EY's Jade Leong looks at Malaysia's vibrant tech ecosystem

She will be one of the judges at this year’s Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards.

A quarter-century ago technology risk management wasn’t something you would delegate to a new hire, particularly if you’re from one of the big accounting firms. Imagine the expertise needed to handle such complexity at the time?

But Jade Leong, Advisory Partner at Ernst & Young, wasn’t your typical fresh graduate. After grabbing her degree from Queen’s University of Belfast in the UK, she returned to Kuala Lumpur to apply with the Big 4 and hasn’t looked back since.

With 24 years of experience, Jade was humble to admit her ‘proficiency’ in technology risks and advisory.

As an idealist who wanted to save the world and ended up doing so with numbers, Jade’s expertise would encompass the whole IT scope, from governance, risk management and assurance to IT strategy plans, system implementation and benefits realisation. She currently holds (CGEIT and CRISC) certifications.

Aside from handling specific regulatory compliance and assurance reviews for local and multinational firms on technology governance, her current focus includes incorporating digital and automation into the execution of controls. Some of her main clients are in the technology, telecommunications and financial sectors.

In an interview with Singapore Business Review, Jade talks about her introduction to the Big 4, jumping on the digital bandwagon, as well as her personal advocacy on women empowerment.

Can you share with us your work experience and backstory that contributed to your professional career?

I wanted to save the world...but ended up doing an accounting degree. When I graduated, I came back to Kuala Lumpur and applied to a Big 4 firm, like all accounting graduates. I was offered a role in technology risk management, which was very new at that time (25 years ago!). I jumped at that opportunity and never looked back. That decision or offer gave me opportunities in auditing IT systems and processes, developing IT strategy plans, and advising on large IT transformation projects. Working alongside technology principals, system integrators and the business.

With BAUs and BCPs being tested amidst the circuit breaker. How are enterprises coping in their operations and how are they responding to the shift in consumer expectations? Which new products or services do you think would thrive post-crisis?

This season has definitely been a catalyst for digital transformation. With little to no physical interaction with suppliers and customers, life must carry on, enabled by digital. Therefore, technology and digital products that can simplify and enable businesses are needed. Even coffee shops and high-end restaurants, who were famous due to the history or the atmosphere and service at the outlet, have had to jump on the digital bandwagon. It takes more now, for a business to distinguish itself to the consumer.

What’s your view on Malaysia’s tech entrepreneurs and startup ecosystem? Which industries are ramping up with their digital innovations?

Malaysians are very innovative and there is huge talent. And whatever you say about our education system, we still have many creative, hardworking and smart people who have great ideas and want to build on their own ideas. So the ecosystem will remain vibrant, especially with the support and programmes our government has in place.

Along with remote setups, women empowerment and leadership is no longer an exception but the norm. Can you share more about your advocacy for women in the workplace?

Working from home or remotely has become acceptable and required very quickly. And we have all learned to adapt and improve in this way of working. I agree with your statement regarding the idea of women empowerment being highly embraced and engraved in corporate culture. Many large and small businesses have been successfully led by women. Countries have been successfully led by women.

I am fortunate to work in an organisation that generally does not discriminate gender. However, advocacy for women is still important. For me, it is recognizing their value, their discipline and their contribution. And being trusting of women (and men too!), when they need some flexibility in balancing family commitments. More often than not, I find that when we allow flexibility, the recipient of this works even harder to meet or exceed expectations.

Aside from doubling down on tech and digital innovations, what do firms need to consider to become more profitable and sustainable in the future?

In any situation, the basics of controlling costs, driving productivity and efficiency, being relevant to the market, and being socially responsible will continue to be important. Agility and speed, usually through digital innovation, provides a competitive edge. But always remember that humankind and humanity is not compromised.