciplinary tertiary hospital located in Kota Damansara, Selangor, with Centres of Excellence in Heart & Vascular, Fertility, Women & Children, Diabetes & Kidney, Aesthetics & Cosmetics, Orthopaedics, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) and Stem Cell Banking and Medical Therapies.

The TMC Group also runs the Tropicana Medical Centre in Penang which specialises in Fertility, Women and Children. TMC Group’s Stem Cell Banking and Medical Therapies arm is under StemTECH International, a BioNexus-status company fully licensed under the Ministry of Health. StemTECH is dedicated to providing cord blood stem cell banking and adult stem cell banking as well as stem cells medical therapy, stem cell clinical trials and stem cell research and development.

Her journey into entrepreneurship began way before TMC Life Sciences Bhd. Dato’ Wenddi-Anne had been involved in her family‘s timber business and even dabbled in running a florist shop! In 1995, she co-founded the TMC Fertility Centre, then known as Damansara Fertility Centre, fulfilling a desire to get involved in a business

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HER JOURNEY

In many respects, Dato’ Wenddi-Anne Chong has always been something of a pioneer. Her life is filled with a number of firsts: she was the first group of women DJs at a Singapore club, and during a stint in modelling, she was the first Yaohan girl for the departmental store. She was also the first female drum majorette of Singapore’s biggest band – the renowned Tanjung Katong Band. So it’s not surprising that she’s amongst the pioneering management team in a number of leading and cutting-edge healthcare service providers.

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WOMEN ON TOP MAZNIDA MOKHTAR

5 THINGS ABOUTMAZNIDA MOKHTAR

Cites the Prophet Mohammad as the towering figure she most admires.

The best advice she ever received as an entrepreneur: “Cash is King - You may have a contract or make a sale, but until you collect on the services rendered, unless you have deep pockets, you will still be stuck”.

Her favourite movies are ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Gone with the Wind’, which she cites for its strong-willed heroine, Scarlett O’Hara.

Has four children and is married to a cardiothoracic surgeon who also is a fabulous cook.

Cites the Blackberry as the technological invention with the greatest impact on the life of women today, as it enables “more efficient management of work and home”.

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MAZNIDA MOKHTAR:

“The best part of being an entrepreneur: you have some control, some say. You don’t just sit back and wait for

your boss to do something”

WOMEN ON TOP

ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP: NATURE VS NURTURE

For Maznida, whether or not a person takes a step towards entrepreneurship is a matter of exposure and experience. “ I think it helps if you are born with it, i.e. your family’s been in business as your exposure gives you “experience” that others not in the same situation will not have. However, with much actual experience gained, the skills would naturally be nurtured”.

Like many entrepreneurs, she is of the view that above all, passion for entrepreneurship is what matters. Passion was what kept Maznida and her fellow co-founders committed to their business at its lowest point. And passion for entrepreneurship is what keeps her on the look out for new opportunities, like her current venture – a bakery franchise. “I’ll always be doing business. If ever I quit Skali as a full-time staff, I’ll still be doing a business!” she says with confident certainty.

Maznida Mokhtar is the Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder of

Skali. When she’s not crunching numbers for Skali, she’s the proud

co-owner of a bakery that produces Norwegian bread.

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WOMEN ON TOP HAJJAH AINON

5 THINGS ABOUTHAJJAH AINON

Her favourite inspirational song is ‘I have a dream’ by Swedish pop sensation ABBA.

Has five children.

Cites the wife of the Prophet Mohammad, Khatijah as a towering figure that she admires and whom she is inspired by.

An avid reader, her choice of the most significant books she has read in the past year is eclectic indeed. On her list were ‘A New Earth: Create A Better Life’ by Ekhart Tolle, ‘Secrets of Chinese Business’ by Ann Wan Seng and ‘The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader’ by John C Maxwell.

Picked broadband as the technological invention with the greatest impact on the lives of women:“The introduction of broadband changes a woman’s life tremendously - information is at your doorstep. It’s a library at home. Now a woman can juggle being a mother, wife and career woman from the home”.

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HAJJAH AINON:“In business, look beyond the

box and circle”

WOMEN ON TOP EVELYN SAMUEL

5 THINGS ABOUTEVELYN SAMUEL

Her favourite part about her job - the surprises. “I never really know what to expect from the day’s experiences even within a pre-set schedule”.

She listens to Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’ when she’s anxious, Deep Purple when she’s angry.

Has two daughters who are her best critics.

Her hobbies include listening to music and culinary experimentation. Amongst her more colourful kitchen experiments: sambal belacan with redcurrants in place of limau kasturi.

Cites networking guru Dr. Ivan Misner as her inspiration and Carl Sagan’s ‘Contact’ as her favourite movie.

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EVELYN SAMUEL:“If I deliver the value, the profits will come”

WOMEN ON TOP SHAHNAS OLI

5 THINGS ABOUTSHAHNAS OLI

She’s a former a competitive swimmer, a pianist who has completed Grade 8 examinations in the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music, a blue belt taekwondo exponent, and a scuba diver who enjoys diving in the Maldive Islands.

Sees herself as very much a citizen of the world: she was ‘made’ in Wales, spent part of her formative years in the United States, had her initial education in Malaysia, possesses post graduate Australian degrees, and has international working experience.

Cites Khadijah Al Khubra, the wife of the beloved Prophet Muhammad as the person whom she most admires and looks upon as her inspiration.

She loves Disney and “Everything Mickey Mouse. Disney has certainly achieved the purpose it was intended for – advocating happiness and having established the happiest place on earth!”

Cites Stephen MR Covey’s ‘The Speed of Trust’ as the most significant business book she has read in the last year.

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SHAHNAS OLI:“The opportunity to dream and the

continuous striving to make dreams a reality –that’s what I love the most about my job”

WOMEN ON TOP JACQUELINE ANN SURIN

5 THINGS ABOUTJACQUELINE ANN SURIN

When asked to describe herself in one word, she chose ‘Type-A’.

She believes that every person in Malaysia should be identified as Malaysian.

Her favourite foods are sambal udang and assam pedas. Her favourite movie is Peter Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’.

Admires American historian Howard Zinn “for giving me perspective about social change and our agency as citizens”.

Regards the washing machine as the technological invent ion that has had the greatest impact on the l ives of women.

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JACQUELINEANN SURIN:

“Always leave people in a better state”

WOMEN ON TOP NURSHAFIEDA ABDUL KHALID

5 THINGS ABOUTNURSHAFIEDA ABDUL KHALID

Cites her inspirational figures as Tun Mahathir Mohamed, Oprah Winfrey and her mother, Che Noorma Md Taib.

Comes from a family of 7 siblings.

Her favourite movie is ‘The Click’ starring Adam Sandler. Her hobbies are swimming and cooking.

‘The 360 Degree Leader’ by John C Maxwell is the most significant business book she has read this year.

Views e-commerce as the most significant technological development to have a positive impact on the lives of women as “it can be operated 24/7 from anywhere, at any time with the potential of recurring earnings. It allows many housewives to do business from home”.

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NURSHAFIEDAABDUL KHALIL:

“When you are successful,every day is Hari Raya”.