We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ching Loong Poo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ching Loong, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their revenue to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details
Yes, we started doing this since 2006. We donate a percentage of revenue to an organization is important for several reasons:
Social Impact: By donating a portion of revenue, businesses have the opportunity to make a positive impact on society. Contributions can support causes such as Women, Child, education, fighting disease, poverty alleviation, environmental conservation, etc. This helps address pressing social issues and improves the well-being of communities.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Demonstrating our CSR is increasingly expected from businesses or our clients. By donating to charitable organizations, we able to showcase our commitment to giving back and being good citizens. This helps build trust, enhance reputation, and foster positive relationships with stakeholders, including clients, employees, and the public.
Employee Engagement: Engaged employees are more likely to be satisfied, productive, and loyal. Supporting charitable initiatives through donation programs can boost employee morale and engagement. It demonstrates that the company values social causes and encourages employees to be part of something meaningful, fostering a sense of purpose and pride.
Tax Benefits: In Malaysia, donating to certain charity organization may receive tax deduction for charitable donations. These can help reduce tax liabilities and provide additional financial advantages for the company.
Overall, donating a percentage of revenue to an organization is important because it allows businesses to make a positive impact, fulfill our social responsibilities, engage our employees, enhance our brand perception, build stronger communities, and potentially receive tax benefits. It aligns our business with societal needs and contributes to a more sustainable and compassionate world.
Choosing a charity organization to support requires careful consideration to ensure that our donations are utilized effectively and align with our goals. Here are some processes we go through:
Verify Legitimacy: We always look for reputable and well-established charitable organizations, example Rotary International, Lion International or even Tze Chi. We always verify their legitimacy, financial transparency, governance practices, and impact. Study their annual reports, and independent evaluations to assess their credibility help.
Transparency and Accountability: Ensure that the charity organization operates with transparency and accountability. They should have clear financial reporting practices, demonstrate how donations are utilized, and provide regular updates on their activities. We look for organizations that adhere to recognized ethical standards and codes of conduct.
Geographic Focus: Determine whether we prefer to support local, national, or international organizations. Consider the geographic areas where the charity operates and the impact they have in those communities. If there are some disaster during that period of time, the geographic focus will be that area.
Engage with the Organization: We normally reach out to the charity organization directly to learn more about their work, values, and plans. Ask questions about how they involve donors in their activities. Engaging in direct conversations can provide insights into their transparency and responsiveness.
Visit and Volunteer: Whenever possible, we visit the organization’s projects or volunteer our team’s time to get firsthand experience of their work. This can help us gauge the effectiveness of their programs, interact with beneficiaries, and understand the impact of our potential donations.
We believe by doing the above, we can make this world a better place.
Ching Loong, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
MaxSolution & Company has been operating as a unified partnership since 2003, driven by a shared set of values, commitment, and a dedication to making positive social impact through our work and business practices. With our recent technical Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a group of Ex Microsoft Corporation product team members, we are now able to provide services across the United States, France, and Pakistan.
We maintain a consistent approach to recruiting and skills development, regardless of the location of our team members. This allows us to quickly assemble the right team, with the necessary experience and expertise, to serve every client. Our resources are available in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Our diverse team of consultants includes Subject Matter Experts, Microsoft Security Experts, IT consultants, IT engineers, data scientists, business managers, entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, and research personnel. They join us to apply their talents to complex and important challenges, particularly in solving market problems.
Since 2006, we have been recognized as a Microsoft Gold Partner for Infrastructure, Data Center, and Productivity. Our Gold Partnership status extends to Productivity, Infrastructure, and Security as of 2022. We pride ourselves on being powered by knowledge. We invest significant company resources each year in knowledge development, learning, and capability building. We study markets, trends, and best practices both locally and globally, including participation in high-level skill training facilitated by Microsoft regional experts. Currently, our focus lies in Microsoft Cloud Infrastructure (Microsoft Azure), Microsoft Security (M365 range), and Productivity (O365, etc.). Our team members are also trained in Project Management Professional, ITIL, and Scrum methodologies.
Innovation is a constant endeavor for us. We continuously seek new and improved ways to serve our clients securely, adapting to their ever-changing needs through technology. This involves attracting fresh talent, collaborating with top companies, acquiring new firms, and developing new capabilities in areas such as design, analytics, and digital solutions. Additionally, we have dedicated time and resources to explore the applications of Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Blockchain, particularly within the real estate industry.
We engage with clients at all levels of their organization, serving as trusted advisors to top management and hands-on coaches for frontline employees. We work closely with our clients to implement recommendations, support their long-term growth, develop workforce skills, drive operational improvements, and introduce new working methods.
Regardless of the challenge at hand, our primary focus remains on delivering practical and lasting results. We equip our clients with the tools and strategies they need to thrive and take a leading position in their respective industries.
At MaxSolution & Company, we are committed to advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles through our technology services. We recognize the critical role that technology plays in driving sustainable and responsible practices across industries. Here is how we contribute to ESG through our technology offerings:
Environmental Sustainability:
We develop and implement eco-friendly solutions to reduce carbon footprint. Our technology services focus on energy efficiency, virtualization, cloud computing, and data center optimization, enabling our clients to minimize their environmental impact.
We leverage advanced analytics and AI-driven algorithms with Microsoft technologies to help organizations identify and mitigate environmental risks, optimize resource consumption, and make data-driven decisions for sustainability.
Social Impact:
We support organizations in leveraging technology to address social challenges, such as education, poverty alleviation, and community development. Our expertise in areas like e-learning platforms, and social impact analytics helps drive positive change. Recently, we are partnering with a company to measure happiness in an organization.
Governance and Ethical Practices:
We prioritize data privacy and security in all our technology services. Our solutions adhere to the highest industry standards and compliance regulations, safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring responsible data handling. We assist organizations in implementing frameworks, ethical AI practices, and cybersecurity measures to protect against data breaches, promote transparency, and maintain trust with stakeholders.
At MaxSolution & Company, we are dedicated to leveraging technology as a force for positive change, driving ESG practices and helping organizations achieve their sustainability goals. By combining our expertise in technology innovation, responsible practices, and stakeholder collaboration, we empower our clients to create lasting environmental, social, and governance impacts in their respective industries and beyond.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
When I decided to start my own business in 2003, securing the necessary capital was a crucial step in turning my entrepreneurial vision into a reality. Here’s the story of how I put together the initial capital for my business:
I had been diligently saving money for years, setting aside a portion of my income to build a financial cushion. These personal savings served as the foundation of my initial capital. Later, every single business earning is kept for rainy days. Still remember the first dividend that I withdraw is 12 years after setting up the business.
Fast forward for today, if giving another chance, I will identify angel investors or venture capitalists who specialize in funding startups. I will pitch my business idea, highlighting its unique value proposition, market potential, and growth opportunities. Securing investment from experienced investors provided not only capital but also valuable guidance and connections within the industry.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Few of our believes and focus helped us to build our reputation within our Technology market:
Providing high-quality products or services is essential for building a positive reputation. Consistently delivering value to clients and exceeding their expectations establishes trust and credibility in the market. Our motto in the past 20 years is ‘Inspire & Deliver’.
Clients support are the main reasons we survived. Prioritizing their satisfaction and consistently delivering exceptional customer service helps build a positive reputation. Going above and beyond to address their needs, resolving issues promptly, and maintaining open lines of communication can foster strong relationships and positive word-of-mouth referrals.
Our people demonstrating expertise and deep knowledge within our industry positions as a trusted advisor. Sharing insights, thought leadership, and valuable content through blogs, articles, webinars, or speaking engagements enhanced our reputation as a knowledgeable and reliable resource in Technology world.
Conducting business with integrity and adhering to ethical practices enhances our reputation in the market. Operating in a transparent and responsible manner, maintaining high ethical standards, and being socially and environmentally conscious differentiate our brand and attract customers who value ethical conduct.
Developing strong relationships with industry peers, principles, customers, and other stakeholders significantly contribute to our reputation. Networking, participating in industry events, and collaborating with reputable partners also help establish our presence and credibility within the market.
Our assets are our people. Embracing a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation signals our commitment to staying ahead in the market. By adapting to changing trends, incorporating new technologies, and consistently innovating us and establish us as a leader in Technology industry and maintain a competitive edge.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.max-solution.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaxSolutionGroup/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maxsolution/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maxsolutioncompany