Jiwa SME: A Google x Astro Awani Collaboration

Jiwa SME is a collaborative initiative between Google Malaysia and one of the leading and most trusted 24-hour news broadcasters in Malaysia, Astro Awani. Jiwa SME translates to ‘the soul of SMEs’ and through our collaboration, it features a line-up of exclusive content that is focused on the theme of Economic Recovery including exclusive interviews with industry experts, Google execs and resilient Malaysian businesses.

The initiative garnered the attention of various media outlets, including broadcast and online media. Additionally, Datuk Wira Dr Hj. Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff, Chairman of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Malaysia’s lead agency in digital transformation, commended Google Malaysia's effort in furthering the digitalisation efforts of the nation.

The key result was 13 exclusive interviews conducted both as pre-recordings and live across broadcast and online, comprising of Google execs, partners and SME case studies with a reach of 1.5 million unique viewers.

Google’s Search Advocate, Cherry Prommawin on how businesses can improve their discoverability on Google Search.	Managing Director, Marc Woo on the potential of Malaysia’s digital economy and our commitment to empower SMEs with digital tools and skills throughout economic recovery efforts in Malaysia.	YouTube creators on how they, as small business owners themselves, are using their platform to help encourage support towards SMEs online through Search and Maps.
Google’s Senior Marketing Director for Southeast Asia and India, Sapna Chadha, on tips for supporting SMEs during the Eid season as part of the #MantapBersama campaign.	Dr Sumitra Nair, Vice President and Head of Digital Skills and Jobs for MDEC along with Google Malaysia’s Nick Bauer, Head of Public Policy on nurturing and growing digital skills and talent in Malaysia.	Matt Madrigal, Global Vice President and General Manager of Merchant Shopping at Google on the growth of Malaysia’s e-Commerce market and the opportunities with Google Shopping.
Stephanie Davis, Vice President for SEA and SAF on SEA’s growth potential and Google’s economic recovery efforts in the wake of the pandemic. She also lent leadership advice on pulling her team through the challenges.	Marija Ralic, Google.Org Lead for APAC on the philanthropic arm’s efforts to support an inclusive economic recovery among the underserved communities in the region.	Melisa Lim, co-Founder of the social enterprise Langit Collective, and Nadhir Ashafiq, co-Founder & Executive Director of TheLorry on how they kept their businesses afloat during the pandemic with the help of digital tools.
Sharifah Shahirah Idid, Program Officer at The Asia Foundation and Vani Mahadevan, Program Director of Startup Malaysia.org on the GO Digital ASEAN initiative digital skills training, highlighting the power of public-private sector collaborations.	Nur Sara Dina Yen, founder of Dough by Sara and Mohd Zaid Othman, founder of Lampu Cherita on their digital upskilling journeys through the Mahir Digital Bersama Google program.	David Chak, Co-Founder and Director of Curriculum for Arus Academy and Suzanne Ling, Co-Founder and Head of Marketing for PichaEats on how social enterprises are leveraging digital tools to stay resilient during the pandemic.
	Geetha Balakrishna, Business Executive Officer of MAGGI®; Chuah Jia Wen, Industry Head of FMCG for Google Malaysia; and Anne Idris, owner of My Mum’s Bakery on Program Mentor Wanita Cukup Berani empowering women across Malaysia through online workshops to build self-confidence and improve business skills.