Consumers should expect an increase in the prices of fruits and vegetables in the coming weeks due to floods in Johor.

These floods have left many farms submerged, affecting at least 30% of vegetable supply in the market.

But that’s just the start. Have the recent floods in Johor exposed a food insecurity crisis here in Malaysia?

We hear from Dr Sarena Che Omar, Deputy Director of Research at the Khazanah Research Institute.

Photo Credits: Freepik | aleksandarlittlewolf

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Digitalisation has been a key tenet for businesses and industries over the last few years, especially so for financial services, especially with the rise of fintech.

We’ve seen Digital Investment Managers - roboadvisors - introduced in 2018 and last year we saw the issuance of 5 digital bank licenses. Up next, the insurance industry. In November, Bank Negara finally published the long-awaited exposure draft on Digital Insurer and Takaful Operators (DITOs) and in 2023 we could see up to five licenses issued to successful applicants.

Today on BizBytes, we explore the potential of digital insurance, what that means for individuals and business, and whether they’ll be able to compete with the sizable incumbents.

Helping us with this discussion is Ravi Kittane, Partner at Ernst & Young Consulting. Ravi specialises in the financial services sector, focused on digital and technology led transformation at incumbents and challengers in the banking and insurance space.

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A recent Swedish study found that the smartest people are not paid the most. If it’s not intelligence that drives occupational success, what does? And what does being ‘smart’ mean in a company anyway?

We discuss this with Mallory Loone, Founder of Work Inspires.

Photo Credits: Freepik | Drazen Zigic

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We've seen a few notable stories of foreign players investing in or entering Malaysia, whether it's Amazon, Tesla, Shopee, or payments unicorn Xendit, and while we often hear about the need to attract foreign companies and FDI - Foreign Direct Investment - in the name of the country’s development, why is it so important?

Enterprise BizBytes discusses this with former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Ong Kian Ming exploring the importance of bringing in foreign players like these into Malaysia and the criticisms of the value that these company's truly provide when setting up shop in Malaysia.

Photo Credits: Shuttershock | Fiqah Anugerah Dah Besa

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Over the last few weeks, Enterprise has explored fundraising from various angles. Among other things, we now have a better idea of how much we should be raising, what to keep an eye on when raising from VCs, and whether equity crowdfunding might be right for your business.

That said there’s one crucial element that we haven’t explored yet - how much work goes into fundraising - from what it looks and feels like on the ground, to the type of questions prospective investors ask and the role of storytelling and community.

On the back of their RM 3.4 million equity crowdfunding round, we discuss all this and more with Nadhir Ashafiq, the Co-Founder & Executive Director of regional logistics platform TheLorry.

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What gets measured gets managed is a key management phrase that’s often credited to famed management theorist, Peter Drucker. This looks to be even more relevant today given the emphasis today for businesses to be data-driven to achieve the best possible outcome in every step of the way, from manufacturers to service providers and everyone in between.

But like all things, focusing too much on metrics or the wrong metrics can lead to disaster, so how does one use the right numbers and stats to drive scale and growth?

Today we will be speaking to Vijay Tirathrai, Managing Director at Techstars on how to scale a startup fast and sustainably by using the right business metrics.

Vijay will be in KL from March 15-17, speaking at EO Taipan’s 2023 event - ‘Challenge the Storm’. Learn more at: https://eotaipan.com/masterclass-2023/

Photo Credits: Shuttershock | Prostock-studio

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Women have a harder time accessing work globally than previously thought, while the gender gap in working conditions and pay has barely budged in two decades, the United Nations said Monday.

The UN’s International Labour Organisation said it had developed a new indicator that does a better job than official unemployment rates at capturing all people without employment that are interested in finding work.

We hear from E Hun Tan. Executive Director, Research for Social Advancement (REFSA) and discuss the hard truth: The gender gap at work is far worse than expected.

Photo Credits: Shuttershock | LightField Studios

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Today is International Women’s Day and this year’s theme is EmbraceEquity according to the World Economic Forum and “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality" according to the United Nations and this highlights the need for inclusive and transformative technology and digital education.

How have things changed over the years? Has there been any improvements to the gender divide? We take a look at this question and more, on today’s IWD Special.

Photo Credits: Shuttershock | Narint Asawaphisith

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Social media is getting more cluttered. Customer acquisition cost is getting higher. Direct to consumer companies need new techniques to find customers. And in a world where Instagram Reels and TikTok are taking over the digital space, how important is making video content? Is written content outdated?

We speak to Brandon Lee, Co-founder of Digital Marketing Agency Pandan Social to talk more about this.

Photo Credits: Shuttershock | New Africa

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Given the volatile and choppy nature of sales, how businesses manage their salespeople and sales process can be very important to keep them going. Whether that’s due to an economic slowdown where sales slow down across the board or a personal rough patch for one or 2 salespeople.

Today on BizBytes we explored how to build an effective sales strategy and keep sales going during tough times with Serge Romano, Director and Head Sales Coach with Leverage Sales Coaching Australia.

Serge will be in KL from March 15-17, speaking at EO Taipan’s 2023 event - ‘Challenge the Storm’. Learn more at: https://eotaipan.com/masterclass-2023/

Photo Credits: Shuttershock | fizkes

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