Orchan Consulting | Asia Sdn Bhd

At Orchan, we’ve seen consulting at its best - and at its glossiest. Dirty Consultant is our no-nonsense series calling out the theatre, the buzzwords, and the shiny distractions that get in the way of real change. Because true consulting isn’t about polished decks or clever algorithms; it’s about rolling up sleeves, getting into the grit, and facing the messy human reality head-on. Are you a dirty consultant? She was. Back then, she didn’t sit behind a shiny desk. She pulled night shifts. She rode shotgun with truckers. She sweated it out in the warehouse. She asked the tough questions: to managers in ties, and to workers in boots. She refused to give advice until she knew what the advice meant for the people who had to live with it. That was consulting. Now? Consultants stroll in polished and perfect. Designer suits. Fresh slides. Laptops glowing like neon signs. They sell “platforms” and “solutions” and “engagement dashboards.” But they won’t get their hands di...

Hey there … yes, you! Glad you stumbled in. This is Orchan’s corner of the internet - part soapbox, part diary, part sounding board. Here you’ll find our thoughts on the industry, lessons we’ve learned the hard way, a few rants (constructive ones, of course), and maybe even the odd video when we’re feeling fancy. So, who are we? Orchan’s a comms agency born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, with arms stretching into Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and wherever else clients drag us. We’ve been called many things -  strategic, fast, occasionally loud - but what we're not is cookie-cutter. If you’re after a “copy-paste” campaign, you’ve probably knocked on the wrong door. We believe PR is for everyone. Big multinationals? We’ve worked with PUMA, Dyson, Pernod Ricard, Garmin, and the like. Scrappy start-ups and even hawker stalls? Been there, done that, and loved it just as much. For us, the job is always the same: find your story, polish it up, and get people talking. We also train. Crisi...

Reinvention Part III - The Reinvention Formula Following on from the Six Deadly Blindfolds, The Reinvention Formula looks closely at what is important to factor in to change within an organisation, and to what extend various organisational level factors influence the opportunity for growth and development. When this notion was first presented to me by the authors of Reinvention: Accelerating Results in the Age of Disruption , like with much of what they were saying, it struck a chord and resonated with my own thinking. I may not be perfect at embracing all that was said, but I do recognise how, over time, each and every influencing factor has been important, and upon reflection, see where I could have done things better. Hindsight is always a valuable tool, but foresight, and the ability to really hone in on what is important, is even more so. By sharing Cragun and Sweetman’s reinvention Formula, I hope that I can open you your reflection on changes within your orga...

Six Deadly Blindfolds (Reinvention II) We are all guilty! We are guilty of not seeing the bigger picture. We are guilty of sweeping something under the carpet because it is easier than tackling head on. Whether it be clouding (external forces) or our own distractions (internal forces), this ‘missing the point’ can result in decision-makers making ill-informed choices. We need to address the very real blindspots in our decision-making processes. From that point, we see in a clearer fashion, the reality of circumstances, and can make informed, intelligent decisions to move forward to the next level. At the launch of “Reinvention: Acceletating Results in the Age of Disruption” by Shane Cragun and Kate Sweetman, Kate spent time highlighting the Six Deadly Blindfolds that impact upon entrepreneurs, managers and decision-makers. These resonated strongly with the entire audience, as we all recognized that at some stage along our managerial career path, we have been gu...

Reinvention Revisited Regardless professional manager or entrepreneur, it is always good for us to take a step back to reframe ourselves and our business, and to experience what we do through a fresh lens. On my part, I regularly attend book launches, listen to interesting and inspirational speakers, and read up on the latest business dialogue through the many informative and relevant portals available. Not that recently, but certainly stuck in my memory, I had the good fortune to attend a book launch in Kuala Lumpur. The authors were not Malaysian, nor to be honest, was any of the content. But, it struck a chord – offering fresh insight into the interactions I have every day, and with respect to the advice we as a business give to our valued clients. What was enjoyable about the launch was not the content of the book per se, but the delight of the principal author in delivering her presentation. A seasoned pro, the author stepped it up a notch and de...

Ah, cancel culture. Love it or loathe it, it’s alive, kicking, and turbocharged by online reviews and the power of the share button. Now, sometimes the feedback floating around is a bit overblown. Other times, it’s a solid slap-in-the-face reminder for businesses to actually take a hard look at their service delivery. Recently in Malaysia, we came across a gem of a case: a so-called “resort” (and we’re being generous here) decided it didn’t like what a customer had to say about their stay. Instead of taking the criticism on the chin, doing some reflection, or - here’s a novel idea - fixing the problem, they went nuclear. Publicly. With the promise of a lawsuit. Yep. They threatened to sue the guest for leaving a bad review. Cue popcorn.  Here’s the twist: the hotelier claimed the guest never complained directly. But let’s be honest - from the sounds of the reviews, the staff weren’t exactly lining up to help in the first place. And newsflash: customers don’t need to knock on your...

Let’s face it: the world of work has been flipped upside down. The pandemic didn’t just throw a spanner in the works - it dumped the whole toolbox into the ocean. Old-school “command and control” leadership? Sinks like a rock. Top-down management? Wiped out. What’s keeping organisations afloat right now isn’t clinging to old ways - it’s learning how to surf the waves of change. And here’s the thing: without a coaching culture, you’re just paddling furiously, hoping not to wipe out. At Orchan, we’ve seen firsthand, in our own team and with clients, that empowerment doesn’t just happen. It takes guidance, experimentation, and yes, a few wipeouts along the way. But when coaching is part of the culture, people don’t just survive the tides - they ride them. The Surfboard of Success Think of resilience, adaptability, and sustainability as the wax, the balance, and the fins. Each is crucial, but without the surfboard - coaching - you’re not going anywhere. Resilience : the wax that keeps yo...

Oh, Merde!   The first lesson in writing is always always always always make sure that you understand the meaning of words used in your narrative!   Be it text or image-driven, accuracy and nuance of meaning is important. And this applies when crossing cultural linguistic boundaries too. Renault’s Malaysia team recently discovered (unexpectedly) the importance of double checking their creativity . With a supposedly smart ‘play on words’, the team clearly hoped to create a Merdeka-inspired campaign, but fell a little short into a pile of poop! Oops … or, poops I guess!         Doesn’t help that Renault is French – so the oopsie should have been even easier to spot (no one would blink an eye if it were an Asian brand).   Much like Susan Boyle’s infamous #Susanalbumparty (you read it as you wish, but it should be #SusanAlbumParty – dirty minds;P), MerdeCARfest didn’t quite create the intended brand image.   Now, Google ‘Merd...

An EV is more than just a Vehicle; it’s a Lifestyle! They say "all good things come in three's"; so join Orchan collaborators Qommune+ on 22 June 2023 (7:30 pm) to enjoy fantastic networking, three great Electric Vehicles (test drive available), and three insightful industry speakers discussing the Malaysian EV market! An EV is more than just a vehicle; it’s a lifestyle! EV drivers build their daily habits around sustainable practices, and this presents lots of opportunities for other brands and businesses like yours. Join the Qommune Networking Event in Lalaport BBCC Kuala Lumpur. Gain valuable insights on the Electric Vehicle (EV) market! 🚗🔌, meet industry experts, and network with fellow entrepreneurs, industry players, government agencies and others who are part of this vibrant industry! You will also get the exclusive chance to explore AEVEKL23 EV mini roadshow and EV test drive. Register now to secure your spot! Please register here: https://eventsize.com/@qommune...

Orchan Heads Back to School | Jakarta Style Through the Eyes of the Intern | Dini Craig and I in Jakarta. Welcome Back to Jakarta!! What an exciting day it is for this Indonesian intern to return home. However, this is not a simple leisure trip; this is an Orchan project to develop Speaking Opportunities at Universities and Co-Working Spaces in Jakarta. It was just Craig and I on the project, while Farrell, Ravin and Jordan went to Penang for a client event. I arrived four days before Craig, heading-off on Tuesday 24 July 2018, touching down in Jakarta! Arriving after a relaxing flight, I wasn’t looking forward to meeting the jam J . Rather, I took the new train to Jakarta Kota Station, which was way far faster than a taxi.   Heading Home! I was reunited with Craig on Wednesday in a small café around Sarinah called ‘Saudagar Kopi Sabang’ (apparently, Craig’s favourite Jakarta food hang out), to have lunch and prepare for the next day. We ordered some deli...