Do More - Take Charge of Your Life

Most people know Dato' Francis Lee as the man who helped build Berjaya Food into a massive retail behemoth, steering iconic brands like Starbucks and Kenny Rogers Roasters across Malaysia. But his journey didn't start in the boardroom of a food empire—it started with writing audit reports. Plucked from his role as an internal auditor during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Dato' Francis learned the gritty realities of retail survival the hard way.

From choosing a literal hole-in-the-ground at Mid Valley over a premium spot at KLCC to save on rent, to revolutionizing Kenny Rogers' service model from a cold-food queue to hot table service, his practical, common-sense approach turned struggling operations into a publicly listed powerhouse. Under his watch, Starbucks Malaysia grew from a single store at KL Plaza to 250 locations by the time he stepped down as CEO in 2017.

In this episode, Dato' Francis unpacks the demanding realities of building food and beverage empires. He breaks down exactly why running a restaurant is vastly more complex than scaling a coffee chain, how he navigated intense social and political brand backlash, and shares a surprising perspective on today's economy: why he wouldn't start a business today and actually prefers the path of an employee.

TL/DW of the episode:
→ From internal auditor to CEO: How the 1997 financial crisis sparked an unexpected career pivot
→ The Mid Valley vs. KLCC dilemma: The strategic real estate decision that saved Kenny Rogers Roasters' capital
→ Coffee vs. Food: The real economics, high margins, and operational nightmares of both industries
→ Navigating social media crises and political backlash in a highly sensitive B2C market
→ Why Dato' Francis advises aspiring entrepreneurs to strongly consider the stability of being an employee first
→ The truth about listing a company: Why you shouldn't go public unless you're making at least RM10-15 million
→ Behind the scenes of balancing a high-powered career with family sacrifices

Dato' Francis Lee, Former CEO of Berjaya Food Berhad & CEO of Bermaz Auto Group
Follow Dato' Francis here: URL: https://www.bauto.com.my/about.php

Navigating Malaysia's socio-political landscape as a minority youth is often reduced to stereotypes, sensationalized headlines, and communal rhetoric. Yet, when you look past mainstream political theater and speak directly to young Malaysians on the ground, a very different reality emerges—one defined by deep political apathy toward traditional race-based parties, everyday economic pragmatism, and an unshakeable sense of belonging to the country.

In this episode of Do More, Sharvin sit down with Shalini and Liang Hong, researchers at Iman Research, to dissect the findings of their extensive qualitative fieldwork—"Indian Roots" and "Chinese Shoots"—which surveyed over 100 Indian and Chinese youths across Peninsular Malaysia to understand how they truly feel about nation-building, discrimination, and their future in Malaysia.


00:00 - Introduction: Iman Research & Studying "Kita Orang Sini Juga"
01:40 - Shalini: The Unresolved Reality of Rental & Workplace Discrimination
07:00 - Liang Hong: Why Chinese Youths Don't Care About UEC & Symbolic Politics
12:55 - East Coast Assimilation: Survival Strategies for Minorities-Within-Minorities
19:59 - Rejecting Race-Based Parties & The "Vijay" Political Phenomenon
28:36 - Chinese Pragmatism: Why Malaysian Laborers in Singapore Want to Come Home
36:00 - Systemic Bottlenecks: Matriculation Quotas, Vernacular Schools & Multilingualism
53:35 - Policy Prescriptions: Reforming Civic Education & Building Informed Citizens
01:00:30 - The Urban Indian Poor: Colonial Displacement, School Dropouts & Gangsterism
01:15:00 - "Malaysia is My Home": Why Minority Youths Are Rooted and Staying Put

Follow Iman Research here:
URL: https://www.imanresearch.com/
Iman Research Orang Kita Report: https://imanresearch.com/uploads/2025%20Report%20Orang%20Kita%20bahasa.pdf

Most people see ZUS Coffee ‪@ZUSCoffee‬ as an overnight success story that just happened to take over Malaysia. Vernon Tian, one of the co-founders instrumental in scaling the brand, says the reality is much more complex. From opening one store every single day to navigating intense social media crises, building a national champion takes more than just good coffee.

Before ZUS, Vernon learned the hard way that timing is everything, experiencing the challenges of scaling with startups like Laundry Hero and ezypod. When he joined the ZUS team, they brought that hard-earned agility and digital focus into the coffee world. They aren't just building cafes; they are building a tech-driven beverage ecosystem designed to challenge international giants.

In this episode, Vernon breaks down the exact playbook ZUS Coffee used to grow from a single 200 sq ft store to hundreds of locations nationwide. He discusses the realities of supply chain risks, moving into FMCG, and why ZUS is targeting unexpected global markets like Pakistan, Morocco, and the Maldives to build a sustainable, international empire.

Because the real disruption isn't just selling coffee. It’s building a global benchmark from Malaysia.

TL/DW of the episode:
→ Why opening one store a day isn't just about speed—it's about systems and setting targets
→ How ZUS Coffee navigated its biggest social media crisis and protected its brand
→ The truth behind ZUS's rapid expansion: Were they just "lucky" or strategically positioned?
→ From 200 sq ft to over a billion ringgit: The economics and margins of scaling a coffee chain
→ Why ZUS is expanding to Pakistan, Morocco, and the Maldives instead of traditional markets
→ Moving beyond the cup: How ZUS is transitioning from a cafe to an FMCG powerhouse with over 24,000 touchpoints
→ What Vernon learned from early startup failures and what he would (and wouldn't) tell his 18-year-old self

Vernon Tian, Co-Founder & COO of ZUS Coffee
Follow Vernon here:
URL: https://zuscoffee.com/
LinkedIn:   / vernontian  

Scaling a highly capital-intensive and technically demanding semiconductor manufacturing business from scratch is famously difficult—especially for a female founder with zero initial technical background and no bank track record. Yet, CG Global managed to crack the global supply chain, successfully expanding its manufacturing backbone to serve the stringent medical, aerospace, and automotive sectors.

In this episode of Do More, we sit down with Siti Padillah, Founder of CG Global, and Faizal Jalaluddin from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), to dissect the playbook of how a local SME transformed into a globally certified manufacturing powerhouse.

Siti shares her gritty entrepreneurial journey: from starting with used machinery and manually recording warehouse stock, to securing critical government intervention grants that fully digitized her operations. She also breaks down the relentless war for talent in Penang, her unique strategies to train non-engineering graduates to survive the MNC poaching squeeze, and the absolute necessity of securing high-level global certifications.

Faizal pulls back the curtain on MIDA's "Invest Local" mandate, proving that government agencies do much more than just chase foreign direct investment. He outlines how MIDA acts as a crucial bridge—providing unbanked SMEs with intervention funds, connecting them to global giants like Infineon, and pushing vendor development programs to build Malaysia's industrial resilience.

Follow CG Global and MIDA here:
(MIDA): https://www.mida.gov.my/
(CG Global): https://cgglobal-cem.com/

Traditional pharmaceutical distribution models operate under thin margins, fixed government fees, and highly capital-intensive storage metrics. When public-listed legacy giant Pharmaniaga hit a sudden PN17 classification due to a massive RM552 million vaccine provisioning write-down, the market braced for a long, drawn-out restructuring. Instead, they executed one of the fastest regularization turnarounds in Bursa Malaysia’s history.

In this episode of Do More, we sit down with Dato' Zulkifli Jafar, Managing Director of Pharmaniaga Berhad, to dissect the exact corporate playbook driving their institutional recovery and structural reset.

Dato' Zulkifli clears the air regarding widespread public misperceptions surrounding their national concession agreement—clarifying that Pharmaniaga essentially functions as the high-capacity, nationwide "Lalamove or Shopee" logistics grid for healthcare, while product selection and volumes are tightly dictated by the Ministry of Health.

We pull back the curtain on the granular unit economics of their rapid recovery: from bringing in 19 private placement investors to raise over RM500 million and paring down debt, to integrating dynamic S&OP demand planning frameworks. He explains the exact operational mechanics behind automating inventory blocks—successfully optimizing their government stockpile requirements from RM400 million down to RM250 million, saving RM7.6 million a year in interest costs alone. Finally, we explore their strategic 2030 roadmap: shifting resources away from legacy distribution grids and executing an aggressive pivot into high-margin upstream manufacturing, fill-and-finish capabilities, and proprietary biologics to protect Malaysia's sovereign drug supply.

Follow Dato Zulkifli Jaafar here:
URL: https://pharmaniaga.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/datozulkiflijafar/

Most people think Pokémon cards are toys for kids.

Adlin Yusman says that's exactly why most people don't understand the collectibles market.

After spending years collecting, trading, and building Collektr, he's witnessed the rise of an entirely new asset class—one powered by nostalgia, scarcity, culture, and community.

What started with sneakers, watches, and comic books has evolved into a global collectibles economy worth billions. Today, rare Pokémon cards can sell for more than luxury watches, while collectors compete worldwide for items most people once threw away.

In this episode, Adlin breaks down the psychology, economics, and business behind collectibles. From a Pokémon card that jumped from USD8,000 to USD44,000 in just months, to the rise of live-stream commerce and auction platforms, this conversation explores why people are willing to spend RM200,000—or more—on a single card.

Because the real value isn't cardboard.

It's culture, scarcity, and belief.

Adlin Yusman Co-Founder of Collektr Follow Adlin here: Collektr: https://collektr.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collektr.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adlinyusman/

Most people spend their entire lives trying to enter the corporate world.

Tunku Alizakri already reached the top of it.

From leading major institutions to operating at the centre of Malaysia’s financial ecosystem, he has spent decades understanding how power, systems, and large organisations actually work behind closed doors.

But instead of staying comfortable, he stepped into a completely different world: startups.

Why would someone leave stability for uncertainty?

In this episode, Tunku Alizakri breaks down why younger generations are walking away from traditional career paths, why large corporations are struggling to adapt to the speed of technological change, and why AI is forcing entire industries into a state of confusion.

From the future of work to the psychology of ambition, this conversation explores what happens when experience collides with reinvention.

Because in a rapidly changing world, staying still might be the biggest risk of all.

Tunku Alizakri bin Raja Muhammad Alias Board Member; Chairman of Collektr Follow Tunku Alizakri here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alizakri-alias/

Most people think digital banking is just a traditional bank on a smartphone. Pei Si Lai, who leads the regional business for GXBank across Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, says that way of thinking is exactly why the old guard is failing.

After years inside the traditional banking world, she’s seen the truth: the system is bogged down by a "friction" problem that traditional banks refuse to fix. From endless paperwork to 5-day wait times for simple loans, the "Big Boys" have built a world that works for them, not for you.

GXBank isn't just an app. It’s a faster, more responsive, and more innovative ecosystem designed to dismantle the status quo.

In this episode, Pei Si breaks down why the future of finance belongs to those who can move at the speed of life. By leveraging proprietary data and a "Scale Mandate," GXBank is serving the millions that traditional banks deemed "unreachable."

From approving loans in minutes to the reality of making money on an RM500 micro-loan, this conversation is a look at a banking system that people actually love.

Because the real disruption isn't the technology. It’s the end of the wait.

Pei Si Lai, Group Chief Executive Officer of GXS Bank

Most women influence a massive portion of global spending, yet they receive a tiny fraction of investment capital. Rejina Rahim believes the problem starts with a fundamental lack of "money ownership".

 

After nearly 30 years in the financial world, including serving as Managing Director for Nomura Asset Management, Rejina walked away from the corporate C-suite to launch Wahine Capital. Her mission? To bridge the gap between women and wealth.

 

In this episode, Rejina breaks down the cultural and psychological barriers with Anabelle that stop women from taking charge of their finances—from the "someone will take care of me" trap to the hesitation in negotiating salaries.

 

What she reveals is a wake-up call for every woman.

 

Financial independence isn't just about the numbers.

 

It’s about rewriting your "money story" and having the courage to ask for more. From the dangers of "liquid-only" investing to the reality of why many smart professionals see their savings disappear, this conversation provides a roadmap for financial confidence. Because you can't manage your future if you don't own your money.

 

CHAPTERS
00:00:00 - The "Ownership" Gap: Why Women Don't Control Their Wealth
00:07:11 - The "Motherhood" Awakening: Why Desperation Breeds Courage
00:09:43 - Becoming MD at 34: Overcoming the "I'm Not Ready" Lie
00:15:30 - The Danger of "Frittering": Why Even Ex-Bankers Lose Their Savings
00:28:45 - From Cost-Centre to Front Office: Branding Yourself for Value In


Rejina Rahim, Founder of Wahine Capital
Follow Rejina here:
URL: https://www.lifeofw.com/about
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rejina-rahim/

Most people dream about leaving — seeing the world, starting over, doing something different. Fabian Fernandez actually did it. As the fourth Malaysian to complete a full round-the-world circumnavigation, covering 30 countries and about 40,000 nautical miles, he made a decision most people never make — to walk away from comfort and commit to the unknown.

In this episode, Fabian shares what it really takes — not just to sail across oceans, but to face isolation, uncertainty, and himself. Because the hardest part isn’t the journey. It’s choosing a life where there’s no safety net, no distractions — just you, and the decision to keep going.

CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:26 - Who Is Fabian Fernandez
00:01:30 - Sailing Around the World (The Decision)
00:06:40 - Leaving Everything Behind
00:14:30 - Life at Sea (Expectation vs Reality)
00:22:50 - Isolation, Fear & Mental Challenges
00:35:20 - What Keeps You Going
00:46:10 - Freedom, Comfort & Final Reflections

Follow Fabian here:
URL: https://asianyachtingacademy.com/uncategorized/fabian-fernandez/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabian-fernandez-21b21871/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/dawnsailing