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Introducing Boby Johnson EMBA’16Dec – IAA Singapore Diversity & Inclusion and CEO of Banalytics.

What were your key takeaways after graduating from INSEAD in relation to having a positive social impact on the community? I learned that every support and give-back can have a life-long impact on others. And it doesn’t matter how big or small you start, it’s all about the mindset and willingness to do good and give back to the society beyond making profits; it’s all about stakeholders and not just shareholders.

What do you believe are the critical elements for a business to act as a force for good? Making the act of ‘Business as Force For Good’ part of your DNA, part of what you stand for as a business. It doesn’t matter what you say or how much you make it part of your strategy, it’s not enough! It ​must be part of your DNA as a business, part of your mission, not just a strategy or business model.

What key Business BAFG principles would you like businesses in Singapore to embrace? There are so many BAFG principles, steps or actions businesses in Singapore can embrace. I think BAFG principles should be different for every business, but the most important thing is for every business to find their social purpose and make it part of their mission; Go beyond your Environmental, Social, Governance initiatives (if you have one!) because that is not enough!

What are some specific actions employees should do to enable a positive social impact on our community? Don’t wait for anyone before doing something, BAFG can also start with you as an employee. Of course it makes things easier if your company has a BAFG mission and vision, but you can be that change agent for BAFG within your organization. You can start by raising awareness about BAFG and bring more people along with you. It’s good to always start close to home, like creating a social program directly or indirectly (partnership) within your local community.

What were the main reasons for accepting an invitation to be an IAA Singapore BAFG judge? First of all, I think it’s amazing to see first-hand how all the candidates are really stepping up and showcasing their BAFG accomplishments; personally, it’s enriching and I learn from every single one of them. And lastly, it’s also a way for me to give back and to advocate and contribute to BAFG ideas.

Meet the judges interview series

Series #1 – Li Lian Liew GEMBA’13 – Director, Corporate Panning at Tan Tock Seng Hospital & Central Health
Series #2 – Brad Fraser MAP’18 – Head of Prime Derivative Services Asia Pacific at Barclays
Series #3 – Antonio DeLorenzo GEMBA’15 – Head of Innovation Labs, ING.
Series #4 – Manik Saha IDP’16 – Strategic Partner APJ, Product Engineering Group, SAP SE.
Series #5 – James Marshall MBA’99D – Vice President, Global Air Account Management, Expedia Group.
Series #6 – Apo Ozkececi MCCC’19Dec-S – IAA Singapore Vice President and SVP Commercial & Regional Head, Asia Pacific, Accelya.

Introducing Apo Ozkececi MCCC’19Dec-S  – IAA Singapore Vice President and SVP Commercial & Regional Head, Asia Pacific, Accelya.

What were your key takeaways after graduating from INSEAD in relation to having a positive social impact on the community? The wide range of benefits we can provide our social environment which eventually bring positive returns to us and our well-being.

What do you believe are the critical elements for a business to act as a force for good? Businesses are for-profit, so we can’t expect them to act in ways that hurt their profitability. However, a business that acts as a force for good knows how to prioritize their long term objectives for society against short term profits and gains.

What actions from companies have you seen which has been a Force For Good?
Although criticized heavily for pollution and climate change, air transportation companies have invested heavily in reducing their contribution to noise pollution, environmental pollution and climate change, while keeping world trade running. And big technology companies are providing infrastructure to rural areas and educating very large populations through their platforms.

What are some specific actions employees should do to enable a positive social impact on our community ? Employees should be more informed and aware of their actions when it comes to impacting their community and they should give more to the society they live in. This can be small or large, but they will benefit from giving as the feeling is priceless.

What key BAFG principles would you like businesses in Singapore to embrace?
Singapore businesses are very privileged to be operating from such an excellent country with the highest standards in financial, educational, infrastructure, jurisdiction and life-quality perspectives. Thus, I would expect the companies in Singapore to take a natural leading role for the Southeast Asian countries promoting all BAFG principles.

What were the main reasons for accepting an invitation to be an IAA Singapore BAFG judge? I truly believe in the values of INSEAD, I am a believer of the BAFG initiative, and I love Singapore as my adapted home. This role was at the intersection of the three, and I am very happy to be offered this role by our Executive Committee.

What motivated you to be an advocate for businesses to act as a force for good?
It resonates very strongly with my values, what I want to contribute to society, and I believe businesses are the strongest vehicles to act on any ideas.

Anything else you would like to add? There are many nominees this year, and this shows that IAA SG is on the right track to make the BAFG Awards a strong tradition. I’m looking forward to reviewing the nominations with my fellow judges. We will choose only one award winner in each category, but the nominees are already winners for society thanks to all they contribute.

Meet The Judges Interview Series

Series #1 – Li Lian Liew GEMBA’13 – Director, Corporate Panning at Tan Tock Seng Hospital & Central Health
Series #2 – Brad Fraser MAP’18 – Head of Prime Derivative Services Asia Pacific at Barclays
Series #3 – Antonio DeLorenzo GEMBA’15 – Head of Innovation Labs, ING.
Series #4 – Manik Saha IDP’16 – Strategic Partner APJ, Product Engineering Group, SAP SE.
Series #5 – James Marshall MBA’99D – Vice President, Global Air Account Management, Expedia Group.

Introducing James Marshall MBA’99D – Vice President, Global Air Account Management, Expedia Group.

What were your key takeaways after graduating from INSEAD in relation to having a positive social impact on the community? We’re in a privileged position graduating from INSEAD with a great professional network and ability to make some real impact in the community, so we need to use it wisely. At the same time we need to be proactive and be part of the change.

What do you believe are the critical elements for a business to act as a force for good? Every business should be a force for good. At Expedia Group we clearly see travel as a force for good and there is no better way than combining travel and business to achieve this goal. It’s about understanding how you can positively impact different stakeholders, even those indirectly connected with your business, and how to combine that with driving long term business objectives. If you’ve kept that positive impact goal as part of your vision, you’ll make the right decisions, and bring others with you – colleagues and business partners.

What actions from companies have you seen which has been a force for good? I just need to look at our industry, where many companies like us have been pushing for travel as a force for good, as well as sustainability, local community impact and education. We can strengthen connections, broaden horizons and bridge divides.

What are some specific actions employees should do to enable a positive social impact on our community ? We should educate our employees about positive impact goals, and help them understand how they have the power to influence the work their company and industry is doing. By mentioning these topics in their daily conversations and helping them measure impact, they’ll quickly learn how to act so they’re part of that force for good.

What are some examples in your profession/ company where you’ve experienced BAFG first-hand? The travel industry should in itself be a natural force for good, so we need to find a way to multiply that force with our own business. It starts internally, ensuring that we are inclusive, diverse and focused on equity. We then need to work with our business partners and help our travelers understand how they can add their grain of salt in having a positive impact in the communities they are visiting, or try to make the best choices towards sustainability for example.

What key BAFG principals would you like businesses in Singapore to embrace? Each business needs to understand how they can impact the community differently, often based on the nature of their business. They should not just wait to be asked, but should be proactive and engage with their partners locally or regionally, and see what stakeholders can benefit from their actions. Don’t try to be everywhere. Focus on one thing first: sustainability, environment, social welfare or education for example. Starting small is ok, but involve your employees and let them appreciate how they are having an impact, and in turn they will want to do more and start a flywheel of goodness.

What were the main reasons for accepting an invitation to be an IAA Singapore BAFG judge? From the day INSEAD announced officially the Business as a Force for Good Award, I’ve been keen to find a way to contribute. We all have a role in helping others push for that vision, so I’m delighted I was given the opportunity to bring something – even as small as being a judge.

What motivated you to be an advocate for businesses to act as a force for good? I’ve always been motivated by the impact our business has on others (customers, partners or the wider community). And business should always be aligned to improving our society. As I’ve progressed in my career and built my family, this interest has grown even more and becomes a central part of why I work and build relationships.

Anything else you’d like to add? I look forward to looking in detail at the candidates for this award. But I also hope this will inspire others to follow their steps and make “Business as a Force for Good” a central part of their purpose.

Meet The Judges Interview Series

• Series #1 – Li Lian Liew GEMBA’13 – Director, Corporate Panning at Tan Tock Seng Hospital & Central Health
• Series #2 – Brad Fraser MAP’18 – Head of Prime Derivative Services Asia Pacific at Barclays
• Series #3 – Antonio DeLorenzo GEMBA’15 – Head of Innovation Labs, ING.
• Series #4 – Manik Saha IDP’16 – Strategic Partner APJ, Product Engineering Group, SAP SE.

Introducing Manik Saha  IDP’16 – Strategic Partner APJ, Product Engineering Group, SAP SE.

What were your key takeaways after graduating from INSEAD in relation to having a positive social impact on the community? Building a profitable business and having a positive social impact at the same time is possible. As decision makers and leaders, it’s our responsibility to design the guardrails and framework around which positive social impact can be made, whether it’s for the environment or our communities.

What do you believe are the critical elements for a business to act as a force for good? I like to look at key decisions a business is making and analyse who it impacts and what the effects are. In the past, it was the norm to make business decisions without evaluating the social impact, but now (due to increasing scrutiny from regulators and the community momentum), businesses are looking at social impact considerations in their decision-making process.

What actions from companies have you seen which has been a force for good? The most obvious one is a commitment to carbon neutrality and chasing zero. As an employee in a forward-thinking tech company, we’ve made a series of commitments to carbon neutrality for our data centre electricity consumption, as well as aiming for a net zero footprint.

What are some examples in your profession/ company where you’ve experienced BAFG first-hand? A few years ago, we pledged to reduce plastic usage in our Singapore office and when we renovated the office last year, renewables and waste reduction were key design principles. Moreover, within the office, we now have distinct waste disposals for recyclables, plastic, and general waste, which is a major step forward in chasing zero. Employees are also encouraged to reuse cups and eliminate single use plastics completely. We also hold ongoing educational engagements with employees around building a sustainable lifestyle and being mindful of the impact they are creating.

What key BAFG principles would you like businesses in Singapore to embrace? I’d like them to put BAFG principles into their mission and vision statements, and drive clear goals and objectives to achieve them. Unfortunately, while ESG reporting has been introduced as a “comply or explain ” requirement for the SGX, the commitment across the board seems to be behind other western countries. I believe a regulatory reward scheme would accelerate the adoption of strong ESG principles in many more companies. For example, if a buyer could in the future demand the ESG impact from its suppliers, it would drive a very positive behaviour in the end-to-end supply chain.

What motivated you to be an advocate for businesses to act as a force for good? As a father of two young kids, if we take the right steps and spread the word today , we leave behind a better planet for our kids tomorrow.

Meet The Judges Interview Series

• Series #1 – Li Lian Liew GEMBA’13 – Director, Corporate Panning at Tan Tock Seng Hospital & Central Health
• Series #2 – Brad Fraser MAP’18 – Head of Prime Derivative Services Asia Pacific at Barclays
• Series #3 – Antonio DeLorenzo GEMBA’15 – Head of Innovation Labs, ING.

Introducing Antonio DeLorenzo GEMBA’15 – Head of Innovation Labs, ING.

What were your key takeaways after graduating from INSEAD in relation to having a positive social impact on the community? I furthered my love for entrepreneurialism and ethics in business, and build upon that foundation every day.

What do you believe are the critical elements for a business to act as a force for good? Equity, social justice, environmental impact, good governance, and a general sense of consciousness by employees.

What actions from companies have you seen which have been a Force For Good? I believe any dollar deployed to help humans consciously and responsibly further our interests in industry, are good dollars. I don’t believe in revolutions but in evolution and this is exactly what we’re seeing today. In the last few years, businesses have done lots to help reduce the negative effect we have on our planet and allow us to create more equity among communities and people. Great examples are decarbonization in shipping, the net zero banking alliance, and the big (and slow) shift from using fossil fuels to alternative sources of energy. I’ve also seen more businesses focused on less enabled communities like those with less capital or less access to technology.

What are some specific actions employees should do to enable a positive social impact on our community ? Firstly,  always question the status quo to seek opportunities for improving people’s lives, communities and the environment. Then link these opportunities to individual contributions for them to tackle, or raise them with a company that can make a change. Second, help colleagues, management, families, and communities be aware of what their companies are doing to help our lives.

What are some examples in your profession/ company where you’ve experienced BAFG first-hand? It’s great observing colleagues and leaders consciously work at ensuring a healthier workplace. It doesn’t take much time to ask someone how they’re doing but the effect is great. It leads to happier people leading happier lives at work and having better relationships with their colleagues, families, and communities.

What key BAFG principles would you like businesses in Singapore to embrace? Openness. Singapore is home to many companies, and a second home to many more. It’s a great opportunity to embrace dialogue across sectors that can enable more openness in knowing what we’re all dealing with, and can give us the ability to come together to tackle challenges we collectively face.

What were the main reasons for accepting an invitation to be an IAA Singapore BAFG judge? I’ve always been interested in alternative business models with inclusion. BAFG doesn’t mean good needs to be an alternative to what we do every day. Rather, what we used to call alternative needs to become the norm.

What motivated you to be an advocate for businesses to act as a force for good? Together with the community of my alma mater, we can push for a better tomorrow through positivity and rewarding progress.

Anything else you would like to add? The impact every dollar deployed may have on society and the environment should be carefully considered. Looking after our planet and communities should be of equal importance to profitability and compliance with laws.

Meet The Judges Interview Series

• Series #1 – Li Lian Liew GEMBA’13 – Director, Corporate Panning at Tan Tock Seng Hospital & Central Health
• Series #2 – Brad Fraser MAP’18 – Head of Prime Derivative Services Asia Pacific at Barclays

In 2020 Right People Renewable Energy (RPRE) won the INSEAD Alumni Association Singapore ‘Business As A Force For Good’ Award. We caught up with RPRE founder Robin Pho GEMBA’17 for an update on what his company has been up to since winning the award.

PEOPLE: Despite the COVID pandemic, we’ve tripled our employment headcount, including hiring people with disabilities. We’ve also partnered with JRS and UNHCR, to provide long term employment to Afghanistan refugees in their Jakarta office. In 2020, we won a B Lab award for “Best for Environment, and Best for Workers”, putting us in the top 5% of all certified B Corporations globally.

PLANET: We’re working on some very exciting decarbonisation projects involving solar and energy storage systems, including large scale floating solar projects in Batam, Indonesia, allowing clean energy to be exported to land scarce Singapore. We also continue to work on social impact projects, including Willing Hearts, a charity in Singapore, and a wind turbine project for a Refugee Learning Center in Bogor, Indonesia.

PROFIT: Since winning the BAFG Award, our revenue and pipeline of projects have grown significantly. We’ve successfully raised funding from New Energy Nexus, Loyal VC, and have been approached by other investors to further fund their growth plans.

Parting comment: It’s really heartening to see INSEAD alumni using business as a force for good and I’m looking forward to seeing many more purposeful and impactful companies sprout from the INSEAD eco-system. After all, INSEAD is the business school FOR the world.

Introducing Brad Fraser MAP’18 – Head of Prime Derivative Services Asia Pacific at Barclays. He is one of handful of experienced judges selecting the winners of our 2022 BAFG Awards. Find out his thoughts on the subject in our second “Meet The Judges” interview series. To read our first interview, click here.  

What were your key takeaways after graduating from INSEAD in relation to having a positive social impact on the community? My perspective of the wide impact businesses can make broadened. I was also able to consider new and innovative business models that can calibrate for impact, and the power of diversity as an enabler of that process.

What do you believe are the critical elements for a business to act as a force for good? Having a positive empowering place for people to work and a strategy that delivers impact to the community through product and service, and is carried out in a sustainable and ecological way.

What actions from companies have you seen which have been a force for good? Actions I’ve noticed are bottom of the pyramid business models that empower disadvantaged communities through training and skills development, but are still commercially viable. For example, The Social Space.

What are some specific actions employees should do to enable a positive social impact on our community ? Positive social impact starts with the individual. How we account for our individual choices and decisions, flows into our daily actions in the workplace and at home. Providing we are operating from a social impact perspective, we don’t all have to work for a social enterprise to have a social impact.

What are some examples in your profession/ company where you’ve experienced BAFG first-hand? I’ve worked in teams alongside social impact start ups and established companies, providing them with advise and support at various stages of their development.

What key BAFG principles would you like businesses in Singapore to embrace? Two major challenges we face today are climate change and increasing inequality. I believe businesses that address these issues within a Singapore context, can deliver real value and help shape our community positively.

What were the main reasons for accepting an invitation to be an IAA Singapore BAFG judge? I value the opportunity to be part of INSEAD’s efforts to empower and celebrate businesses that have been a force for good.

What motivated you to be an advocate for businesses to act as a force for good? We need to move beyond the singular model of business as a commercial entity and incorporate a broader view of the many ways business can impact a wide range of stakeholders while continuing to be a commercial success.

Anything else you would like to add? As alumni of a global business school, we have a real opportunity to take this knowledge combined with our experiences, and make a real contribution to the challenges being tackled both locally and internationally. I encourage everyone to step up to that opportunity.

The Judging panel for the 2022 Business As A Force For Good Awards brings together the expertise of INSEAD alumni from across various industries. Li Lian Liew GEMBA’13 – Director, Corporate Planning at Tan Tock Seng Hospital & Central Health, shares her  thoughts on the topic in our first ‘Meet The Judges’ interview series. 

Key takeaways after graduating from INSEAD in relation to having a positive social impact on the community? The realisation that INSEAD alumni are in positions of power and that we have the resources (force) to do better. And….sadly, not everyone wants to.

What do you believe are the critical elements for a business to act as a force for good? Trustworthiness in upholding the “social contract” and continuous open-minded efforts.

What actions from companies have you seen which has been a Force For Good? As a Singaporean it’s great to see many local businesses doing well such as Magorium, which developed NewBitumen – derived from plastic waste – to replace traditional (crude-derived) bitumen used for road construction. Companies that aren’t social enterprises like Grab and Carousell, have also found meaningful ways to do good.

What are some specific actions employees should do to enable a positive social impact on our community ? Social media definitely! The internet allows us to share company experiences as employees, consumers and a community that can influence economic forces. It’s a force for checks and balances that we’ve never had before, and it’s still not optimised.

What are some examples in your profession/ company where you’ve experienced BAFG first-hand? In Singapore there are many community-care organizations that provide healthcare, social support and financial respite for the underserved. These aren’t necessarily social enterprises or charitable organizations. For example, the NTUC (National Trades Union Congress) provides healthcare, insurance, cheap(er) groceries, etc while also dealing with issues of gender equality (especially in the workplace), disadvantaged youths ect.

What key BAFG principles would you like businesses in Singapore to embrace? (1) Understand that actions have consequences, therefore plan accordingly. (2) Understand that Gen Z will not tolerate irresponsible short-termism. (3) Understand that we as a species are in real danger of extinction.

What were the main reasons for accepting an invitation to be an IAA Singapore BAFG judge? It takes all of us, with many actions big and small, to become a collective force for good. This is one of them: a chance to raise awareness and the profiles of what INSEAD alumni are doing, and to promote open sharing to shortcut development to becoming better.

Parting comment: Businesses need to bear in mind that the more of a force for good they become, the more evolved, resilient and profitable they become. It is good for everyone.

Congratulations to ECOSOFTT for winning the ‘Business as a Force for Good Award Singapore 2019 Edition’. Sam Al-Schamma (TIEMBA ‘13 ), a board member and investor in ECOSOFFT, accepted the award on behalf of Marcus Lim (TIEMBA’13) and Stanley Samuel (TIEMBA’13). ECOSOFTT is a social enterprise aimed at addressing the global challenge of water shortage, scarcity and quality.

ECOSOFTT was founded by two graduates of the INSEAD TIEMBA programme, Stanley Samuel and Marcus Lim, both TIEMBA’13J. Their work has helped numerous communities become self-reliant, water secure and sustainable. It has also transformed the lives of thousands of women and girls who have returned to school or learnt economically-useful skills, since they no longer need to spend hours each day collecting water.

ECOSOFTT’s vision is by 2050 to treat over one-trillion litres of water per day; enable 10,000 communities to become water smart; and protect, clean and restore a thousand water bodies.

It is wonderful to see so many INSEAD alumni enabling ‘Business as a Force for Good’. We look forward to recognising other initiatives like this again next year!

Our Entrepreneurship Interview Series continues this week with Ramya Ragupahi MBA’14D, owner and founder of Oh My Goodness! – the region’s only gluten-free certified food company. Read what inspired her to establish the business, the most enjoyable and challenging moments, and advice for alumni also thinking about starting their own company.

Name of your company and year it was established: Oh My Goodness! , April 2017

Key takeaways after graduating from INSEAD: Community is everything. When you’re surrounded, inspired and seeking out individuals who are buzzing at that same level as you, it’s all you need to make magic happen.

What motivated you to establish this business? You know what they say: “if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself!” I was trying to solve my own problem of not being able to find anything good to eat with all my newly discovered food allergies and sensitivities.

What are the most fun and difficult things about your business? The most fun part is meeting other people who are into the same kind of food and love the goodness of food as much as you do. Every single day is also different which keeps me engaged and always on my toes! The difficult part is being responsible for others. Everything changes once you hire people to work for you, which makes finance management so critical as salaries and rent make up the bulk of our expenses.

Any advice for alumni thinking of starting a similar business? Please stop the cash burn that’s so prevalent in the startup world – some of us could really do with that cash! Hahaha. Your starting point isn’t necessarily the fancy co-working space and be prepared to not take a salary – especially not your post-MBA salary – for a while.

Interesting / fun fact about yourself: If I were re-born and could choose to be anything I wanted to be, I’d be a dancer.

Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you first started out? I may have thought a bit more seriously about starting a business while $150k in debt…hahaha

How are you preparing for recovery after the pandemic? Preparing? Is that a thing? Hahaha. This pandemic is so unpredictable with its twists and turns I’m not sure anyone can really prepare prepare for it in any real way. All you have to do is keep breathing and flow, I think.

Book you’d recommend? Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog is a must for entrepreneurs starting a business out of pure (almost insane) passion and with no initial “seed funding” or “angel investment” to speak of (like me!).

What is your leadership style? Whatever the opposite of micromanagement is.

What keeps you up at night? “Will I make rent and salaries this month?”

Predictions on work trends post Covid: Possibly a fervour for wanting to connect as humans more at the workplace. Well, that’s what I hope! Ha!

Future plans:

• For the company: to grow it to a point where it makes sense to handover to someone who can turn it into what it can truly be, with our fullest potential realised.
• For me: spending a year in France in 2024 while the company runs itself and I watch from afar in pride.

One thing you’ve yet to cross off on your bucket list:

• For the company: exporting our first container.
• For me: a holiday in the Galapagos islands or an Alaskan cruise!

** Ramya is offering all alumni based in Singapore a special discount of 10% off all collections on Oh My Goodness! & an additional 5% discount off corporate orders. Please contact her directly for more details.

Check out our new Members Business Directory for more business owned and managed by IAA SG members.