'Leaders On The Walk’ Brings Students, C-suite Execs Together For Open-air Mentorship

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- Over 300 students and young professionals had the rare chance to walk side-by-side with top corporate leaders in the inaugural ‘Leaders on the Walk’ programme, turning the historic Perdana Botanical Garden, here, into a five-kilometre open-air mentorship arena.

The unique initiative by Experian Malaysia, held in conjunction with the Merdeka month, brought together more than 20 C-suite executives and industry figures for an informal yet impactful exchange of ideas, personal stories and career insights.

Experian Malaysia Country Head and Human Resources Director Chua Chai Ping said the programme was inspired by the need to bridge the generational gap and reduce power distance between seasoned leaders and emerging talent.

“People always say that leaders don’t walk the talk, and I say now leaders will go on that walk. This is to bridge not only the generational gap but also the power distance, where leaders from the C-suite and industry champions can walk with aspiring managers, budding leaders and university students.

“This is the first of its kind because we don’t get that opportunity. I wanted to create that platform and hopefully an ecosystem where leaders get access to talent, and equally, the talent gets access to the C-suite,” she told Bernama today.

Chua said the event was designed as an empowering Merdeka initiative, aligning with the company’s tradition of giving back to the community.

“What more, during Merdeka month, let’s do an empowering opportunity event where our talent can come together in our beautiful Lake Gardens, to walk in our lush greenery and do a bit of physical activity, and then, on a very level playing field, get mentored,” she said, adding that ‘Leaders on the Walk’ is not meant to be a one-off activity but the start of a long-term mentorship ecosystem.

She said that Experian Malaysia, supported by partners such as GBS Networking Circle and PIKOM–GBS Malaysia, is committed to building on its success and championing leadership development and nation-building initiatives for years to come.

Participant, K. Mathura, 29, the co-founder of Ascendance, a youth organisation, described the experience as a rare opportunity to learn directly from senior leaders in a relaxed and open environment.

“I’m someone who believes that people’s experiences are one of the best ways to learn, and I think Leaders on the Walk gave that. I had so much fun learning from our mentor while walking. It was brilliant,” she said.

Wong Xin Yi, 23, a student from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) said the walk allowed her to see leaders in a different light.

“I feel like the leaders are formal and scary when they’re talking on stage or giving speeches, but with this relaxed atmosphere, I realised we are on the same level. We get to learn from each other. I also got to know their insights, which they normally don’t share on stage,” she added.

The event was supported by leading corporations, including TalentCorp, Lumileds, Sanofi, Ernst & Young, Dell, Abbott, HSBC, Shell, and BASF Asia-Pacific Service Centre.

-- BERNAMA