Alexandra Boakes Tracy, Non-Executive Chairman of the Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia (ASRIA), discusses her epiphany moment, the role of Asria and the definition of socially responsible investing.

She also talks about ROIs and adoption, among other challenges such as policy (un)certainty, the potential for abuse, the relative lack of disclosure and universal reporting standards among other Emerging Markets challenges, which conspire to raise investment costs.

She also discusses frontier market risks and the risk of carbon bubbles forming.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Wong Jun Shyan, CEO of International Specialist Eye Centre (ISEC), discusses his SGX listing, use of listing proceeds and growth plans, pipeline of qualified specialist ophthalmologists, industry drivers, medicine and equipment costs, regional growth and regulatory hurdles, the Singapore market and its single-client dependency. He also talks about CAGR and margin expectations, amongst others.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tan Sri Mohd Munir Majid, joins us on the Breakfast Grille in his capacity as chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Malaysia.

The ASEAN Business advisory council Malaysia, or Asean BAC, was set up with the purpose of providing private sector feedback and guidance to boost ASEAN's aims of economic integration.

Next year is a pivotal year for Malaysia as it becomes the chair for ASEAN, but challenges remain so we ask him to shed some light on what it really means to be a member of the ASEAN economic community and whether soft diplomacy really works.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coursera occupies a unique space in the education sector with its online education platform enabling students worldwide to sign up for its online courses all for free. With its partnerships with top-universities, Coursera is breaking new ground of how we learn and earn a degree. Richard C. Levin shares his plans to expand its user base and if the days of attending local varsities are numbered.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coup which gripped Thailand earlier this year has had a limited impact on Minor International. Occupancy in their very high end hotels suffered but Minor is optimistic in Thailand bouncing back. Mass market staples offered by their quick service restaurants like Burger King and Swenson's were not affected by the coup. Over the longer term Minor hopes to be a conduit for Thailand's rising affluence and capture the spectrum of income points.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The digital economy is said to be the great equaliser. Companies like iMoney serve as a go-between that raises awareness for the public looking for the best deals offered by financial institutions. We look at how the expected critical analysis in financial literacy sits well with the profit-maximising motives of banks. We also talk about iMoney's regionalisation plans and the related look into funding practices in the tech world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Calling a spade, a spade,” says Nur Jazlan Mohamed when we asked him how he deals with criticism from his fellow party members on issues such as the Causeway toll hike and the Eastern Dispersal Link. As chairperson of the bi-partisan parliamentary body that is tasked with scrutinizing the Auditor-General’s report, he’s had to manage rising public expectations for thoroughness in dealing with wastage and corruption. We touch on Johor’s reliance on Singapore to make the Iskandar project become a growth engine, the role of the Johor royal house in business, 1MDB, the Felcra controversy and reform in UMNO.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille is Yaw Chun Soon, executive director of Talam Transform Bhd. 

Formerly a prominent property developer, backed by well-known businessman Tan Sri Chan Ah Chye, Talam found itself laden with debt and dogged with a reputation for poor quality housing in the years following the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. 

The company has spent the better part of the past decade paring down its sandbank to pay for its loans, settling out of court with its various joint venture partners and finally changed its name to reflect its progress. We ask him what his plans are for the future, how the company intends to shake the public's negative perception of Talam and whether Tan Sri Chan still holds the reins. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Arun Kumar, director of Manipal Group Malaysia, comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the group's plans to expand into the private healthcare sector. The group has already acquired a 70 bed hospital in Klang with an eye on more. India-based Manipal is already a well known name, with global alumni that includes the current Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. However, both the education and private healthcare are extremely crowded arenas, so we ask how Manipal intends to stand out.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amit Sevak, CEO, INTI Education Group and also CEO of Laureate Malaysia, discusses Inti's performance, the country's education sector and answers brickbats about Laureate. He also discusses in detail the private-public conundrum and the role of business in education.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.