EXIM Bank - Ramon: Inspire employees or risk losing them

Source from (The Star Online): http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/14/business/11662168&sec=business

Published: July 14, 2012
By EUGENE MAHALINGAM
eugenicz@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Organisations need to be able to inspire their employees or risk losing them, according to Sunway Group corporate advisor Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam.

“A company that inspires is one that has good ethics, practises good governance and sells good products. Inspiration needs to be worked day and night,” he said at the final Star Business Awards (SOBA) Learning Series workshop here yesterday.

In his presentation “Building inspiration from within,” Ramon also said employees should aspire to work with organisations that share similar values as them.

“If the company you work for does not match your internal aspirations, then you should not serve with that organisation. Otherwise, there will be a conflict,” he said, adding that every organisation needs inspiring leaders to spearhead their corporations.

 

Ramon: ‘A company that inspires is one that has good ethics,

 practises good governance and sells good products. Inspiration 

needs to be worked day and night.’

 

Ramon also said individuals should strive to optimise their talents or risk letting it all go to waste.
“Don’t become a boat without a rudder, or you’ll just drift through life,” he said.
The Learning Series Workshop was organised in conjunction with SOBA 2012 and was attended by participants from various organisations, mainly from up-and-coming non-listed local companies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Themed “Thriving in Turbulent Times,” the workshop featured professionals and experienced entrepreneurs from Branding Association of Malaysia, Media Specialists Association, Malaysian Franchise Association and EXIM Bank who shared their ideas, strategies and experiences to help local fledging companies become future leaders.

Apart from Ramon, the workshop also featured Exim Bank financial institution head and assistant vice president Baharuddin Muslim as well as Exim Bank export credit insurance department assistant vice president Farizah Hashim (who spoke on the topic of “Export with absolute confidence”); Branding Association of Malaysia president Eric Chong (“Brilliance through branding”); Malaysian Franchise Association chairman Abdul Malik Abdullah (“Franchising - The way forward”); Media Specialists Association alternate council member and Carat Malaysia chief executive officer Bala Pomaleh (“The role of media in building brands”) and Nehemiah Reinforced Soil Sdn Bhd managing director Dr Nehemiah Lee (SOBA Success Story - “Making a difference through transformational entrepreneurship).

This year’s SOBA promises to see some significant enhancements. For one thing, the awards are divided into two broad categories - the top-of-the-class awards and outstanding achievement awards. There are eight sub-categories for the former and three for the latter.

There will also be a SOBA Helpdesk on Friday, July 20 from 10am to 12 noon at Menara Star, 15, Jalan 16/11, Petaling Jaya to help interested applicants with their enquiries and how to complete their submissions and application forms.

Exim Bank is the presenter of the awards, supported by Bursa Malaysia. The Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur is the official hotel partner. Red Tomato is the official Chinese newspaper, while the official radio stations are 988FM and RedFM. The awards auditor is BDO.

For more information on the SOBA awards and the workshops, call 03-7967 1388 ext 1244/1237/1475.