Building Great CEOs Discussion with Dato’ Faris Yahaya
Introduction
On Sunday, 27th July 2025, Precession Capital and Fatanah Ventures relaunched Wisdom Sunday with energy, insight, and a truly global reach. More than a hundred participants tuned in from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, South Africa, Gabon, India, and the UK — reflecting the growing international footprint of Precession’s leadership ecosystem.
Hosted by Yu Hoe, the evening kicked off with warmth and interaction, setting the stage for more than just another webinar. Wisdom Sunday has always been designed as a living platform — where CEOs, founders, and aspiring leaders exchange not just strategies, but the hard-earned wisdom of building and leading organizations.
Setting the Stage: The Demands of Modern Leadership
Before the keynote, Nash Idrus (CEO of Precession Capital) and Dr. Wong Jeh Shyan (CEO of Fatanah Ventures) reminded participants why leadership in today’s world demands far more than operational competence.
- Modern CXOs must juggle scaling, governance, capital markets, and IPO preparation.
- Companies without visibility or financial roadmaps risk “driving in the dark,” as Dr. Wong cautioned.
This set the tone for the evening’s focus: equipping leaders to build sustainable, high-performing organizations.
Spotlight on Dato’ Faris Yahaya
With over three decades of experience across audit, investment banking, and corporate leadership — including as former Group CEO of MK Land Berhad — Dato’ Faris Yahaya delivered a powerful keynote on what makes a great CEO. While acknowledging there’s no single “formula,” he distilled his experience into seven hallmarks of great leadership.
The Seven Hallmarks of Great CEOs
- Empower, Don’t Micromanage
“We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” – Steve Jobs
A CEO’s role is to empower the team to deliver, not to control every detail./ - Listen More Than You Dictate
Great leaders absorb feedback, weigh perspectives, and act with humility. - Always Explain the Why
Clarity of purpose builds alignment. Employees follow when they understand the reason behind decisions. - Culture is Everything
“The right culture will make your organization; the wrong culture will break it.”
From startups to turnarounds, culture defines whether teams thrive or collapse. - Lead by Example with Integrity
“If you are rich, there will always be someone richer. But if you are honest, there are few more honest than you.”
Integrity, not wealth, is the ultimate leadership currency. - Reject Mediocrity — Set the Bar High
Excellence is non-negotiable. CEOs must challenge teams to go beyond “good enough.” - Put People First — and Prove It
True leaders back words with action: fair KPIs, performance-linked bonuses, ESOS, and genuine concern for work-life balance.
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Leadership in Action: Q&A Highlights
The live Q&A turned insight into application. A few standout lessons:
- Post-M&A culture clashes? Understand the acquired company’s why before imposing your own.
- Overworked startup founders? Don’t do it all alone — bring in co-founders or equity partners.
- Toxic employees? Be objective, but act quickly; one bad apple can poison the team.
- Ego management? “Ego = 1 / Knowledge. The more you know, the smaller your ego should be.”
- Crisis leadership (e.g., COVID shutdowns)? Communicate, engage, and face problems head-on — never in silence.
Why Wisdom Sunday Matters
By evening’s end, participants left with more than leadership tactics. They carried a renewed appreciation for leadership as:
- Clarity in vision.
- Humility in approach.
- People-first in action.
Or in Dato’ Faris’s own words:
“If you can’t make money with no money, you’ll never make money with money. Capital only magnifies who you are.”
What’s Next?
Wisdom Sunday is part of Precession Capital’s mission to nurture investor-ready leaders and build organizations equipped for global success. With upcoming Miracles of Capital and Advanced Business Courses across Asia, Africa, and beyond, the movement continues.
Missed this session? Stay tuned for the next Wisdom Sunday — and join a growing community of leaders shaping the future with clarity, courage, and heart.