An Evening with AEISEC and then friends..

Last evening I attended AIESEC's dinner at the Putrajaya Convention Centre. It was a celebration of AIESEC Malaysia's 40th and AIESEC Global's 60th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Night - RACE 2008.

The function was from 5.30 to 11pm.

There were at least 600 people at the convention centre. I met many young and eager your students from the local universities.

What was most striking about these young people was their keen interest in entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship. Some of them came up to me to introduce themselves and to speak about their vision to start their career in the area of social entrepreneurship.

It is heartening to know that though still at university the young people these days are concerned about social issues and problems and are willing to do something about it. They care less about making money and more about solving real social problems.

However I had to tell them the bad news - profits and cashflow are important in business or any enterprise. This gives the business model its legitimacy. They need to think about building a business around the social problems they are thinking of solving. Many are keen to learn on how they can do this.

Will be talking to them more on Tue at their fair.

I am seen here with the lovely Elaine Zhang - AEISEC Malaysia's Non-Corporate Relations Manager. She can be reached at elaine.zhang@aiesec.net. Elaine is from China. The young man beside me is James Loh, President of AEISEC Malaysia.

As soon as dinner was served, I had to leave to another gathering that was starting at about 9pm.
I had to apologise to the organizers as I had also agreed to attend the other gathering.

I drove down to Kelantan Delights to meet this other group of friends and new friends. They have all gathered in Mr.Juhaidi's rustic restaurant for some excellent food and a good yarn..

The gracious host was as usual in his jovial mood.

There was Datuk Ahmad, my old friend Dr Parmjit of APIIT and some new friends - Harbhajan from Malaysian Reserve, Carolyn from The Singapore Straits Times and this handsome Azlan from Sapura.

"Why haven't you blogged on the closing of GEW yet" thundered Datuk Ahmad as we were leaving..."do it quickly" !

Yes sir...I will. Soon..

Good day - Connecting .