Building global asian leaders

THE pendulum of growth has gradually but surely swung away from Western economies and towards Asia over the last few years. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development projects that Asia will grow at almost 7 per cent over the next five years, and predictions that the region could become the world's largest economy (by gross domestic product or GDP contribution) by 2030 do not seem idle speculation. Most enterprises that do not have an "Asia strategy" in place are deemed to have missed the Asian bandwagon.

While most businesses see Asia as a long-term prospect, and are investing in physical infrastructure and economic assets, few are focusing on developing the most critical lever that could make the Asian growth dream a reality: leadership talent. Organisations in Asia need Asian leaders who can both lead businesses and bring the Asian …