AFG Venture Group

17/04/2026

I have written two life story books on Indian business leaders and one on South East Asian business leaders.  The first is Added Value - the life stories of leading South East Asian business people published in 1999 by Murmeli , the second is Added Value - the life stories of Indian business leader...

09/03/2026

Washington Sycip, known to most as "Wash", bestrode the accounting profession in South East Asia as a legend in his own life time. He founded W SyCip and Co in 1946 as a "one man band" with the plan to make it the largest in the Philippines. He did way more than that. It grew through a merger to become SGV and then grew further to become the largest professional services firm - auditing, assurance and advisory services in South East Asia. In 1985 SGV teamed up with the global firm of Arthur Andersen. Wash handed over management of SGV the following year marking 50 remarkable years since his founding of the firm in 1946. Long after he retired, in 2002 SGV moved its relationship to Ernst and Young following the implosion of Arthur Andersen over the Enron scandal in the US.
Wash was very small in stature but he "lit up a room" and I would have to rate him as one of the most charismatic people I have ever met.
My interview took place in 1997 and, as a sign of Wash's sense of the future he made the telling observation that he was particularly concerned that, even back then, the United States was the dominant world player. He said 'if decision makers in the US do not understand Asia and, vice versa, then everyone is in trouble." As President Trump has just declared war on Iran, I think we could add "the Middle East".

Washington Sycip, known to most as "Wash", bestrode the accounting profession in South East Asia as a legend in his own life time.  He founded W SyCip and Co in 1946 as a "one man band" with the plan to make it the largest in the Philippines....

09/03/2026

All of the people in my books are outstanding entrepreneurs but, every now and then, one of them demonstrates an extra "something" which I can't easily or simply define. Bhavarlal Jain is one such person. Like most, he had an eye for an opportunity, but he had an unusual approach to admitting his failures. In 1997 he took out a half page advertisement in the leading Economic Times of India where he apologised to his investors and stakeholders. He said "I am sad that, for the first time since our inception, we have fared badly....... I feel it is my duty to account for, to own up, to admit my misjudgements and apologise." Do you know of any leading entrepreneur anywhere who has done that?

The interview is a little longer than normal but, for those who are interested in understanding the Jain religion, I think you will find Bhavarlal's explanation useful; not just to how it applies in day to day life but to how it relates to business.

But there is another reason for including his chapter in Profiles in Enterprise and that is his obvious deep love for his wife, Kantabai and her contribution to his success. As he put it "we were one person in two bodies - one soul in two bodies."

All of the people in my books are outstanding entrepreneurs but, every now and then, one of them demonstrates an extra "something" which I can't easily or simply define.  Bhavarlal Jain is one such person.  Like most, he had an eye for a...

08/11/2024

Timely reminder of importance of not being overly influenced by 24 hour news cycle

It's easy to get sick of a 24-hour news cycle of war and climate crises. Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett explains how a break will help your mental health and gut.

05/04/2024

Interesting Post on Australia's role in the ASEAN region and they current dynamics

Australia faces growing competition for influence among its old friends in Southeast Asia as China’s power rises.

24/03/2024

Interesting to see the impacts and potential impacts of global trade as geopolitical forces move

Geopolitics and global trade patterns are rapidly reconfiguring. We look at the key shifts businesses need to be aware to succeed in the new global landscape.

26/09/2023

Interesting to read this article by McKinsey & Company - it sets out the various challenges ahead for the region and discusses areas to prioritize to maintain Asia’s momentum in a potentially more complex world.
https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/asia-on-the-cusp-of-a-new-era?

Asia will be the furnace in which a new era is forged—and may experience heightened versions of global challenges.

21/09/2023

Interesting to see insights on the regional economic model https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/09/19/how-asia-is-reinventing-its-economic-model?

The continent’s future will involve less Western influence

20/09/2023

Good article by Earl for The Lowy Institute . This comment particularly resonates "But what is missing is an appreciation that Australian businesses have a much longer track record in parts of Southeast Asia than the contemporary narrative generally allows for. A better communication of that might make this latest version of an old quest less challenging to accept for both Asian partners and new Australian players alike"

The latest Australian bid to increase economic ties with Southeast Asia provides new hopes amid old ghosts.

18/07/2023

interesting to see the greater engagement between Asean and Australia https://jakartaglobe.id/news/australia-to-give-asean-a775m-development-aid-this-year? Thanks for sharing

The A$775 million development assistance is part of Australia's strategy to deepen its engagement with ASEAN.