Recorded live from the Actsplore This Building Influence workshop in Kuala Lumpur, we sat down with Prof Dr Ong Kian Ming and Zalina Jamaluddin to unpack how we can lead with impact -  through intention, curiosity, and the courage to act before you feel “ready.”

Together, we explored:

• What influence really means and why it matters

• How to lead and create impact before you have the title

• Building trust with sceptical stakeholders and competing interests

• The role of networks and social capital in amplifying influence

Prof Dr Ong Kian Ming is the Executive Director of RGE and an Adjunct Professor at Taylor’s University. Prior to this, he served as Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (2018–2020) and was a two-term Member of Parliament. Today, he continues to advise businesses, industry bodies, and think tanks alongside his academic and executive roles.

Zalina Jamaluddin is the Head of Decarbonisation at Hibiscus Petroleum Berhad. With over 20 years of experience across the private and public sectors, she has held senior roles at ExxonMobil and Talisman Energy, was a founding member and Vice President of the Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC), and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

To everyone who joined us live at the Building Influence workshop  - thank you for showing up with such openness, curiosity, and energy. We’re truly grateful you chose to kick-start 2026 with us.

And to those tuning in now, we hope this conversation sparks a reminder that influence doesn’t begin with a title; it begins with how you choose to show up, right where you are.