Debunking post-millennial preconceptions

IN response to a question on whether students in their own profession should first experience the corporate environment before going into startups, Datuk Munirah Abdul Hamid firmly says, "Yes, I think you should experience the corporate environment first, as it gives an understanding on the reality of life, because otherwise if you go straight into your own business, you wouldn't know certain things".
"If you don't, you're just going to throw yourself into starting your own business without the discipline or understanding on how some things are important."
Munirah is the founder & managing director of Neuramatix, and vice president of Pertiwi Soup Kitchen, and the question was part of a series of questions in a round table session with top industry leaders held at Etiqa Twin Towers' Maybank Innovation Centre recently.
Leading up to the Global Finals of the Maybank GO Ahead. Challenge (MGAC) 2017, the highly engaging discussion was attended by MGAC 2017's Global Finalists, MGAC alumni, members of the media and students from higher institutions across the nation.
Students from other countries were also connected via various social media platforms such as Instagram Live.
The panel for the session was additionally helmed by Nora Abdul Manaf, group chief human capital officer of Maybank and board member of Etiqa Insurance Berhad, and Marc Woo, industry head of ecommerce, travel and financial services of Google Malaysia. The speakers were among top industry leaders who doubled as mentors for the challengers in the Global Finals.
Moderated by Richard Ocampo, an alumni and the Ultimate GO Ahead. Challenge of MGAC 2014, the central topics of the discussion revolved around the post-millennial generation, "Workforce Futurisation" and "Debunking Corporate Myths", both which reflected the theme of MGAC 2017.
The forum had panellists exchanging ideas, insights, personal anecdotes and experiences with the audience on the fast-paced environment of today's workplace, along with the required mindset, behaviours, skills and traits to flourish in the current professional landscape.
Prior to the panel discussion, Nora said: "We are here to give the participants a taste of what's expected for them to be successful not just in the Global Finals, but for the long-term outcomes in their professional and personal growth too. We want them to be aware of today's reality, as well as the volatile and unpredictable environment that we are operating in. The fast evolving technologies demand us to master multiple skills and embrace life-long learning to be relevant".
Reportedly the first student competition in the region that tests participants in both financial and non-financial disciplines, challenging them beyond their academic excellence, MGAC has participants undergoing various selection rounds, with each round increasing in its complexity in the cases and activities.
MGAC provides participants with the journey to deeper insights and expectations of global and regional organisations, both in recruiting and nurturing talent for sustainability and growth of businesses.
Emphasising Maybank's dedication when it comes to the empowerment and development of the region's younger generation to face the future, Nora added: "This is what Maybank is doing, to prepare ourselves and the communities around us to grow, teaching the next generation to be agile and nimble, preparing them to thrive and adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution."