As Malaysia advances its digital economy, technology alone isn’t enough to drive systemic change. Leadership plays a critical role in ensuring that digital tools and strategies are effectively implemented and scaled across both the public and private sectors. Recognising this, Huawei Malaysia has made leadership development a core component of its broader digital transformation agenda.
The Digital Leadership Excellence (DLE) Programme, developed in collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN), represents a pioneering effort to cultivate digital leadership within Malaysia’s public sector. Launched in March 2024, the programme was created in direct response to Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call at the 2023 Malaysia ICT Summit, where he emphasised the need to close the gap between technology and leadership.
The DLE programme is designed to equip senior leaders from government, academia, and industry with the knowledge and strategic insight required to lead digital initiatives in their organisations. The curriculum blends theoretical frameworks with practical experiences, including case studies, mentorship, and even international study visits. The inaugural cohort of 50 participants recently completed an eight-month hybrid training course, which included a high-impact visit to Huawei’s global headquarters in Shenzhen, China. During this visit, participants engaged with top industry experts, visited smart city showcases, and developed capstone projects addressing real-world digital transformation challenges in Malaysia.
The programme has ambitious goals: by 2026, it aims to develop 300 digital leaders through three progressive chapters. The second cohort will train 100 participants, followed by 150 in the final phase. These leaders will play a pivotal role in modernising government operations, increasing the efficiency of public services, and ensuring that policy decisions are informed by a deep understanding of digital tools and trends.
In a world where technology evolves rapidly, the public sector must keep pace—not just through policy but through people. Huawei’s investment in leadership development demonstrates its commitment to sustainable, inclusive transformation. By empowering leaders with the skills, vision, and confidence to embrace digital change, Huawei is helping to ensure that Malaysia’s digital journey is guided by capable hands and forward-thinking minds.
