Orchan Consulting | Asia Sdn Bhd

  We've been a little quiet, but there's been good reason for that – we've been busy evolving. Oh, and we launched The Third Degree somewhere in there too. (Sleep is overrated, right） The communications world has shifted dramatically, and frankly, so have we. What started as traditional PR work has grown into something much more strategic. We're calling it N-E-X-T because this feels like a genuine upgrade in how we approach client partnerships. What's Different Now Honestly? We've become more selective about the work we take on, and more focused on the work that actually moves the needle. These days, we're spending more time in boardrooms than press rooms – helping brands think through their long-term positioning, not just their next social media post, op-ed or press release. That behind-the-scenes strategy work we mentioned? It's become our sweet spot. We're the team you call when you need to figure out your story before you tell it to the world....

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...

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...

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...

It doesn’t take much. One employee. One “innocent” post. One opinion too far. Next thing you know - it’s blowing up online. Offense taken. Screenshots shared. Keyboard warriors in full attack mode. Even if your employee deletes it, too late - the internet never forgets. And now the mob has tracked them back to you , their employer. Suddenly, your brand is in the firing line. PMs roll in. Hashtags trend. A campaign starts to pressure you into action. What started as their personal post has become your PR nightmare. So, what do you do? That’s exactly what we unpacked in Orchan’s recent Safe Social workshop . We dug into: How to create ethical, practical social media guidelines that actually work. How to empower employees to pause before they post. How to shield your brand when online crises come knocking. Because this isn’t about stifling voices. It’s about protecting reputations. And in today’s climate, that’s survival. At Orchan, we don’t do dusty, forgotten policy PD...

  Social media can be a brand’s best friend - or its biggest headache. Even if your company doesn’t officially “do” social, chances are your employees do. And whether they mean to or not, what they post can create a public perception of your brand. Sometimes flattering, sometimes… not so much. Here’s the tricky bit: companies can’t just slap down draconian rules and call it a day. A smart social media policy balances protection of the brand with respect for employees’ rights. It’s not about muzzling people - it’s about setting clear expectations, creating awareness, and avoiding those dreaded “viral gaffes” that have taken down more than one careless brand. When drafting (or refreshing) your policy, make sure it actually works in practice. That means it should: Give employees a safe space to raise concerns before they go public. Spell out what counts as confidential (so no one accidentally leaks the next product launch). Be upfront about consequences — clarity beats sur...

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...

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 ...

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...

My 5 Cents Worth   A few years back I was friends with a guy who managed a couple of F&B outlets as part of a bigger local chain of restaurants. I used to enjoy eating at the chain as the food was consistent, decent, well-priced, and of course, accessible to my home.   Late afternoon one day, I went to pick up some take-away for my dinner from an outlet I didn’t go to that much. The duty manager, as was the SOP, ‘manning’ the till (cash register), taking customer orders and processing payment. My bill: RM 19.95. I handed over my not-so-crisp RM20 note, and awaited my receipt (always ask for a receipt) and my change.   I got a receipt, but not my 5 sen (cents).   Duty manager shuffled off to get my order from the kitchen. When she returned with my order, I asked “where was my change”?   “Its only 5 sen lah, why do you care?” was her response. To which I gave her a very direct response: “Because it’s MY 5 sen and not yours”. She kept trying...

Building Brands | A Conversation with Farrell Tan With over two decades in advertising and PR, our Director Farrell Tan has worked on everything from Coca-Cola to Nokia. We sat down to talk about what he's learned about building brands that actually stick. 1. So, Farrell, you've been in this game for a while now. Take me through how you ended up doing what you're doing. Well, it wasn't exactly planned, I'll tell you that. I started as an intern - and honestly, I was just happy to get my foot in the door anywhere. The accounts I worked on... Reject Shop, Bank Utama, Sheraton Langkawi... not exactly glamorous stuff, right? But you know what? Best thing that could have happened to me. When you're working with smaller budgets, smaller brands, you can't just throw money at problems. You have to actually think. You have to be creative with RM5,000 instead of RM50,000. That discipline... I mean, it stayed with me even when I moved to McCa...