Surina Shukri, former CEO of MDEC (Malaysia Digital Financial system Company), handed away this morning. Aged 48, Surina’s household launched a press release explaining that she handed away following her lengthy battle with most cancers at Ampang Puteri Hospital.

She’s survived by her husband, Jasmin Ong Rashid, and three youngsters, Ean, Arianna, and Zac.

In gentle of Surina’s passing, we’d like to provide our condolences to her family members and likewise rejoice her achievements all through her life as a businesswoman.

She leaves behind a legacy of innovation and management in each the non-public and public sectors. As a girl who has held many roles in her life, Surina’s tenure at MDEC is simply the tip of the iceberg in an extended worldwide profession. 

A notable skilled background

Many years in the past, Surina ventured past Malaysia to forge a profession in Wall Road on the esteemed American financial institution JP Morgan Chase & Co. In accordance to her LinkedIn, she took on numerous positions there together with Head of Technique for Enterprise Administration and Innovation, Center Market Banking, and Specialised Industries for 2 years. 

Afterwards, she based SheNovation Ventures in New York in 2018. It’s a change and development enterprise studio the place she would advise fintech and blockchain startups on development technique and capital elevating, in addition to present enterprise session on tradition change and transformation. 

Throughout that interval, she was additionally part of 37 Angels, an angel investor community the place she would assist display screen and put money into startups. 

Then she acquired a name from the Malaysian authorities that modified her life. From January 2019 up till August 2021, Surina served because the CEO of MDEC. She ruled through the turmoil of the pandemic’s onset and tailored to the management of three prime ministers in two years.

In her reminiscence, let’s look again at a few of Surina’s achievements and contributions to the native digital financial system and past, throughout this tenure.

Reflecting on her achievements and contributions domestically

1. She helped native SMEs transfer on-line by way of MyDIGITAL

Because the CEO of MDEC, one in all Surina’s most notable contributions was serving to Malaysian companies to shift into the digital realm through the pandemic. This contains eRezeki that was launched in 2020 to help low-income teams earn extra wages.

By finishing digital initiatives through crowdsourcing platforms, 339,000 members collectively earned an revenue of RM1.1 billion.

The Malaysian Reserve additionally reported that 489,000 SMEs adopted ecommerce platforms, whereas 378,000 SMEs have been educated to utilise them. When it comes to development, the variety of firms utilising ecommerce grew from 1,800 to 27,000 below her management.

2. She assisted native companies in international attain

When Surina was appointed CEO, she adopted the earlier administration’s Go-eCommerce programme that helps companies embrace the web area.

Below this programme, MDEC additionally launched Challenge DESA, which inspired rural-based retailers to shift their companies on-line. SMEs have been additionally suggested to broaden into markets past Malaysia. 

Because of this, 4,367 SMEs engaged in cross-border ecommerce through the Digital Free Commerce Zone. One other 130 native digital firms grew into international gamers below the International Acceleration & Innovation Community (GAIN).

3. She educated hundreds of companies on the advantages of going digital

To hurry up digitalisation amidst the lockdowns, MDEC hosted e-Dagang Expo throughout Surina’s tenure.

A five-day digital occasion, it aimed to educate 500,000 native companies no matter measurement on the advantages of ecommerce. MDEC achieved this by internet hosting webinars and panel classes that gave sensible recommendation to succeed within the digital market.

Because of this, the e-Dagang Expo attracted over 23 million members over two weeks. 

There was additionally an eUsahawan entrepreneurship programme that onboarded micro-enterprises onto ecommerce platforms. Operating from January to June 2020, it educated 41,789 entrepreneurs and generated RM65.Four million in whole gross sales worth.

4. She supplied monetary providers to the underserved

One other contribution of Surina’s whereas in MDEC is eBerkat. A web based platform, it helped to enhance consciousness of digital monetary providers (like loans and investments) to SMEs and B40s. 

Consequently, the company onboarded 2,000 MSMEs the place 13% efficiently secured funding. 

Following her tenancy at MDEC, Surina lent her monetary experience to Speed up International, a Malaysian social enterprise geared toward tackling youth unemployment points worldwide. There, she served as a board member and oversaw its funds and development.  

5. She advocated for the enhancement of cybersecurity

With the adoption of digital options, Surina made positive to additionally push for higher cybersecurity. 

Below her management, MDEC started working with SME Corp to assist companies undertake cybersecurity options. The company additionally partnered with different industries to present cybersecurity startups with entry to technical mentoring, enterprise assist, and recommendation.

MDEC additionally helped cybersecurity professionals upskill in domains like Cloud Safety. 

In 2019, it additionally carried out a reskilling programme known as Empowering Ladies in Cyber Danger Administration to encourage ladies to return to the workforce. Out of 232 candidates, 42% finally joined the workforce once more.

6. She was recognised as one of many World’s 50 Most Influential Folks Revolutionising Governance

In December 2020, Surina was named as one of many World’s 50 Most Influential Folks Revolutionising Governance within the Agile 50 checklist. 

Compiled by Apolitical and The World Financial Discussion board’s International Future Council, this checklist seeks to laud politicians, civil servants, and entrepreneurs driving agility in governments throughout the globe. 

Not somebody that shied away from accountability

In accordance to studies, she was chosen out of 300 nominations that consisted of people from worldwide governments and organisations, NGOs, and companies. 

Following Surina’s departure from MDEC in 2021, she went on to be part of numerous different organisations in overseeing their development.

In January 2022, the previous CEO grew to become a part of CIMB, particularly as an Unbiased Non-Govt Director for its Funding Financial institution division.

By the following month, she was part of Capital A (previously generally known as AirAsia Group). Her position was additionally as an Unbiased Non-Govt Director for the airline firm.

In November that very same yr, she joined as a governing board member of UNESCO’s MGIEP (Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Training for Peace and Sustainable Growth). For context, it is a analysis institute targeted on remodeling schooling by way of programmes advocating for social and emotional studying. 

On the time of her premature departure, Surina was nonetheless affiliated with these three organisations.

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Though she wasn’t as well-known for her entrepreneurial life, Surina did share a timeless piece of recommendation that others ought to pay thoughts to:

“In case your why is just not sturdy, you’re not objective pushed, mission pushed, then you definitely’re not going to be very profitable and you should have bother with most challenges.”

Because the digital and international governance communities grieve the lack of a distinguished determine, Surina Shukri’s influence might be honoured by way of the optimistic impacts of her work. 

• Learn articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups right here.

Featured Picture Credit score: Surina Shukri