Orchan Consulting | Asia Sdn Bhd

Corporate Social Responsibility is not Public Relations  Many businesses undertake CSR not because they want to, but because they have to. Others, want to, but they don’t know how to execute a great CSR strategy in a way that does not appear to be attention-seeking (read: fake, insincere). It’s a dilemma for brands, regardless where they sit on the spectrum of willingness. And, with much of it being about ‘perception’, engagement with stakeholders in an authentic way, it is essential to develop a strategy which reinforces a positive reputation, as opposed to provoking questions regarding motivation and outcomes. We are often asked (instructed) by clients to include flimsy CSR initiatives into an overall campaign, and for many of us in the industry, cringe at some of the approaches made. And many times, the initiative simply falls flat! So, what drives a good CSR campaign, and how should we approach this? Orchan Director Dr Craig J Selby had the chance to speak to British aut...

Learning is lifelong! Sometimes learning is unlearning; sometimes it is opening our mind enough to recognise when we could learn more than we already have. Either way, we need it for our own personal and professional growth. Keep an eye out in the coming days for Orchan's new 2023 Training initiatives in Public Relations, Branding, and Reputation Management!  We train clients, industry professionals, and entrepreneurs wanting to stay on the cutting edge of 'all things communication'.

Let’s face it. In today’s noisy marketplace, it’s not enough to just have skills. Or experience. Or even a fancy job title. People Google you. They stalk your socials. They make snap judgments before you even say “Hi.” That’s your personal brand in action. Like it or not, you already have one. The real question is: are you shaping it… or letting others do it for you? At Orchan, we know that personal branding isn’t fluff - it’s strategy. Just as companies carefully craft their corporate image, ambitious individuals need to take ownership of how they show up. Because people don’t just buy into brands - they buy into people . Take Dr. Thana Sathasivam, for example. A transformation coach with more than 25 years of corporate, government, and academic experience, Dr Thana recently teamed up with us to launch her book, “Unleash Your Inner Sage.” The book isn’t a dry, jargon-filled manual. It’s written in an easy, approachable style - the kind of guide that feels like a conversation wi...

Congratulations to Dr Judith Flora   After lots of blood, sweat and tears; then her PhD!  #PhDLife and #OrchestratingChange. One of the very first Orchanites! And still friends with us both too. From Farrell (the man who made you cry over MASiF) "The student has now become the teacher. Well, literally that is. Congratulations on achieving what I know to have been a dream of yours from the day we first met, more than 10 years ago. We always knew you had what it takes; to see you finally obtain your doctorate makes me extremely proud to have been a colleague, and a now, a close friend. Now that you've obtained your PhD, I look forward to the 'exchange of cattle' in Kenya or Tanzania soon ;) 'Special porridge' when you pop round for a visit next ok?"  And from Craig (the man who fed your snails at Spasso) "I finally get to call you Dr! Over a decade ago, you stood in my office as we discussed your upcoming Masters research. You said you event...

Let’s be honest: in Malaysia, HIV / AIDS still sits in the shadows of public conversation. Too many dismiss it as “not my problem” or box it off as something that only affects marginalised communities. Wrong. HIV doesn’t discriminate - and the silence around it only fuels stigma and misinformation. At Orchan, we’ve always believed communication can (and should) drive change. Every year, our Directors pick a cause close to the heart to champion pro-bono. Back in 2010, that cause was AIDS Aware . Partnering with three organisations in support of PT Foundation, we set out to spark honest conversation, fight stigma, and educate people on how to protect themselves. What began as a simple fundraising calendar with a handful of local celebrities turned into a movement. Be The Message snowballed into 42 well-known personalities lending their voices through images, videos, interviews, and education opportunities - amplified further by a full-scale media and advertising campaign. The best ...

Throwback | Please Be Nice [Commentary by Christeen Akkarawatte] The word nice, I realise, tends to be taken very lightly; but it actually holds a lot of weight. From what I am used to, I know that being nice or kind to people is just a general thing to do - it’s the basic-of-the-basic thing you know about interpersonal skills. Being nice also comes in varying degrees like being cooperative and understanding. But do we actually see that in workplaces? Even if we are in a competitive environment, we still do have to be a nice person. Sometimes kindness is seen as a weakness but you actually gain respect from people and a good reputation! People would want to speak to you more because hey, you’re nice! Asking for help is also often seen as a weakness, but actually, it shows that you have made sense of the task or problem and you are aware that you do need a hand. This sort of reflexivity shouldn’t be looked down upon. But then again, you need to remember to ask nicely. In the...

True Sophistication Be it in design, writing, or even strategy; this ethos still stands out from the rest!  

Sadly, it’s true - social media is not a safe space. Not for people. Not for businesses. Not even for brands that think they’ve got it figured out. But here’s the catch: avoiding it isn’t an option. Social media is where conversations (and controversies) happen. What you can do is engage smartly - with a plan, with purpose, and with your eyes wide open. We’ve seen it first-hand: a brand pours months of effort into a campaign, only for a single post (from an overzealous employee or an unhappy customer) to overshadow the whole thing. Suddenly, instead of celebrating wins, the brand is scrambling to do damage control. Because let’s be real: Brand saboteurs will test you. Keyboard warriors (and worriers) will come for you. One wrong move can be amplified in ways you didn’t see coming. That’s why having a solid social media strategy isn’t just “nice to have.” It’s your armour. It’s your shield. And knowing when to clap back - and when to stay silent - is as important as what ...

Short answer: Yes… and No. Sounds like a cop-out, right? Stick with us. In a perfect world: Sure. Keep everyone smiling. Stakeholders have rights, expectations, and some sense of entitlement baked in. We owe them that. In the real world: Forget it. The bigger and more diverse your stakeholder pool, the harder it gets. Their interests clash with yours. Worse, they clash with each other. You can’t keep everyone happy without losing your sanity (or your business). So what’s the play? Not happiness. Balance. 👉 Meet as many needs as you realistically can. 👉 Keep your organisation’s success at the centre. 👉 And communicate. Loudly. Clearly. Consistently. Because let’s be honest - you’ll never win the “happiness game.” But you can win the trust game. Stakeholders don’t need rainbows and cupcakes. They need to know where they stand. If you’re transparent and upfront, they’ll respect you even if they don’t love every decision. So, stop chasing smiles. Start building trust....

BFTP | When Media Shames the Little Guy  (Commentary by Craig J Selby) The whole world has been against a few Irish tourists who caused a bit of a fracas in my country of origin recently. British publications, Australian publications, Asian publications condemning the tourists for their “bad behavior”, and put their names and faces for all to see. Oh, wow! If only the same attention to detail was put to every criminal in the world. The world might be a safer place, NOT. The issue here is not when something goes viral, but it when something viral is perpetuated by mainstream media, and the “public shaming” goes far beyond the extent of the initial action/s. Daily updates from the New Zealand Herald propagated story after story regarding the tourists – where they are now, the latest thing they ‘did’, and people’s reaction to them. OVERKILL! Did the tourists do wrong? Yes. Did they deserve to be called out for it? Yes. Did they dese...

Safe Social | Protecting Your Business Reputation Online Craig J Selby It’s scary really. An employee posts a personal opinion online. It’s a tad controversial. Or perhaps just plan offensive. People willingly take offense. They share the post calling employee out for their indiscretion. Employee takes it down, but it’s too late. The dominoes have started to fall! Keyboard warriors stalk employee , and discover (deduce) that they work for your brand. The messages and threats start coming, first via PM, then via an orchestrated viral campaign to pressure your brand to fire employee . Chaos, expense (time and funds), and unwanted negative attention to your brand. What is your reaction? What do you do? I mean, it’s not even your company social media that made the post initially. Orchan recently hosted, in conjunction with UnionSPACE (thanks to Bruce an...

I decided to join Orchan Consulting’s Directors, Craig J Selby and Farrell Tan for lunch this past week, to discuss a few ideas on the broad topics of change management, crisis management, and reputation management – core foci to Orchan’s areas of expertise. 1. What is your take on the importance of change management strategies within a business?  CJS: Having a strategy, even if it is fluid in its approach, is always important. Change is always going to be hard, and its important to be aware of ramifications of each possible action. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take that action; it just means that you are better prepared. The old saying, “you cant please 100% of the people 100% of the time” will always ring true; hence, ensuring that there is a strategy and a direction to changes being undertaken is essential. Do all strategies work out? No! That does not mean the strategy was wrong – resistance to change is often greater than one can imagine. It just means...