Our Belief About Leadership

Most adults will spend 8 to 10 hours a day, five days a week, for more than 30 years of their lives at work. That is not a small part of life. That is life.

If that much of our time is spent in the workplace, then it cannot simply be a place of targets, deadlines, and performance reviews.

We believe the workplace should be a place where people feel seen and heard. Where they are connected to something bigger than themselves. Where they are trusted, stretched, and equipped to succeed.

In our view, it is the leader’s responsibility to create VIE in the workplace, an environment where people feel Valued, Inspired, and Empowered. When leaders lead this way, it creates a ripple effect:

People grow.

When people grow, businesses thrive.

And when businesses thrive, society becomes better.

That is why we exist.

We develop managers into confident, people-centred leaders. Leaders who carry this standard into their teams, their organisations, and the future of work in Malaysia.

At the heart of our philosophy is a simple truth captured beautifully by Maya Angelou:

“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Because in the end, leadership is not only measured by outcomes, but by the experience people have with their leaders.

Black line drawing of a thumbs-up hand gesture with three orange marks indicating emphasis or motion.

OUR PURPOSE

We exist to create workplaces where people feel VIE.

Valued — seen, heard, and respected

Inspired — connected to something bigger than themselves

Empowered — trusted and equipped to succeed

A black line drawing of a hand making the rock and roll sign with a red crown above the index finger.

OUR MISSION

To build and multiply leaders who create VIE.

Outline drawing of a hot air balloon with the top part colored blue, and the text "Yoon" written in cursive below.

OUR VISION

To raise the standard of leadership in Malaysia by making VIE the leadership experience standard.

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MEET THE FOUNDER

Kausern Hieu

Kausern is the Founder and Managing Director of Building Better Leaders. He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of a leading influencer and content marketing company in Malaysia, where he led the organization for over eight years.

With more than 20 years of experience leading young professionals in the marketing and advertising industries, Kausern believes the fastest way to make a meaningful impact on young people in the workplace is through intentional leadership and human connection.

Kausern’s Ikigai is: “Always try to leave people feeling better than when you first met them, because people will forget what you said or did—but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

He is an HRD Corp Accredited Trainer and an International Coach Federation (ICF) Accredited Coach. He also co-wrote the book, “Leadership is Not Automatic”.

A movie buff at heart, Kausern often uses scenes from films in his training and coaching sessions to spark insight and inspiration.

Meet the Leadership Pod Leaders

  • A young woman wearing glasses, a black cap, and a hijab, smiling with one arm raised. She is dressed in a brown long-sleeve top and has a gold necklace with a pendant. The background shows blurred trees.

    Elaikha Zahar

    Elaikha wants to to guide and encourage open dialogues amongst leaders. What excites her most about being a Pod Leader is the opportunity to mentor and inspire people, while learning from fresh perspectives and passion.

  • A young woman with long dark hair and a wide smile, wearing a maroon and yellow striped beanie and a mustard yellow jacket, standing next to a lush green leafy wall.

    Michelle Ng

    Michelle had the privilege of experiencing how great leadership could shape and inspire a safe space and healthy culture of the workplace. She’s here to contribute in whatever way she can in hope that working under great leadership becomes a norm and not a privilege.

  • A woman with glasses and a black T-shirt smiling outdoors with mountains, a thatched roof hut, and a blue sky in the background.

    Tan Sue Faye

    Sue Faye wants to enable growth. She may not have all the expertise, but she aims to help others discover their own wisdom, feel heard, and find their own solutions. She wants everyone to learn together, cause she believes young leaders have valuable insights to share. She’s here to learn from them and support their growth.

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing glasses and a black sleeveless shirt with a graphic of a dog's face and red glasses, smiling at the camera inside a modern building with large windows, green plants, and metal ceiling beams.

    Priscilla Chew

    Priscilla remembers what it’s like as a young manager and wishing there was someone she can ask her silly questions to. That is why she is excited to be that person for someone in this space, just to be that support system as a sounding board and also share what she has learnt in her own journey so far.

  • Woman with glasses smiling at a birthday celebration, sitting at a table with dessert and a green drink, surrounded by plants and pink flowers in a cozy cafe.

    Grace Leong

    Grace is excited to meet young leaders who are passionate for learning and self-growth. She’s here to support anyone to gain their own breakthroughs and self-discovery.

  • A woman with dark hair sitting indoors, smiling, in front of a beige wall with a yellow neon sign.

    Yuki Ong

    Yuki has led for over 10 years, but she still remembers her first-year mistakes. She hopes sharing them helps young leaders avoid the same missteps. Leadership is a journey of learning, and the right guidance makes all the difference.

  • A man with short black hair smiling and holding a smartphone while sitting at a restaurant table with a plate of food in front of him. The background features a blurred restaurant interior with wooden accents.

    Isaiah Saw

    Isaiah feels there’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing someone shift into a higher gear they didn’t even know they had. Growth happens in moments of challenge and discovery, and he’s here to explore that journey together!

  • Koh Huiying

    Huiying is proof of the power of empathetic leadership. As a neurodivergent senior leader, she thrived because of the support and inclusion she received early in her journey. When leaders foster psychological safety, people unlock their full potential. She’s here because she believes those same principles can help others lead with impact and authenticity.