Datin Dr Hasnorliza Abu Hassan

ASEAN Business Leaders: Can you give us an overview of ADLA Group and the role that the company plays to up-skilling the workforce in Malaysia?

Datin Dr Hasnorliza Abu Hassan: ADLA Group was established in January 2016 and I think that is not just in Malaysia but the region’s first and only Work Life Balance training institution, which is a progressive and dynamic knowledge-sharing organisation for up-skilling the workforce, from corporate, individuals and entrepreneurs. I decided to create the school to help entrepreneurs learn, embrace and develop entrepreneurship skills and knowledge to succeed in business and life. Hence, ADLA programmes are catered for business leaders, business owners, professional men and women, elected representatives, organisation members, entrepreneurs, NGOs, media, fresh graduates, and the public in general. Moreover, I try to incorporate a bit of the corporate setting where they would learn more rather than be slapdash about it.

ASEAN Business Leaders: Does ADLA has established partnerships or collaborations with other practitioners of education?

Datin Dr Hasnorliza Abu Hassan: Last November, I have been invited by University Pendidikan Sultan Idris in the state of Perak, Malaysia. They asked me to give a talk about preparing the mind setting to be entrepreneur. I have realised that a lot of young people now they are not afraid to be entrepreneur, but they don’t realise that it takes more time and efforts than what they initially thought. This year in 2018, we are working together with Asia Metropolitan University – AMU. We have been appointed by them to be on their learning centre for activity for MBA. Hence, it is recognised by the UK. I think this is an interesting course for people to know on how to achieve work-life balance. On the other hand, we are looking into strategic partnerships, we are connecting with people from NGOs and other organisations because we aim to widen our network.

ASEAN Business Leaders: How challenging is it to pass your knowledge and passion to the people?

Datin Dr Hasnorliza Abu Hassan: Personally, I find it to be mentally stimulating. Passion is very important, especially when you want to become a long-term player in the industry. If you want monetary gain – at certain festival seasons, for instance – that’s fine, that’s OK. But long-term, you have to know what your strengths are, otherwise it’s hard for you to move on.

Since this company is quite new, as we only started our key activities the beginning of 2017, we came out with brainstorm for the areas that we feel people needed some help, especially for women. In fact, we are focussing on raising awareness of mind-matters and spiritual. I think as entrepreneurs, we have been trained to be very on-the-go. We cannot follow the books too much. Infrastructures change very fast and sometimes we have to make split-second decisions. It’s a bit hard for the corporate world to accept, but that’s how we have to do it. I found that everyone has passion inside but still need some guidance and directions. Hence, for all of us in ADLA is very rewarding to work and help those people that require our assistant to achieve that in any stage, professional, personal, spiritual and specially woman that they need multitasking activities everyday.

ASEAN Business Leaders: One of the main social topics that we have seen lately in debates is the importance of women empowerment in the country and the wish in getting management positions at a high level. What is your opinion in this respect?

Datin Dr Hasnorliza Abu Hassan: As an ambassador for ‘The ASEAN Work-Life Balance Project’, I hope to inspire more women and I am passionate to share my inspiration in advocating women’s empowerment. I want to encourage millennial women to have high self-worth and a good work-life balance approach in doing the business they love, to positively impact their communities.

I firmly believe that, women will play an ever-great role in the country’s development and must consequently be given every opportunity to take part in the economy. Thus, I think that Malaysia has a record in terms of raising women as a force to drive the country’s growth. Hence, with globalisation today, the role women play in economic development was increasingly vital. Women knows better how to prioritize I guess. For example, in my list my children and my family are always my top priorities, then comes myself, my business, and then the community at large. I’ve been following this for a long time, and it has worked well for me. For example, when I do up my calendar, I normally will block everything pertaining to my children first. School holidays, exams, and birthdays. That goes first on the calendar. That’s how important they are. Then the rest will come in.

To fill the gap here, ADLA has developed these mentor series and coaching platforms:

• “Women Mentoring Network” This platform is formed to discover and recruit women mentors as well as women mentees seeking for proper guidance in various specific fields they are encountering. We understand the importance to create a network of credible mentors to inspire other, in terms of personal dealings & business challenges. ADLA will strategically match the mentors with the right background, experiences, and field of expertise, strengths, and accomplishments, to the right mentees seeking for guidance.

• “Mentoring Development Programme for Women” The Mentoring process is an essential part of any individual career development journey. Mentoring is a proven approach to drive rich learning and development for both the mentees and the mentors. It is a structured approach for individual development. Formalizing the relationship between individuals in any situation offers a structured setting to develop the leaders of today and the leaders of tomorrow, acting as a teacher, guide and wise friend to encourage and advise the younger generation by sharing their own experiences and successes of their profession.

• “On -1 Coaching” I decided to create this platform to help people navigate the challenges as entrepreneurs and to find work life balance, so that they can succeed at both. So, people don’t have to continue to feel overwhelmed. And, they don’t have to choose between success in their business, and success in their personal life. People can reach their potential in all areas their lives.

ASEAN Business Leaders: Dr Leez, you received the Women Excellence Award in 2014 under SME Category at the Excellence Achievement Awards, and Emerging Entrepreneur in 2016 by the Selangor Malay Chamber of Commerce. What these recognitions means to you?

Datin Dr Hasnorliza Abu Hassan: Getting recognitions such as these two is great but at the same time, this pushes you even further to try facing higher responsibilities. The support of everyone around my work-life balance and me is instrumental as I put my faith and family first. I believe that’s why I am where I am today. Making a difference in others’ lives is something that has always been closes to my heart.

ASEAN Business Leaders: Tell us a bit about your self-authored book on entrepreneurship and start-ups. “The Millennia’s Guide to Building Business Right” and how your family has influenced on you?

Datin Dr Hasnorliza Abu Hassan: The book was realised last May. I strongly suggest to be read, especially for those entrepreneurs while starting a business. My father was a Selangor government servant turned politician and my mother was a nurse from Penang. Hence, we used to follow our parents to many charity events as my family enjoys giving, so that’s probably where I got my charitable nature.

ASEAN Business Leaders: Malaysia is trying to position as a business hub into the region. Do you have any plan for expansion in ASEAN?

Datin Dr Hasnorliza Abu Hassan: I firmly believe that I can share, contribute in building entrepreneur’s wealth and empowering entrepreneur’s development growth with greater consistency. Moreover, I hope to be able to collaborate with more NGOs, independent bodies, associations and government agencies that share the same vision in creating a sustainable and healthier system for individual’s economic growth.

In the next 2 years, we’re expecting to go international perhaps firstly within the ASEAN region. Thus, in our previous forum there were two panellists from the ASEAN region, Indonesia and Singapore. ADLA stands for Advisory, Development, Learning and Achievement, we consider that passing ADLA’s vision across to the region, the society by large will be benefited.

More information on ADLA’s new activities and programmes can be found @ http://adla.my/

Follow below 2018 calendar of ADLA’s programmes.

• • January 25/01 Time Mastery For Work Life Balance Workshop

• • February 13/02 WLB Talk Mini Workshop Family & Relationship: Where Life Begins
    26/02 Seminar Transformasi Kepimpinan Wanita Puspanita ‘Wanita Gemilang’

• • March 08/03 ADLA – Booth (Pameran & Jualan Sempena Hari Wanita Antarabangsa 2018)
    14/03 Time Mastery for Work Life Balance (Ministry)
    27/03 Women Lifestyle Brunch Mini Workshop 7 Pockets Towards Financial Freedom
    30/03 Projek Memperkasakan Ibu Tunggal

• • April 11/04 Women Lifestyle Brunch Mini Workshop Shaping a Positive You Through Self-Development
    25/04 Mentoring Development Program for Women Official Launch
    26/04 Mentoring Development Program for Women – Pilot program

• • May 13/05 Tribute To Mothers
    24/05 Kuliah Dhuha
    31/05 Kuliah Dhuha

• • June 07/06 Kuliah Dhuha
    28/06 Women Lifestyle Brunch Mini Workshop Holistic Wellness: The New Paradigm to Thriving Life

• • July 11/07 Women Development Mentoring Program
    18/07 Time Mastery For Work Life Balance Workshop
    25/07 Women Lifestyle Brunch Mini Workshop Know What You Put on Your Skin

• • August 09/08 Women Development Mentoring Program – Johor
    14/08 WLB Mini Seminar In Conjunction With International Youth Day + Millennial’s Book Launch
    29/08 Women Lifestyle Brunch Mini Workshop Law of Attraction

• • September 06/09 Women Development Mentoring Program –
    13/09 Time Mastery For Work Life Balance Workshop
    27/09 Work Life Balance Special Edition

• • October 31/10 International Work Life Balance Forum 2018 –

• • November 21/11 International Work Life Balance Forum 2018 – Sarawak

• December 12/12 Time Mastery For Work Life Balance Workshop