13 August, ISKANDAR MALAYSIA – Innovation, digitalization and entrepreneurship will be some of the most crucial components for individuals and businesses to face future challenges and acknowledging this, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) is proud to bring these to the table at the 7th edition of the Iskandar Malaysia Leadership Series, which was held on 8 August 2018 at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Johor Bahru.
The Iskandar Malaysia Leadership Series was first held in 2011 and featured industry’s top leaders and influencers in various subjects which has successfully attracted more than 500 participants.
This year, the conference was aptly titled “Innovation, Digitalization, & Entrepreneurship (IDEC2018)” and featured six renowned speakers including Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz (Former Minister, International Trade and Industry) who shared her thoughts on “Inspiring & Leading in an Era of Innovation”, Philipp Kristian Diekhöner (Fortune 500 Innovation and Digital Strategy Leader) who talked about “Trust Economy, Value of Trust In Driving Innovation & Digital Transformation” and Diana Boo (iFlix Malaysia) who touched on the idea of “Move Fast, Pivot Faster”.
IDEC 2018 emphasized innovation on digital platform, inspired and exposed leaders and entrepreneurs alike to international trends and disruptive working models and shared success stories from front-runners who challenged the status quo. The conference brought together people who share the same beliefs, in pursuit of the latest and most innovative business ideas for themselves and their organizations.
“Iskandar Malaysia recognizes innovation, digitalization and entrepreneurship as some of the vital components toward achieving its vision of becoming a strong and sustainable metropolis of international standing. We want to emphasize this outlook with key decision makers from all the sectors through an engaging platform, hence why we organized IDEC 2018,” commented Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of IRDA.
As Iskandar Malaysia is now in its third phase which calls for “Sustainability and Innovation”, this conference provided some insights on the way forward towards digitalization.
The conference also reflected the region’s focus on its Smart City agenda and Iskandar Malaysia Urban Observatory (IMUO) initiative. The day prior to the conference, an MoU was signed between Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and 4 other parties that will be sharing data and information needed to strengthen IMUO.
Two days before, an innovative and informative digital platform was launched for entrepreneurs in the region to help them gain more insight and knowledge from online coaches and increase their market penetration through online platforms.
Datuk Ismail commented that the signs are everywhere signaling that digitalization and innovation will be the key growth drivers in the future, such as the increasing number of internet penetration and users of social media platforms globally.
“We should embrace innovation and digitalization quickly so that we are not left behind or lose our competitive advantage. For Iskandar Malaysia, the ability to innovate and digitalize will help make the region the preferred destination to live, work, invest and play,” he added.
More than 300 people attended the conference and a networking dinner with the speakers and sponsors, held on the same day. It is not only an opportunity to learn from industry experts but also a platform to engage and share with other participants from all over the world.