In today’s rapidly evolving and digital world, every global leader must employ a Startup Mindset to thrive and get ahead.
Born in the Philippines, Earl Valencia is an award-winning tech leader and venture-backed startup founder. Dan Gonzales lived through the grind of Silicon Valley as an investor, writer and the host of the popular Startup Mindsets podcast. Together, they have distilled lessons from hundreds of conversations with founders, venture capitalists and ecosystem builders. How do you balance a changing landscape while staying true to your core values? How do you stay relentless in the face of adversity? In other words, how can you think like a startup?
This book unveils the secrets of the Silicon Valley ecosystem and guides readers on the mindsets that differentiate the leaders who were trained from the industrial economy of the past from those who have grown and transcended into a digital-first world. Those who dare to take on the next disruptive shift will see their impact skyrocket to unparallelled heights.
Through compelling stories and actionable strategies, get inspired to apply the Startup Mindset to your own life and lead the new innovation-driven and digital economy today.
Archives: Books
Saving the Planet
In December 2022, 40-year-old Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was appointed as Malaysia’s Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC). A career politician, his first ministerial appointment was a baptism of fire as he was thrust into the complex world of environmental policy.
While “green issues” had previously only been an occasional part of his work and activism, executing the Malaysian government’s ambitious sustainability plans brought home to Nik Nazmi how crucial solving climate change is to the country’s survival. He comes to realise that a key component of this task includes winning public support for the required transitions and changes, especially in the face of rising climate change denialism and pessimism.
Saving the Planet relates Nik Nazmi’s experiences as NRECC Minister [later redesignated as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES)] and his thoughts on connected issues ranging from water management to climate financing. He stresses that developing countries—which are especially vulnerable to the destruction that ensues from environmental degradation—back climate action but require viable support from their wealthier counterparts.
Ultimately, climate change must be dealt with not only urgently but also inclusively if humanity is to succeed. It is fundamentally a moral and political challenge that will require radically changing our societies to become more just.
Saving the Planet is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the intersections between politics and climate change, as well as for an authentic voice at the frontlines of climate action in the Global South.
Growing Up To Tell The Truth
The son of Syed Jaafar Albar, known as The Lion of UMNO, an inveterate figure in the nationalist politics of pre- and post- independence Malaya/Malaysia, Syed Hamid Albar grew into politics from the experience of the legal profession and an early involvement in social movements.
The Memoirs of Syed Hamid Albar is a lyrical, lucid, historically insightful reflection by one of Malaysia’s most experienced and longest serving cabinet ministers. Having occupied some of the most important positions in various Malaysian administrations, and during some of the most critical periods in Malaysia’s recent history, the Memoirs provide a living testament to the shifting politics, governmental preoccupations and regional and international challenges of a nation- in-becoming.
The Memoirs offer respectful observations of the first generation of Malaysian pubic figures, including Malaysia’s first and second Prime Minister’s Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak respectively; candid and forthright reflections on a relationship with Malaysia’s longest serving and most enigmatic Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, and insight into the vacillating fortunes of Abdullah Badawi, Mahathir’s successor.
The Memoirs commences with recollections of lineage and genealogy and is also an intimate remembrance of early family life, of a formative generation of local Malays venturing to study abroad and, most prominently, a narrative of the relationship between father and son, enveloped by the course of history.
Rewrite the Rules
In Rewrite The Rules, Ritu G Mehrish and Rajita Saxena empower Asian women leaders to challenge the status quo and redefine success on their own terms. “Rewrite The Rules” is a call to action that invites you to embrace your power, break free from limiting beliefs, and forge your own path to success.
Drawing from the diverse experiences of over 200 women leaders across Asia, this groundbreaking book focuses on the five core areas essential for thriving as a female leader: Being Confident, Creating Visibility, Building Networks, Finding Balance, and Defining Success.
Whether you’re an emerging or senior leader, this book will equip you with the tools and inspiration to make your mark and reach your full potential.
The Balikbayan Artist
Farm-laborer-turned-artist Vance Igorta returns to the Philippines as a balikbayan after nearly fifty years in the United States. He is a member of the Manong Generation, the largest diaspora of Filipinos who worked physically demanding jobs, mostly in California’s agricultural fields.
Coming home to a country on the brink of becoming a dictatorship, Vance’s paintings shift from abstractions to didactic, political art to better reflect the rebellion that he eventually joins. Didacticism also facilitates his meditations on the impact of leaving his birthland to become a powerless Manong and then an impoverished artist of color in New York.
The Balikbayan Artist—inspired by and dedicated to Venancio C. Igarta (1912–2000), the real-life leading artist of the Manong Generation—takes readers from the early twentieth century to the present day when Vance Igorta’s art is being discovered anew. His legacy is validated for allowing his art to address the tensions of his time instead of keeping it solely entrenched in aesthetic concerns. The artist’s choice reflects what Vance Igorta learned as a voraciously self-educated person: that in circumstances where power corrupts, what makes anyone and everyone dangerous is love.
Ultimate Big Book Library (10 Books)
Ultimate Big Book Library is a collection of ten big board books that form the building blocks of kids’ foundational years of learning.
Why it is a must-have for every little learner:
- Comprehensive Early Learning Set: Covers essential topics—Alphabet, Numbers, Colors, Shapes, Transport, Animals, Fruits and More—building the perfect foundation for school readiness.
- Vibrant, Engaging Illustrations: Each book is packed with colorful images that grab children’s attention, making learning playful and visually stimulating.
- Boosts Vocabulary and Observation: With clear word labels and picture-word association, kids easily learn new words while sharpening their observation skills.
- Durable Large Format Board Books: The big size and sturdy board pages are ideal for tiny hands and can withstand lots of enthusiastic flipping.
- Age Appropriate: Thoughtfully designed to introduce key concepts to toddlers and preschoolers at the right developmental stage.
- Attractive Gift Tuck-Box Set: Comes neatly packed in a durable tuck box, making it a wonderful gift option for birthdays, holidays, or any occasion.
This delightful set makes early learning joyful and interactive, helping little ones take confident steps into the world of words, numbers, and ideas. It is more than just books — it is the start of a lifelong love for learning.
Titles in this boxset:
1. Alphabet
2. Numbers
3. Colors
4. Shapes
5. Transport
6. Fruits and veggies
7. Seasons and opposites
8. Things at home (and around us)
9. Animals (Domestic and Wild)
10. Birds
Skin
‘I’ve seen a lot of things in my time, but nothing comes close to this. I’ve never seen a body in that condition.’
In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the naked body of a prominent investigative journalist is found in a foetal position with the hands covering her face. As forensic investigators attempt to move her hands, they discover that the entire skin of her face has been surgically removed. Fresh off their last case, Inspector Alysha (Aly) and her partner, Inspector Raj from CID Bukit Aman are assigned to investigate the murder.
As Aly and Raj embark on their investigation, more bodies of young women pile up in the same cryptic manner. Their investigative trail takes them from Kuala Lumpur to the tea plantations of Cameron Highlands and from there on to the quiet, sleepy town of Teluk Intan where they slowly begin to unravel secrets from the past that are seemingly linked to the case.
Before they know it, Aly and Raj find themselves on a quest to hunt their most dangerous adversary yet, someone with a dark past and an even darker mind, who is driven by something that none of us would ever think could twist the human mind to such an outré extent.
Awakening the Advocate
If you’re looking for a way to make a positive impact on the world, Matthew S. Friedman’s inspiring book is the perfect guide. Through his incredible experiences and tireless activism over 35 years, he shows us that one person truly can create a ripple effect that leads to global change.
As you read his powerful stories, you’ll be reminded of the immense suffering in the world, but you’ll also be uplifted by the sheer strength and determination of those who fight against it. Friedman’s message is clear: we each have the power to make a difference in our own unique way.
This captivating sequel to his previous memoir, ‘Where Were You: A Profile of Modern Slavery,’ is bound to leave a lasting impact on you. It will ignite your passion, challenge you, and encourage you to take action toward bringing about meaningful change.
In this book, you’ll learn how a once-shy boy from a New England town dedicated his life to battling the scourge of human trafficking in over 40 countries.
Join us on an unforgettable journey with a man whose compassion and relentless dedication to justice have made him a global force in the fight against modern slavery. Together, we can create a brighter future for all.
Penguin Select Classics: Meditations
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
One of the earliest works of Greek philosophy, Meditations is a collection of deep insights into the complexities of human emotions.
In his exemplary work, Marcus Aurelius expresses his gratitude to the ones from whom he learnt important qualities and lessons in life. He reflects over a wide range of subjects including the mind and thoughts, life and death, goodness, self-judgement, leadership.
Told through the story of five emperors, Aurelius offer a series of reflections as the emperors struggle to understand these truths of life. Marcus Aurelius’s philosophy has the strength to align the human mind with clarity of direction and bring calm to distressed heart.
- A profound collection of insights into human emotions and life’s complexities.
- Aligns the mind with clarity and brings calm to a distressed heart.
- Explores self-judgment, discipline, and leadership through personal reflections.
- Expresses gratitude to those who shaped Marcus Aurelius’s wisdom.
- A timeless guide to navigating life’s challenges with resilience and virtue.
THE GLOBAL CITIZEN
The Global Citizen by international investor and philanthropist Patrick Tsang is a timely and relevant exploration of the cultural nuances that define the increasingly interconnected business world of the 21st century. By combining his unique perspective as a global citizen with personal experiences and lessons learned, Tsang offers readers valuable insights into the cross-cultural environment that governs feelings, beliefs, and actions in a globalised era. This book, intended for sophisticated international business professionals and aspiring leaders, is not merely a financial endeavour for the author, but a mission to set the stage for peaceful and prosperous cross-cultural collaboration in business and beyond.
Structured into three parts – Integrity, Empathy, and Self-Improvement– the book delves into topics such as mentorship, resilience, personal values, and the balance between Eastern and Western cultures. From recounting his father’s influence to discussing the eternal balance between different cultural perspectives, Tsang weaves a narrative that encourages readers to honour equality, be mindful of the past, and keep an eye on the future. By the end of the book, readers will have a deeper understanding of the essential traits of an effective leader and the role they can play in fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.