Dr Avi Global

Most leaders don’t fail because they lack intelligence. They fail because they’re operating with blind spots they can’t see and rarely hear about. As many CEO's reflect on the year gone by, and the next one ahead, this hit me again recently during a quiet conversation with a GM of a pharmaceutical company who was genuinely puzzled about the right steps forward. The numbers were slipping. The strategy made sense on paper. The team was capable. Yet something wasn’t landing. What struck me wasn’t the problem itself, it was the confidence with which it was being defended. Here’s the uncomfortable pattern I keep seeing. According to research published in Harvard Business Review (Tasha Eurich’s work on self-awareness), 95% of people believe they’re self-aware, yet only about 10–15% actually are. Which means the default state for many CEOs isn’t ignorance. It’s overconfidence about self-awareness. High-stakes decisions being made with incomplete “self data.” And when that gap exists at the top, it doesn’t stay contained. Leadership research from Korn Ferry shows that poorer-performing companies carry significantly more leadership blind spots — and their leaders are far more likely to score low on self-awareness. When accurate feedback doesn’t land, blind spots compound and we can literally see the impact in weaker returns. That gap shows up in predictable ways. Strategy gets distorted - because dissenting signals don’t land. Culture erodes - because people learn that truth is unsafe. Execution slows - because your best people disengage when reality can’t be discussed openly. None of this happens overnight. It happens quietly. Gradually. Reasonably. And that’s what makes blind spots so expensive, they don’t feel dangerous while they’re forming. In our work with founders and CEOs, the real unlock is rarely more information or smarter frameworks. It’s creating a system where honest appraisal can exist without threatening identity or authority. Because the strongest leaders aren’t the ones with the fewest weaknesses. They’re the ones with the fewest unknown ones. So here’s a question worth sitting with: As your business grows, are your blind spots shrinking or are they compounding quietly with your scale? That answer usually explains more about performance than any strategy deck ever will. And if you're still puzzled on the right move forward, and no one's giving you a truly honest opinion, DM me for a chat. #Founder #CEO #AI #Leadership #CEOcoach #RevenueGrowth #SME

Exciting times indeed! In parallel with the #ASEAN Summit hosted by #Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim and attended by US President Donald Trump, It was an honour to attend the ‘Australia at ASEAN Business Mission’ last night organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). Great to meet Tony Lombardo Group CEO and Managing Director of Lendlease Group, now appointed as the ‘Australias Business Champion for Malaysia’ as well as @Nicholas Moore AO, Special Envoy for Southeast Asia and former CEO of Macquarie Group. They presented “Invested:Malaysia to 2024”, a report supporting the Australian Economic Strategy for Southeast Asia to 2040. The document is full of insights on economic opportunities in Malaysia and how Australian companies can support Malaysia’s growth. Recommend a read if you’re trading in the region. The Commonwealth Government has recognized Australias underinvestment in the region and the importance of growing that footprint in the years to come. I’m excited that Dr Avi Global is at the forefront of capitalizing on this growth corridor, enabling Founders, CEOs, and General Managers of SME‘s & Fortune 500 companies to grow; leveraging our AI & expertise to solve their strategic, operational and leadership challenges while enabling their AI agenda. Love to especially acknowledge people in the industry that I reconnected with Kamelinder Singh Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Priya Terumalay FCPA (Aust.) CA (M) Regional Head CPA Australia Srii G. and Gregory Harvey from Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) . Thank you all for your wonderful support! Its a delight to be supporting Founders , CEOs and GMs , both small and large with our world class program and ZeroCEO AI advisor for growth acceleration. One of the key skills we support them with is “strategic networking”, as the revenue growth of a business can often be correlated with the strength of the CEOs network. If you are a business owner or CEO of an SME looking to grow faster and easier - do reach out and let’s chat about how we can help! #ASEAN #Australia #Malaysia #Asia #CommonwealthGovernmentofAustralia #ASEANSummit #Founder #CEO #revenuegrowth #gotomarket #strategy #coaching #mentoring #targets #turnarounds #success #AI

There are many coaches and consultants preaching tools, methodologies and AI tools. The noise in the market is just getting louder, even from the tech titans. But what matters most, is getting real results, especially for the top leaders, and proving that you can, over and over again. Earlier this year, I had the privilege of working with a bold management team that reminded me why ruthless strategic clarity, team alignment, and industry curiosity are the real accelerators of global growth. @Dr Avi Global partnered with their leadership across multiple regions to design the next phase of their expansion journey. It was a period of intense focus and breakthrough learning — turning complex ideas, operational bottlenecks into actionable strategy. @Eelco Broesma, CEO of @Eurodrug, a subsidiary of @Pacific Healthcare shared this reflection: “I fully recommend Dr. Avi as a consultant who combines clear strategy with practical execution. From May to September 2025, he worked with our Management Team to shape the next phase of our global growth. His insights and practical tools had a real impact. A highlight was a three-day course in Bangkok, where he challenged our leadership team, helped us set clear priorities, and gave us solutions for long-standing operational issues. He also introduced creative ways to use new AI tools, such as ZeroCEO, to strengthen our strategy and execution. Thanks to Dr. Avi, we now have a sharper go-to-market plan, a more aligned Management Team, and fresh energy for the future. I strongly recommend him to any organization looking for a smart, committed, and results-focused management consultant and coach.” What I appreciate most about this team and Group CEO @Patrick Bruhlmann was their openness — the willingness to question old assumptions and embrace innovation. Growth doesn’t necessarily come from adding more complexity all the time; often scalability can come from mastering simplicity at a higher level. It’s always inspiring to witness what happens when strategy, technology, and leadership converge with purpose. #CEO #AI #Leadership #Strategy #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership #ManagementConsulting #OrganizationalDevelopment #ZeroCEO #ChangeLeadership

Has your company become a “talent incubator”, training up talent who leave for larger competitors? I once worked with a regional CEO whose best managers quietly slipped away—until one day, she realized her company had become a launchpad for others. Her instinct was to blame external poaching and higher salaries. But the truth often lies closer to our own culture and internal practices. As researchers at Harvard Business Review describe, talent incubators are sophisticated—they “regularly churn out the best executives, who become industry leaders.” These firms invest deeply in people development, internal mobility, and cross-functional experiences—so much so that “they are known as good places to be from, but also good places to stay”. Meanwhile, the financial ripple of these departures is real. A 2024 Gallup study found that replacing an employee costs on average 106% of their salary—a tangible hit to growth and stability. This paradox capsulates the challenge: creating a learning culture is vital, but without structures to retain and grow, you risk becoming a training ground for competitors. So how do leaders avoid this trap? In our ZeroCEO program, we use a combined human and AI hybrid approach to help Founders & CEO anchor talent development in ownership, purpose, and strategic alignment—not just training (which less and less people seem to have time for these days). The evidence says, you need create internal career pathways that rival the outside lure. But how do you do this as an SME with limited resources and significant time constraints? The most thoughtful leaders understand that nurturing talent isn’t enough. The real test is designing a system that keeps your best people inspired, invested, and advancing within your own mission. Document and share institutional insights deliberately, rather than letting them walk out the door. The investment in your people as a core asset, can far outweigh the benefits of investment, purely in your infrastructure & equipment as the core asset. This takes significant mindset shift for some CEOs. As a business leader, its important to ask is your team staying because they’re valued—or because they can’t find a better alternative? That distinction may define your growth trajectory for the next decade. #TalentRetention #PeopleDevelopment #ExecutiveLeadership #CEO #Founders #AI #BusinessGrowth 

I recently came across this quote, which very much represents a timeless truth “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” Its from Shunryu Suzuki, a Zen Monk and author. However, what he's saying is spot on for every CEO I've worked with - any myself included. You see, one of the fastest ways Founders & CEOs stalls the business growth, is by convincing themselves they’ve “figured it all out.” Expertise can become a trap. You stop asking questions. You default to old playbooks. You miss new opportunities because they don’t fit your mental model. Over the years, the Founders & CEOs who keep winning, and the ones I admire, aren’t always the smartest in the room — but they’re the most curious. They treat every market shift, client conversation, or competitor move as data, not a threat. They hold onto a beginner’s mindset even while building with expert execution. And they are humble. Always listening, even to the younger generation, so they stay abreast of the latest trends. The paradox of leadership is this: the bigger your business grows, the more important it becomes to stay a student. I recently worked with a forward-thinking Founder Pang Sern Yong, a leader who stepped into the ZeroCEO program with the usual challenges of constant firefighting as growth escalates. As he shared: “Before starting, I was very reactive — constantly putting out fires and struggling to focus on long-term strategy. Dr. Avi’s coaching brought exceptional value. He shared deep personal experience, delivered sharp insights, and helped me diagnose root issues I wasn’t even aware of. The AI acted as a 24/7 mentor, organizing my thoughts, highlighting blind spots, and providing actionable recommendations. Together, this combination shifted me from a reactive mindset to a proactive, strategic approach. I restructured my daily routine, focused on high-impact activities, and saw a 30% improvement in operational efficiency. My team is more aligned, and we dedicate more time to growth. Today, I feel more confident, supported, and energized as a leader.” His words remind me: growth is not just about building companies. It’s about building leaders who never stop learning. #CEO #AI #Leadership #FounderMindset #StrategicGrowth #BusinessGrowth #FutureOfWork @ZeroCEO @DrAviGlobal

Up to 80% of AI projects fail. That was one of the stark reminders from CSIRO’s recent webinar AI with ROI: A Guide to Smarter AI Investment, featuring Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, Dr Kendra Vant, Prof. Elanor Huntington, and Dr. Petra Kuhnert that I attended. The problem isn’t the technology—it’s the way organisations approach it. Too often, leaders start with the tool, not the problem. They expect plug-and-play certainty from systems that are inherently probabilistic. And they underinvest in people, process, and culture. What struck me most was this: success doesn’t come from using AI to just save time and money—it comes from increasing value and quality. The companies winning with AI have showed some common traits, which are: - Willing to fail, but learn. - Focusing on specific, contained tasks. - Treating adoption as process change, not just tech deployment. The worst thing leaders can do? Ignore it and assume AI will go away. AI is not a magic bullet, but it is a powerful, evolving tool. The panel suggests, and I agree, that turning AI projects into real ROI requires small steps, principled governance, and a mindset of experimentation. I’ve written a fuller reflection on the key lessons and leadership implications here: https://lnkd.in/gq8Ycijc So if you're a Founder, CEO or business leader, where in your business could you start small and learn today? #CEO #AI #AILeadership #AIROI #FutureOfWork #BusinessStrategy

The scale of AI developments keeps blowing my mind, yet I’m extremely excited to be at the forefront of it for CEOs, which is why I travel the world to meet people with deep insights. Malaysias digital and AI economy with its data center ecosystem expected to grow by 26% CAGR , more than twice the growth rate of Australias ecosystem and will likely reach half its value by 2030. It was delight to connect with Gopi Ganesalingam and Kamelinder Singh from the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and understand the speed of these developments and the deep focus of the Malaysian government to attract and operationalise investment into this sector. It was great to map the alignment of how ZeroCEO and Dr Avi Global can plug into this ecosystem to support SMEs Founders & CEOs grow their businesses revenue with AI . They mentioned that there are over 1mil SMEs in Malaysia alone and many need help with their business growth and productivity decisions, especially when scaling up beyond 2-3mil in revenue. I’m especially excited to be able to merge Australian and Malaysian IP to scale this up further for SMEs in Malaysia and the ASEAN region. I’m looking to working more with Malaysian partners and will be at the Malaysia Digital Xceleration (MDX) Summit over the next couple of days to help shape our growth here. Look forward to seeing any of you there! HAPPY MALAYSIA DAY! #AI #revenuegrowth #SME #Founder #CEO #services #datacenters

Join Our Dr Avi Global Team! We’re looking for a Digital Marketing Manager cum Executive Assistant (based in Klang Valley) to help us shape the future of leadership and AI. This full-time role blends digital marketing, sales strategy, and executive support, working directly with the CEO. The ideal candidate will bring experience in LinkedIn marketing strategy, email marketing, and proven skills in Zoho CRM with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. To apply, candidates should send their CV and a 1-minute self-intro video explaining why they believe they are a good fit to venny@draviglobal.com or apply directly via LinkedIn here: https://lnkd.in/gkfMpFWe

We asked. You answered. And we’re listening. When I shared a recent post about refining my personal brand, I wasn’t just seeking votes I was inviting insight. The response from this community was humbling. Many of you didn’t just pick a tagline, you shared how the work we do resonates with you. From neuroscience and AI to the human side of leadership, your feedback gave us a deeper look into what truly matters. Thank you for showing up with thoughtfulness, honesty, and clarity. We hear you. Your reflections are already shaping how we’ll communicate moving forward. How we speak about the impact we create and the transformations we guide. We’ll continue to incorporate this input as we evolve because this isn’t just about a brand. It’s about building trust, clarity, and a shared vision of what leadership can look like. Let’s keep shaping this journey together. #CEO #Leadership #AI #PersonalBrand #ExecutiveCoaching #GrowthMindset #Neuroscience #AILeadership 

What happens when a leadership team gains strategic clarity at the right time, with the right partner? We recently worked with the ambitious and forward-thinking CEO & Leadership team at Unitar International University (UNITAR Education Group), one of the leading private sector educational institutions in Malaysia, with a diverse business portfolio, academic spectrum, and operationally tech-enabled. Unitar develops industry-ready and globally oriented graduates, fostering career success with a high employability rate of over 98%. UNITAR, like many other growing institutions in South-East Asia, is at a pivotal moment for growth. Whilst many organisations in the region typically grow through opportunistic approaches, there comes a time when smart leaders consider more strategic decisions to optimise long term execution. The kind that wisdom can unlock an organisation's potential into measurable impact. That’s where Dr Avi Global and @ZeroCEO AI Advisor stepped in. As UNITAR’s CEO, Puvan Balachandran, shared recently: "Partnering with Dr Avi Global on our growth strategy was a transformative experience for UNITAR. His structured and strategic approach helped us gain clarity on defining new market opportunities, sharpen our approach to existing ones and influence our position to capture them. The process revealed critical insights into where our sector is heading—and also helped us rethink how we commercialise our capabilities as an institution. Dr Avi brought a unique blend of strategic depth, innovation, and aligned our leadership around clear, priorities for growth, leveraging our data and stakeholders better. We've saved a lot of time and are now investing more wisely to get better ROI from our efforts. An interesting accelerator was the inclusion of his ZeroCEO AI Advisor, which enabled our team to accelerate their strategic thinking and execution during the project. It sparked high-value conversations and decisions about talent, delivery, structure, and the kind of future-ready brand we aspire to build. This was an important catalyst for an organisational shift in this age of AI. We're thankful for the clarity, momentum, and renewed ambition this partnership has delivered and I'm looking forward to the next stage of our journey.” When leadership aligns around the right team and the right opportunities, bringing on the right partners can bring your vision to life. If you're a Founder or CEO looking to accelerate the growth of your business, reach out, I'd love to have a chat! #CEO #Leadership #StrategicGrowth #Innovation #AI #Education #Business #DigitalTransformation #StrategicLeadership