Asia Pacific Youth to Business Forum: Youth Dreaming for a Greater Asia Pacific

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“There is so much out there to conquer and no matter where you come from, and no matter how small your beginnings may be, you can never be too small to dream big,” the first Apprentice Asia winner Jonathan Yabut told over 500 delegates of international organization AIESEC’s Asia Pacific Youth to Business Forum (APY2B) last March 24, 2014 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City.

The Economics major tried to instil the importance of preparedness to the young delegates of Asia Pacific who have the passion to be the successful leaders of tomorrow. Yabut emphasized that ”preparation breeds familiarity and familiarity breeds confidence. When you’re confident you become this unstoppable force that makes you think no matter what the problem is, you’re going to be number one.”

APY2B revolved around Values-based Leadership that focused on identifying common Asia Pacific virtues and ideals that can be used in transforming a better region that thrives with transparency, global competence, and youth empowerment.

“For the first time, we decided that the Youth to Business Forum should be held individually in the different regions of the globe because each region has its own dominant social problem that all people in that part of the world can relate to and would like to address,” AIESEC International Vice President for Public Relations Cassie Ruggiero said.

The business forum also had a panel discussion with some of the brightest leaders in the global industry such as Social Marketing Communications Co-founder Amor Maclang, Philippine Microfinance company owner Nelson Mendoza, United Nations Anti-Corruption Head Kol Preap, Bacardi South East Asia Chief Finance Officer Phen Hyuhn, and Jonathan Yabut.

The panellists shared their insights on how corporate companies help in carrying out social action and how the business industry highly regards the youth and leadership as fundamental solutions to the problems faced by the Asia Pacific society today.

”We [in the business industry] know and feel that doing good [with social responsibility] has to be endemic in your entire value chain –from the way you source, hire, engage, and communicate. As young leaders, you are here to inspire, and in the future, you will be the compass when direction is not present during the storm,” Maclang said.

APY2B was part of the Asia Pacific Conference, the organization’s largest regional apex hosted by AIESEC Philippines this 2014.

The Asia Pacific Youth to Business Forum was made possible by Deutsche Post DHL, Accenture, Asian Development Bank Youth Initiative, Microsoft, Gardenia, GeiserMaclang, Bank of Makati, BLESS Microfinance Corporation, Megaworld, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Citibank, Mcdonald’s, and Universal Robina Corporation. It was co-presented by Fox International Channels, in coordination with WhenInManila.com, ClickTheCity, Rappler, Interaksyon.com, Manila Bulletin, and Wazzup Pilipinas.

PHOTO BY: Danika Ella Madulid

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