Have you always dreamed of becoming a leader who inspires others and drives change? Do you possess a burning passion or the spark of an idea to change your society for the better? Do you want to meet and learn from inspiring leaders and other young Malaysians striving to make a difference in society? If so, this programme could be for you!

For further information, please review the FAQs below or contact YLA_Malaysia@mckinsey.com.

1. What is the Youth Leadership Academy?
2. What is social entrepreneurship?
3. Do you qualify? For whom is the programme intended?
4. How do you sign up?
5. Other frequently asked questions

A. What is the Youth Leadership Academy?

The Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) is dedicated to nurturing and building capabilities of future young leaders and social entrepreneurs of Malaysia. As a participant, you will have the opportunity to improve your leadership and entrepreneurial skills, form mentoring relationships with young professionals and senior business leaders as well as meet likeminded young Malaysians. The programme consists of:

• Two full-day workshops led by faculty consisting of colleagues from our Kuala Lumpur office, with proprietary curriculum centred around leadership development and problem-solving. (The workshops will be held on 28 July and 15 September 2012)
• Access to mentors from a select pool of young professionals and successful Malaysian leaders who will participate in the delivery of the programme. Past volunteers have included Dato’ Seri Idris Jala (CEO of Pemandu), Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar (MD of Khazanah) and Johan Merican (CEO of Talent Corp)
• Working together with a team to outline and implement a social-entrepreneurship project of your choice

This programme is about developing the next generation of Malaysian leaders and social entrepreneurs.

[As one of the world's leading management consulting firms, McKinsey is a trusted adviser to leaders of companies, governments, and institutions in 50 countries the world over.

McKinsey is at the centre of the world's most influential global leadership network and is a firm that develops distinctive leaders. Many of our alumni are influential business leaders, representing virtually every business sector in more than 100 countries.]

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B. WHAT IS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

Social entrepreneurship is the use of entrepreneurial and/or business principles to plan, develop and manage a business or venture to achieve social goals. Past participants of YLA have exemplified social entrepreneurship in projects that have included (1) creating a channel for rural Malaysian communities to sell local handicrafts to a wider public and (2) collecting excess food from bakeries, restaurants etc. to distribute to the underprivileged.

A well-known example of social entrepreneurship is the Grameen Bank that was established in Bangladesh by Muhammad Yunus. The Bank extends microcredit i.e. small loans to poor people with no collateral, who cannot otherwise obtain credit through conventional lending channels like commercial banks. For his efforts, Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. Click here for more details.

Closer to home, social entrepreneurship is growing from strength to strength thanks to the dedication and ingenuity of concerned Malaysians. Examples include:

(1) Teach for Malaysia is a not-for-profit organization that enlists fresh university graduates and young professionals to commit to teaching full-time in schools that need support. The programme is fully funded by donations and corporate sponsorships. The programme was started by Keeran Sivarajah Dzameer Dzulkifli. Keeran was a speaker at YLA 2011. Click here for more details.

(2) The brainchild of Cheryl The, Project “Light a Home” aims to raise sponsorship to purchase solar-powered light bulbs for members of the Orang Asal (aka Orang Asli) community who do not have access to electricity or who rely on oil lamps or generators for electricity for short lengths of time. Click here for more details.

(3) Gerai Orang Asal markets and sells Orang Asal traditional goods and channels all proceeds back to the artisans in an effort to sustain traditional art forms and provide much-needed income to rural communities. Click here for more details.

The Youth Leadership Academy aims to equip aspiring young Malaysians with skills and coaching that will enable them to become successful leaders of change like the social entrepreneurs mentioned above.

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C. Do you qualify? For whom is the programme intended?

YLA is a diverse and select group of 20 to 30 of the most talented and driven Malaysian undergraduate students currently studying at a university in Malaysia. We are looking for candidates who have demonstrated strong leadership potential, personal drive, and a passion and energy for making a difference in our community and country.

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D. How do you sign up?

Students will be asked to sign up via an online application form here.

If you and your friends already have a clear idea of what social entrepreneurship idea you wish to pursue during YLA, you are then encouraged to apply as a group. To apply as a group, you need to state your preference of whom you would like to share a group with during YLA when you make your individual application. The number of people you can state your preference to work together with is capped at 3. Note that all of you must make separate applications as each application will be assessed on an individual basis.

Apart from personal particulars and your academic record, you will be expected to write a personal statement on why you want to be a part of YLA and a plan on a social venture idea, e.g., to improve living standards in rural areas or improve education among low income households.

Upon screening, successful applicants will be invited to attend a one-hour interview either in person or over the phone in early July 2012.

Feel free to also contact us at YLA_Malaysia@mckinsey.com with specific queries should you have any.

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E. Other frequently asked questions

1. Is this programme only for those interested in the corporate sector?

Not at all. While many of our mentors are from the corporate sector, they are also deeply involved in leadership roles in their community. The YLA programme aims to develop future leaders of Malaysia across all fields and sectors.

We recognise that there are many ways to create positive change and are committed to helping you work toward achieving your leadership vision, whatever that may be.

2. Are there minimum academic criteria I need to meet?

YLA participants will be selected based on a combination of their personal achievements, leadership experiences, and communication skills in addition to their academic track record.

3. What are some tips for writing a good essay?

Through the assigned essay, we seek to understand you better as a person and discover your leadership potential. Be honest and use the essay as a way to tell us about you. Also, make sure to check for spelling and grammatical errors.

4. How much time am I expected to devote to the programme?

This programme comprises two one-day workshops, coaching sessions, and working together with your team to develop and implement your social venture idea. Most activities including selection interviews will occur between July and September of this year.

5. What is the fee for the programme?

The YLA programme is free of charge. In addition, within limits, our office will reimburse reasonable travel expenses for participants residing outside the Klang Valley.

6. Can I obtain copies of the programme brochure and/or poster?

Sure. Just download the relevant files from the following links:
Programme poster (PDF - 215 KB)
YLA programme brochure (PDF - 1.68 MB)

7. Could you tell me more about the iPad?

As a means of injecting competition into this year’s YLA programme, each member of the winning team of YLA 2012 will be awarded an iPad as a prize. The winning team will be judged based on the quality, sustainability and impact demonstrated of their social entrepreneurship venture. The award decision will be made during the second YLA workshop in September.

8. Whom do I contact if I have any additional questions?

If you have any further questions about this programme, please send an e-mail to YLA_Malaysia@mckinsey.com.

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