FMT managing director Azeem Abu Bakar emphasised the need for young professionals to be well-versed in geopolitics and to understand how global developments influence public policy in Malaysia and the surrounding region.

“Gone are the days where you specialise in one thing only. We have to be a jack of all trades and a master of all as well,” he said in a forum at Heriot-Watt University here today.

“You must understand where the world is heading because your businesses and careers will be affected by geopolitics and evolving trade relations.

“In an uncertain world like this, you cannot just adapt, you have to lead change,” he said, citing the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the US tariff announcements.

Azeem said while the government has introduced initiatives to future-proof the next generation of leaders, students must take the initiative to equip themselves with a general understanding of state affairs.

Noting that the world is facing constantly changing policies, he encouraged young leaders to identify niches that can withstand the challenges of an increasingly dynamic digital economy.

“Find a skill that is useful that you feel you can master and be the best at, and then dive into it,” he said.

Hong Wai Onn, founder of the Research Institute for Sustainable Excellence and Leadership, said driving innovation today requires not only technical expertise but also creative problem-solving skills.

He described an ideal future leader as someone who is inclusive, collaborative, ethically grounded, and daring enough to challenge the status quo.

“We can’t be fixed to where we are and we can’t be rigid. What is good today might not be suitable in the future,” he said.