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The School of Marketing and Management (SoMM) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) recently organised an insightful speaking engagement titled “Future-Proofing Success: Marketing Sustainability for a winning Life (Work, Business, and Home).”

Led by Ms Harjinder Kaur (Senior Lecturer and IAP Coordinator, SoMM at APU), the speaking engagement brought together students eager to gain practical insights into sustainable success, personal development, and long-term business growth.

The speaking engagement featured esteemed guest speaker Mr Derek Kulasingham, Business Development Director and Principal of Focused Mind Solutions, who shared valuable perspectives drawn from his extensive experience in education, coaching, mentoring, and business development across Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region. 

Key Discussion Points

Throughout the session, Mr Derek highlighted the importance of adapting to today’s rapidly changing environment, explaining the transition from a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) world to a BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible) world.

He emphasised that sustainable success requires more than technical knowledge alone, encouraging students to cultivate resilience, adaptability, and a growth-oriented mindset to navigate uncertainty effectively.

A central theme of the discussion was personal mastery and purpose-driven success, to which students were encouraged to develop greater self-awareness, clarify their goals, and take ownership of their personal and professional development; further highlighting the role of positive thinking, emotional resilience, and continuous self-improvement in achieving sustainable performance and long-term success.

The session also explored sustainability from a broader perspective, encompassing long-term personal growth, business performance, ethical decision-making, and value creation.

Through practical frameworks such as the Business Chassis Model (foundational structure of a company), Mr Derek demonstrated how organisations can achieve sustainable growth by continuously improving key areas including marketing, sales, customer engagement, and profitability.

In addition, students gained valuable insights into the importance of creating meaningful value by identifying market opportunities, addressing customer challenges, and developing solution-oriented approaches.

The discussion concluded with practical strategies for continuous improvement and daily discipline, reinforcing the importance of consistent action, reflection, and lifelong learning in building sustainable success. 

Student Perspectives

1. Chiew Hee Lum, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Marketing Management with a specialism in Digital Marketing: “I truly appreciated the speaking engagement as it provided valuable insights into creating value by identifying gaps, improving existing solutions, and solving problems proactively, while reinforcing that sustainable success begins with mindset, purpose, and consistent action.”
2. Citra Ayu Pratiwi, Master of Science in Digital Marketing: “The speaking engagement helped me gain a deeper understanding of navigating today’s rapidly changing environment, highlighting how resilience and adaptability are essential in managing emotional and systemic challenges in a complex world.”
3. Aida Aurora Madope Mangue, Master of Science in Digital Marketing: “The speaking engagement was incredibly insightful as it deepened my understanding of how structured thinking and intentional action contribute to achieving goals, while also emphasising the importance of environment, discipline, and effective time management in sustaining long-term success.”
    

Reflections on the Speaking Engagement

Ms Harjinder highlighted that the speaking engagement provided students with valuable exposure beyond the classroom by integrating personal development principles with practical business frameworks and industry insights.

She noted that the session also strengthened students’ understanding of marketing sustainability, while equipping them with the mindset, adaptability, and strategic thinking skills needed to thrive in today’s rapidly changing environment.

“We remain committed to creating meaningful industry-driven learning experiences that empower students to develop both personally and professionally.”