KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah today officially launched the Next Generation Entrepreneurs Organisation (NGEO), a youth development platform dedicated to the next generation of its members.
Through experiential learning, company visits and diverse hands-on activities, NGEO aims to introduce members’ children to the business world while nurturing their leadership abilities and broadening their international outlook.
NGEO was established under the leadership and initiative of MCCC Sabah President Datuk Dexter Lau.
It seeks to inspire and nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs, professionals and future business leaders from an early age by encouraging children to step beyond the classroom, engage with the real world, and gain practical exposure to business, entrepreneurship, leadership and social responsibility.
NGEO is led by Chairperson Charlene Chea, founder of Piel Perfecta and Hair Soul, together with Deputy Chairperson Katryn Haw of Ironfield Engineering Sdn. Bhd. and Treasurer Aerith Lee of Dreamer Visual.
They are supported by a committee comprising MCCC Sabah members from a wide range of industries and professional backgrounds.With experiential learning at its core, NGEO will organise company visits, industry exposure programmes, interactive workshops and hands-on activities.
These initiatives will enable children to gain first-hand insights into business models and the operations of different industries while developing their communication skills, creativity, leadership qualities, self-confidence and entrepreneurial mindset.
Beyond business knowledge and practical experience, NGEO also places strong emphasis on preserving Chinese culture, traditional values and business ethics.
It hopes that the next generation will learn not only how to build and operate a successful enterprise, but also how to understand and uphold the integrity, responsibility, compassion and perseverance demonstrated by the generation of entrepreneurs before them
At the same time, NGEO will serve as a platform for connection and intergenerational continuity among MCCC Sabah member families.
It will allow members to share their business experiences, professional knowledge and life journeys with their children in ways that are more engaging and relatable to the younger generation, thereby passing on their values and experiences through companionship and meaningful interaction.
This initiative will also further strengthen the MCCC family. By learning, experiencing and growing together, members’ children will be able to build friendships, broaden their horizons and discover new possibilities through their interactions with one another.
“Inspiring Today’s Young Sprouts, Building Tomorrow’s Business Leaders.”To celebrate the official launch of NGEO, the organisation today also held its first members-only programme, the “Mid-Autumn Snowskin Mooncake-Making Workshop,” which attracted enthusiastic participation from MCCC Sabah members and their children.
During the workshop, the children learned to make snowskin mooncakes by hand and created special mooncakes bearing the MCCC logo, allowing them to experience traditional festive culture in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.
The activity not only encouraged creativity and teamwork among the children, but also deepened their understanding and appreciation of Chinese traditions.
At the same time, it provided MCCC member families with an opportunity to connect in a warm festive setting, further strengthening the unity of the chamber’s extended family.
The successful conclusion of this inaugural programme also marked the beginning of a series of carefully planned experiential learning activities by NGEO.
Next, NGEO will organise a visit to the Fire and Rescue Department, where members’ children will learn about fire drills, emergency response and safety management, while gaining a better understanding of the importance of workplace safety in business operations.
Through this experience, the children will learn that business success is built not only on sound management and profitability, but also on safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of employees.
This will help cultivate their early understanding of responsibility, compassion and responsible leadership.NGEO will also arrange future visits to member-owned businesses, factories and commercial establishments across various sectors.
These visits will provide children with a closer look at how different industries operate, including their business models, production processes and management practices, while allowing them to explore potential career paths and opportunities across different sectors in authentic business environments.
Through these practical experiences, the children will not only broaden their horizons but also gain a deeper appreciation of the diverse industries and professional fields represented by MCCC Sabah members, as well as the wealth of expertise and experience within the chamber’s extended family.
Four Core MissionsNGEO’s vision is to nurture the next generation of business leaders for MCCC Sabah—leaders who possess an international outlook, a strong sense of social responsibility, integrity in leadership and firm cultural roots.
It aims to ensure that, as they grow, young people develop both business acumen and humanistic values while carrying forward their family values, Chinese cultural heritage and entrepreneurial spirit.
To realise this vision, NGEO will focus on four core missions:
1. Entering the Real WorldTo provide the next generation with first-hand exposure to real business models, industries and professional fields, enabling them to understand the business world through practical experience.
2. Embracing Experiential LearningTo inspire entrepreneurial thinking, leadership, innovation and self-confidence among children through interactive and hands-on learning.
3. Remaining Rooted in CultureTo preserve and pass down the spirit of Chinese culture, traditional values, business ethics and principles of integrity, ensuring that outstanding entrepreneurial values continue from one generation to the next.
4. Strengthening the MCCC FamilyTo connect MCCC member families and create a platform where children can build friendships, exchange knowledge and grow together, while nurturing more outstanding talent for the future business community.
Through NGEO, MCCC Sabah aspires to build a bridge between today’s business leaders and the younger generation of tomorrow, ensuring that knowledge, experience and values are passed from one generation to the next.Beginning today,
NGEO will sow in the hearts of children the seeds of curiosity, responsibility, empathy, integrity and entrepreneurship.
With time, experience and careful nurturing, these seeds of hope will take root, sprout and flourish—eventually becoming a new generation of changemakers who will contribute to the continued growth of their families, the chamber and society as a whole.
