We recently had the privilege of interviewing William Malek, Chief Strategy Officer of RenDanHeYi SEAsia Research Center. With over 35 years of expertise in building executable strategies and leading transformational growth, William has been involved in designing and teaching several award-winning executive education courses. Exposure to diverse cultures and environments at an early age fueled William Malek’s passion and shaped his entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills.
In this exclusive interview, William shares his early life and background and how travel shaped his career path. Join us as we delve into William Malek’s mind and vision, a revolutionary leader shaping the training and coaching sector.
The Beginning
To learn more about William Malek and his early life, we started the interview by asking, “Can you please provide us with some information about yourself, including your early life and education?”
William Malek shared, “I was raised in a military family, and in the 60’s that meant moving somewhere around the globe every 2-3 years and this was perhaps the most significant influence on me as I was formulating my perspectives about the world. Being able to see things differently in an entirely different context has allowed me to be far more curious and open to new information and diverse perspectives. Traveling early in life has directly helped me develop a strong cultural sensitivity and diversity appreciation. Travel exposed me to different cultures, traditions, and lifestyles, enabling me to understand and respect differences in people and their ways of life. I now live in Thailand and feel very at home.
Also, being in new environments with different languages, customs, and routines taught me to adapt and be flexible in our rapidly evolving world. Travel naturally ignited my curiosity too. I was much more often curious to learn about the world around me, whether it was the local history, the languages, or the natural ecology being outdoors most of the time. This curiosity translated into a lifelong love for learning and one result was being awarded the honor of ‘Valedictorian’ when I graduated from high school in the US. The good news, I grew up without TV and iPhones giving me lots of time to be curious.
Besides, interacting with people from various backgrounds and understanding their circumstances can foster empathy and compassion. I became more aware of the challenges and struggles of others in many different contexts, which led me to a greater sense of empathy for other cultures.”
He added, “Travel challenged my ability to step out of my comfort zone from a very early age and helped me build independence and confidence along with building my self-reliance and problem-solving skills. Exploring different natural environments, from mountains to oceans, can instill a deep appreciation for the planet. This is probably one reason I was driven to study Environmental Engineering in college and to ask many questions about what it means to experience sustainable living.
Moreover, travel provided me with a broader perspective on life and helped me understand that there are multiple ways of living and thinking about things, encouraging open-mindedness and discouraging narrow-minded attitudes. By experiencing many different places, I often have a greater appreciation for my own home, family, and community. Travel has made me more aware of the things I have and has taught me deep gratitude for the space I do occupy.”
More About RenDanHeYi SEAsia
Eager to learn more about William Malek’s company and its presence in the Singapore region, we asked, “Could you tell us about your company and its presence in the Singapore region?”
William responds, “I am now based in Thailand and working as the Chief Strategy Officer for the RenDanHeYi SEAsia Research Center, but my former company in San Francisco had a major role in the mid-1990s concerning the renovation and re-invention of the Singapore National Library (SNL). This case is even described in my co-authored book, Executing Your Strategy, published by the Harvard Business School Press! The SNL is an excellent case of how organizational systems innovation may drive the new paradigms it seeks.
Today, I am in a deep dive into the incredible phenomena of growth and innovation being experienced by the thousands of ‘micro-enterprises’ within the Haier Group, a global Chinese-based company using the principles of RenDanHeYi in an autonomous enterprise.”
Yearly Achievements
To learn about the recent growth and achievements of the company, we inquired, “How has the year been for your company in terms of overall performance and achievements?”
William replied enthusiastically, “I am now on a whole new level pursuing the next game-changing paradigm of Quantum-based organizations. Working with the Haier Group has been a life-changing experience as I had to unlearn a serious amount of programming from business school and other bureaucratic designed organizations that now no longer serve the kind of world we now see emerging.”
Setting RenDanHeYi Apart
Curious to learn more about the services offered by William Malek’s organization, we questioned, “In the current competitive market, what does your business offer that sets it apart from others?”
He shared, “I am co-partnering with a newly formed organization called the Quantum Management Center which is based on the Quantum Physicist, Danah Zohar, and her 2022 book entitled, ‘Zero Distance; Management in the Quantum Age’. This is essentially a case study on Haier and demonstrates why it may very well be one of the first Quantum Managed organizations in the world.”
Fostering Unity
To understand William Malek’s perspective on fostering unity and cooperation among the team, we asked, “What measures do you believe employees and organizations can take to build effective teamwork and foster unity within the workplace?”
Emphasizing the importance of purpose-driven principles, he said, “The single most effective thing that can be done is to allow your teams to experience autonomy. Self-driven, self-organizing, self-deciding teams in pursuit of a purpose-driven goal will ignite your team’s creative potential like no other.”
Advice For Startups
Lastly, addressing the aspiring entrepreneurs, we asked, “Do you have any advice or tips for startups looking to follow a similar pathway to your company’s success?”
He shared, “So many startups naturally carry the DNA to explore and experiment. Learning how to learn amid disruption, failure, and obstacles/constraints is one of the most critical capabilities you can experience. I would also add that understanding what it means to be at Zero Distance to customers will help you understand the statement – don’t fall in love with your product, fall in love with your customer’s problems and opportunities. Do what you love, love others and the money will flow.”
Follow William Malek on LinkedIn.
Find RenDanHeYi SEAsia Research Center on LinkedIn.
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