An immersive exploration of international business in Malaysia, connecting your academic themes with senior business leaders, behind-the-scenes company access, innovation, real-world market insights and meaningful cultural experiences.
Day 1:
Sunday, July 4
Sun July 4
Day 1:
welcome to Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysia, a country known for its cultural diversity and robust economy, has Kuala Lumpur as its dynamic capital and economic powerhouse. Strategically situated on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur serves as a central hub for both regional and international businesses, supported by modern infrastructure, a growing financial sector, and a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. The city seamlessly blends its rich historical heritage with contemporary urban development, offering a mix of iconic skyscrapers, historic districts, and green spaces. Kuala Lumpur attracts foreign investment in key sectors such as finance, technology, manufacturing, and tourism. Kuala Lumpur stands as a centre of commerce, innovation, and culture, where modern business opportunities coexist with a thriving arts scene, multicultural communities, and dynamic urban life.
intercity transfers
arrive in Kuala Lumpur
Own arrangements
own arrangements
transportation
transfer to hotel, check-in
Own arrangements
free to unpack and freshen up
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
meals
welcome reception
hotel venue
6:30 PM
transportation
meet in the hotel lobby, depart for welcome dinner
2x coach transfer
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
meals
welcome dinner with a guest speaker
Begin your journey in Kuala Lumpur with a warm welcome dinner at a Malaysian heritage restaurant, where you’ll be introduced to the rich flavours and traditions of authentic Malay cuisine. The evening will feature a special address by Wong Hooi Ching, CEO of J.P. Morgan Malaysia, who will provide a macroeconomic overview of Malaysia and share insights into the country’s evolving role in the global economy and its position as a gateway to ASEAN. Drawing on her extensive experience in global finance and investment, she will explore Malaysia’s economic landscape, business environment, and the key cultural and institutional factors that shape how business is conducted in the country, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing multinational companies operating in Malaysia.
The evening will provide a valuable foundation for the week ahead, helping participants develop a deeper understanding of Malaysia’s economy, institutions, business practices, and position in the global marketplace. It will also offer an opportunity to connect with fellow students and professors, engage in meaningful conversations, and set the stage for an inspiring and immersive programme in Malaysia’s vibrant capital.
Open House Stonor
rest of the day at leisure
Day 2:
Monday, July 5
Mon July 5
Day 2:
Understanding globalisation and defining international business
breakfast
hotel
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
class session
lecture
Own arrangements
hotel conference room
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
meals
coffee break
the foyer
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
class session
lecture
Own arrangements
hotel conference room
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
meals
buffet lunch
hotel restaurant
1:15 PM
transportation
meet in hotel lobby, depart for a visit
2x coach half day
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
visit
navigating global markets from Malaysia to the world
Top Glove
Lim Cheong Guan
Managing Director
Learn about Top Glove’s transformation from a single factory in 1991 to the world’s largest rubber glove manufacturer, now serving 195 countries. We will explore the company's globalisation journey, including key strategic decisions such as expanding production across Southeast Asia to mitigate risks and sharpening its focus on the US market amid intensifying price competition from Chinese rivals. You will gain insights into balancing global standardisation of production efficiency with local adaptation to diverse regulatory, labour, and customer environments across markets. The tour will take us behind the scenes of their production facilities, R&D labs, and quality control processes—offering a first-hand look at how automation, innovation, and ESG practices drive daily operations.
management presentation, discussion, tour of facilities
rest of the day at leisure OR
optional cultural event
optional foodie tour - a night out for foodie enthusiasts
An evening of food, stories, food, laughter & more food! Sample delicious Malaysian cuisine just like the locals do - on the street! Stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of KL, learn more about local unique food culture, and take in a spectacular night view of the city.
Day 3:
Tuesday, July 6
Tue July 6
Day 3:
Formal Institutions: Understanding economic distance
breakfast
hotel
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
class session
lecture
Own arrangements
hotel conference room
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
meals
coffee break
the foyer
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
class session
lecture
Own arrangements
hotel conference room
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
meals
buffet lunch
hotel restaurant
1:15 PM
transportation
meet in hotel lobby, depart for a visit
2x coach half day
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
visit
adapting pricing and value propositions across economic distances
Nestlé Malaysia
Raef Labaki
Chief Marketing Officer
This visit explores how Nestlé adapts pricing, product formats, and value propositions to serve Malaysia’s diverse consumer segments, from premium urban consumers to more price-sensitive households. We will examine how Nestlé balances affordability, nutrition, convenience, and brand equity across different income groups, while responding to rising costs, changing consumer preferences, and competitive pressures. Through its diverse portfolio of iconic brands and locally produced products, the visit will offer practical insights into how a global FMCG company adapts its offerings to different economic contexts while maintaining scale, quality, and consumer relevance.
management presentation, discussion, tour of facilities
6:30 PM
transportation
meet in hotel lobby, depart for event
2x coach transfer
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
networking event
MBA mixer reception
WIP On The Park
rest of the day at leisure
Day 4:
Wednesday, July 7
Wed July 7
Day 4:
New forms of innovation in the global economy
breakfast
hotel
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
class session
lecture
Own arrangements
hotel conference room
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
meals
coffee break
the foyer
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
panel discussion
innovation forum with local business professionals
Pepper Labs
Thanaselan Rajendran
Managing Director
Borong
Lennise Ng
CEO
The Green Factory
Harith Ridzuan
Founder and CEO
Suncrox Solar
Noor Shahiwan
CEO
PurelyB
Raja Jesrina
Founder & CEO
Earth Heir
Sasibai Kimis
Founder & Director
The Innovation Forum is a dynamic space where creativity meets progress. This vibrant event brings together visionary thinkers, industry pioneers, and innovators from diverse fields. You will explore cutting-edge ideas, inventive concepts, and emerging trends that are shaping the future. After brief introductions from each speaker, you will take part in a lively networking roundtable discussion, allowing you to connect with representatives from various organizations, gain valuable insights, and foster meaningful relationships while encouraging a rich exchange of creativity and knowledge. The event will wrap up with a thorough session in the main conference room, where key insights and takeaways will be shared. Come join us for an inspiring experience that showcases the transformative impact of innovation and fosters collaboration among like-minded individuals.
hotel conference room
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
meals
buffet lunch
hotel restaurant
1:15 PM
transportation
meet in hotel lobby, depart for tour
2x coach half day
2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
cultural event
Batu Caves: a journey through Malaysia’s heritage
Embark on a captivating trip to the iconic Batu Caves, one of Malaysia’s most treasured cultural and spiritual landmarks. Located just a short drive from Kuala Lumpur, this tour offers a perfect blend of history, tradition, and natural beauty. Marvel at the magnificent golden statue of Lord Murugan, one of the tallest of its kind in the world, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere surrounding the cave temples. Throughout the tour, your guide will share engaging insights into Malaysia’s diverse cultural heritage and the deep spiritual significance of Hindu traditions.
transportation
return to hotel
2x coach transfer
rest of the day at leisure
Day 5:
Thursday, July 8
Thu July 8
Day 5:
Informal institutions: understanding cultural distance
breakfast
hotel
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
class session
lecture
Own arrangements
hotel conference room
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
meals
coffee break
the foyer
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
class session
lecture
Own arrangements
hotel conference room
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
meals
buffet lunch
hotel restaurant
1:15 PM
transportation
meet in hotel lobby, depart for a visit
2x coach half day
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
visit
navigating strategy across Southeast Asia’s diverse markets
Grab
Adelene Foo
Managing Director
This session at Grab’s Kuala Lumpur office offers a front‑row seat to the company’s remarkable journey—from its 2012 founding as MyTeksi in this very city, to its emergence as a Singapore‑headquartered regional powerhouse serving eight Southeast Asian countries. You will trace Grab’s key strategic moves, including the landmark Uber acquisition and recent cross‑border expansions, while gaining ground‑level insight into how the KL hub continues to drive operational excellence, product innovation, and hyper‑local adaptation. The discussion will unpack the delicate balance between global standardisation and local nuance—exploring how Grab tailors pricing and value propositions across markets with vastly different income levels, fosters innovation through its ride‑hailing, food delivery, and digital banking ecosystem, and respects cultural practices (such as prayer breaks and language support) in each country. The visit will examine how Grab navigates institutional voids by building trust and extending financial services where formal institutions are weak, offering a concrete, integrated case study that ties together strategy, culture, and execution—all from the perspective of the city where it all began.
management presentation, discussion, tour of premises
rest of the day at leisure
Day 6:
Friday, July 9
Fri July 9
Day 6:
Institutional Voids: differences in institutional development
breakfast
hotel
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
class session
lecture
Own arrangements
hotel conference room
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
meals
coffee break
the foyer
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
class session
lecture
Own arrangements
hotel conference room
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
meals
buffet lunch
hotel restaurant
1:15 PM
transportation
meet in hotel lobby, depart for a visit
2x coach half day
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
visit
building a business with purpose: scaling social impact through entrepreneurship
PichaEats
Yuet Kim Lim
Co-Founder and CEO
The visit to PichaEats explores how the enterprise navigates Malaysia's institutional void – the absence of legal refugee employment frameworks – by sourcing meals from refugee home kitchens instead of formally employing them. You will engage with CEO to examine how this procurement model, combined with a 50% profit‑sharing structure and full operational support, has grown into a social enterprise that has served more than 1 million meals, supported 70+ refugee chefs, and generated RM7.2 million in earnings for chef families. You will also learn about its pandemic pivot from B2B catering to frozen subscriptions, and critically evaluate the trade‑offs of scaling within institutional voids – from growth limitations to measuring social impact.
presentation, discussion
transportation
meet in hotel lobby, depart for farewell dinner
2x bus transfer
evening
meals
farewell dinner with guest speaker and traditional dance show
Conclude your Malaysian study experience with a memorable farewell dinner featuring a guest speaker and a captivating traditional dance performance. Gain practical insights into navigating cultural differences in international business, leading multicultural teams, and building effective cross-cultural relationships through an engaging talk by Anuradha Katyal, Group Chief People Officer of Axiata Group Berhad.
The evening will continue with a vibrant cultural showcase celebrating Malaysia’s multicultural heritage, featuring traditional Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Indigenous Malaysian dance elements, colourful costumes, lively music, and distinctive movements. This special gathering offers an opportunity to reflect on the learning journey, exchange perspectives, and celebrate Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage and unity in diversity.
Bijan restaurant
rest of the day at leisure
Day 7:
Saturday, July 10
Sat July 10
Day 7:
departure
breakfast
hotel
check-out, leave luggage at concierge
free to explore the city OR
morning
optional cultural event
Community Volunteering with HOPE worldwide Malaysia
HOPE worldwide Malaysia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of underserved communities through initiatives in education, food assistance, and community development. Through this volunteering activity, you will have the opportunity to support local community initiatives, such as food distribution, educational activities, or sustainable urban farming, etc.
This experience offers students a meaningful opportunity to give back to the local community, engage with social challenges in Malaysia, and explore how non-profit organisations create sustainable social impact through community partnerships and volunteer engagement.
optional cultural event
optional city tour of Kuala Lumpur
This half-day city tour offers a rich and diverse exploration of Kuala Lumpur, weaving together the city's historical, political, cultural, and modern fabric.
The journey begins at the historic Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka), the very ground where Malaysia's independence was proclaimed in 1957. Here, you'll gain insight into how colonial rule and interethnic negotiation shaped the nation's political and business landscape.
From there, we proceed to the National Mosque (Masjid Negara), a stunning masterpiece of modern Islamic architecture. You'll be captivated by its unique folded-plate roof and serene reflecting pools, which symbolise the nation's cultural and religious diversity.
A short drive away, we visit the National Monument (Tugu Negara). This powerful bronze sculpture, one of the largest of its kind in the world, stands as a solemn tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for Malaysia's freedom.
Continuing the cultural thread, we will wander through the vibrant streets of Petaling Street (Chinatown) and Brickfields (Little India). This walk provides an immersive look into the complexities and beauty of Malaysia's multi-ethnic coexistence.
The tour culminates with a visit to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and the bustling Golden Triangle district. Here, you'll witness the city's astounding urban modernisation and economic prowess, set against the backdrop of its persistent infrastructure challenges.
transportation
transfer to the airport
Own arrangements
own arrangements
intercity transfers
depart for UK
Own arrangements
own arrangements