The Asia School of Business (ASB), in collaboration with MIT Sloan Management, hosted its Action Learning Summit 2026 under the theme “The Action Learning Advantage,” bringing together students, faculty members, alumni, industry partners and corporate hosts for an afternoon of discussions, project showcases and networking centred on experiential learning and leadership development.
The Summit showcased the institution’s distinctive Action Learning model, which integrates real-world business challenges into academic learning and enables students to move beyond traditional classroom-based education.
The Summit officially began with welcome and opening remarks by Professor Sylvia Ng, Faculty Director of Action Learning and Associate Professor of Marketing, who highlighted the transformative impact of experiential education and the value of industry partnerships in developing future-ready leaders.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
A key highlight of the programme was the Action Learning Project Showcase, where participants explored how students tackle real-world business challenges through hands-on projects that deliver practical and actionable solutions for partner organisations.
The Summit reinforced ASB’s belief that leadership and business acumen are best developed through experience.
“What does an MBA look like when learning leaves the classroom?” the institution noted. “At ASB, our students don’t just study business challenges — they step into them.”
From warehouse floors and strategy discussions to interviews, observations and collaborative late-night team sessions, students participating in the Business Practicum with SnT Global Logistics were challenged to think critically, adapt quickly and learn through direct experience.
The practicum reflects ASB’s Action Learning philosophy, where students apply academic concepts to real business environments while working alongside industry partners to solve complex operational and strategic challenges.
Insights from Industry Leaders and Practitioners
One of the key highlights of the summit was the Action Learning Panel, which brought together industry leaders, Action Learning coaches, alumni and students to discuss the impact of experiential learning on leadership development and business problem-solving.
Bringing together perspectives from across the Action Learning ecosystem, the panel featured industry host Sarah Grasset, Vice President of The Lost Food Project; Action Learning Business Coaches Alok Mishra, Chief Executive Officer of Value Edition, and Johan Khoo, Associate Partner at EY Malaysia; Michelle George Tan, Assistant Vice President at Twin Tower Ventures and an alumna of ASB’s MBA Class of 2024; and Denni Chu of ASB’s MBA Class of 2026, who shared insights from a student perspective and moderated the discussion.
The discussion explored how Action Learning creates value for students, host organisations and business partners, offering perspectives from those directly involved in the programme. Panellists shared experiences on tackling real-world business challenges, fostering innovation through collaboration, and developing leadership capabilities in dynamic business environments. The session also highlighted the long-term benefits of industry-academic partnerships in preparing future leaders to navigate increasingly complex organisational challenges.
The Action Learning Advantage
The Summit reinforced ASB’s commitment to its “Action Learning Advantage”, a learning model designed to bridge theory and practice while developing adaptable, industry-ready leaders.
Through immersive experiences, students are exposed to dynamic business environments that demand critical thinking, collaboration, innovation and decision-making under real-world conditions. By working directly with organisations across industries, participants gain practical insights that complement their academic studies and prepare them for leadership roles in an increasingly complex business landscape.
As demonstrated throughout the Summit, Action Learning remains a cornerstone of the ASB experience, empowering students to learn by doing, solve real business problems and create meaningful impact for organisations and communities alike.
Those interested in learning more about ASB’s Action Learning methodology and academic programmes can visit www.asb.edu.my to explore how the institution is shaping future leaders through experiential, impact-driven education.
