First “Sembang Sembang” in Kelantan Draws over 60 Women Entrepreneurs

Four successful Kelantan businesswomen sharing experiences during the discussion led by Puan Noraini, UMK lecturer.

The Entrepreneurship Open Hall at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) was the site of the first Sembang Sembang (Malay for “casual conversations”) in Kota Bahru, Kelantan on March 9, 2011.  Co-organized by Warisan Global Sdn Bhd and UMK, and funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, this networking event brought together over 60 students, entrepreneurs and businesswomen to discuss the topic of “Challenges in Entrepreneurship: Myth or Reality?”  Moderated by Puan Noraini, a lecturer on the UMK Business and Entrepreneurship Faculty, the program included a panel consisting of four local women entrepreurs, Puan Che Hasmah bt Che Hassan, Director of Hasmah Wide Enterprise; Puan Wan Zuraida bt Wan Isa, Director of Leda Food Enterprise; Puan Suhaiza bt Mohd Yazri of Dome Technologies Sdn Bhd; and Puan Silawati Sidek, President of Persatuan Usahawan Siswazah Kelantan.

The guests learned that although the challenges of entrepreneurship are real, a positive mindset and determination can overcome them.  They also were interested to discover that not only high-end products and services can make a successful business, but that traditional products can also have high market value if they are promoted with passion and ingenuity.

One year after its inception, “Sembang Sembang” has proved to be a popular and informative vehicle for communication and encouragement for women entrepreneurs in Malaysia.  The next Sembang Sembang will be held on March 25 in Sarawak where the topic will be “New Opportunities for Sarawak Women Entrepreneurs.”