The Power of Strategic Partnerships: Key Takeaways from the Endeavor x WGC Roundtable

Recently, I attended an insightful roundtable event hosted by Endeavor Malaysia in collaboration with Women of Global Change (WGC) at the Colony Eco City in Kuala Lumpur. The discussion, titled "The Power of Strategic Partnerships: How Ecosystem Support Can Unlock Funding," featured some of the most influential voices in the business and tech landscape. From the transformative story of Ghazanfar Iqbal of AWS to the educational revolution led by Anne Tham of ACE EdVenture, each speaker shared not only their achievements but also powerful lessons on building ecosystems that empower innovation and growth.

Ghazanfar Iqbal (AWS): Driving Cloud Adoption for Growth

Ghazanfar Iqbal, the Regional Head of AWS in Southeast Asia, is a leader whose vision has consistently pushed boundaries, driving cloud adoption for businesses across the region. His work at AWS focuses on empowering companies to leverage cloud technologies to scale, innovate, and stay competitive. In his talk, Ghazanfar emphasized the transformative potential of the cloud—not just as a tech solution, but as a strategic enabler. The core message I took away was that adopting the right technology isn’t about keeping up; it's about leading the way. In Ghazanfar’s words, “In an era of constant change, strategic adoption of cloud technology is what differentiates the disruptors from the disrupted.”

What stood out most was his insistence that businesses must look at technology as a growth partner, not just a cost center. He painted vivid examples of how organizations across industries had leveraged AWS to overcome scaling challenges, optimize resources, and foster a culture of innovation. His book—which I’ve since started reading—provides even more in-depth insights into how leaders can shape a technology-first mindset within their companies. This theme is essential for any leader looking to make meaningful impact: technology is the bridge between an idea and a scalable solution. Additionally, Ghazanfar noted that Singapore is becoming increasingly expensive, and with big corporations like AWS and Google Cloud investing in Malaysia, entrepreneurs are now looking beyond Singapore to Malaysia as a more viable option for growth.

Anne Tham (ACE EdVenture): Revolutionizing Education

On the other end of the spectrum, Anne Tham's journey of reshaping the education system in Malaysia stood as a testament to the power of vision and grit. As the founder and CEO of ACE EdVenture, Anne has been a trailblazer in creating dynamic, hands-on educational experiences that not only prepare students for examinations but also prepare them for life. Her schools, like Dwi Emas and Sri Emas International Schools, have been at the forefront of bringing entrepreneurial thinking into classrooms.

Anne’s main takeaway was the value of education that truly engages students. She shared the importance of students becoming creators—not just consumers—of knowledge, and how strategic partnerships in education could unlock the doors to funding and resources that make this possible. As she put it, “The world’s changing fast, and the education system must do more than just catch up—it must help lead the way.” For her, the right partnerships have been instrumental in scaling ACE EdVenture’s impact, and in preparing students to thrive as creators and problem solvers in an unpredictable future.

Vince Tan (World MasterClass): The Trap of Focusing Solely on Funding

Vince Tan, a serial entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of World MasterClass, shared a crucial insight for startups, particularly those building SaaS products. Vince highlighted that focusing solely on funding can become a trap that hinders true growth. Instead of being overly fixated on raising money, Vince emphasized the importance of building a solid product, gaining market traction, and forming strategic alliances that can lead to sustainable growth. In his experience, funding should be seen as a tool, not the end goal. Vince’s journey, from his education at Stanford and The Nottingham Trent University to becoming a mentor for aspiring entrepreneurs, reflects a deep understanding of how to build resilient companies that thrive on more than just capital injections.

The Collective Power of Strategic Ecosystems

The broader discussion at the roundtable underscored a shared belief among all the speakers: the power of ecosystems to drive success. Whether it was Ghazanfar speaking about AWS’s role in supporting startups with cloud solutions, or Anne discussing partnerships with parents, businesses, and even government bodies to bring education to new heights, the underlying message was clear—no business or vision is an island.

See Wai Hun from JurisTech spoke about the fintech industry and how partnering with accelerators and government bodies allowed her company to create real, lasting change for financial institutions in Malaysia. Similarly, Raja Hamzah of RHL Ventures highlighted how venture capitalists could do more than just provide money; they can become long-term partners in navigating complex market landscapes. Every success story shared at this event had one crucial thread—strategic partnerships, built on trust, shared goals, and an ecosystem mindset, are key to unlocking both funding and future growth.

Conclusion

Attending this event made me think deeply about how my own ventures, including YEC (Youth Entrepreneurship Club), could benefit from adopting an ecosystem-first approach. YEC, which I founded in Myanmar in 2015, has a mission to transform lives through education and technology, and I'm now considering expanding it into Malaysia and beyond. Whether it’s a school, a tech company, or a startup looking for funding, the key lesson is that partnerships make the impossible possible. Leaders like Ghazanfar, Anne, and Vince are not just creating solutions—they’re crafting ecosystems where ideas can thrive, and where startups and innovators are empowered to turn dreams into reality.

In a world where resources and opportunities are abundant yet unevenly distributed, the power of strategic partnerships could very well be the catalyst that connects visionaries with the support they need to change the world.