SME100® CEO Academy

The SME100 CEO Academy is an initiative of SME100® as a growth partner to promote even greater acceleration for SMEs. To enable SME100® Winners to compete regionally and beyond entrepreneurial instincts, the Academy is a learning programme specially curated to enhance various aspects of business operations and growth.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
~Benjamin Franklin (Founding father of the United States)

2026 Program

The 2026 SME100® CEO Academy features a 6-course programme aptly titled *Empowering SME Leaders for Sustainable Growth and Global Opportunities. Each course will focus on a different aspect of entrepreneurial needs, such as attracting and developing top talent, improving processes across the value stream, driving AI integration, planning strategically for brand expansion, preparing for IPO readiness, and aligning with sustainability goals.

Below is the information for each Module:



Financial & Operational Excellence for SME Leaders

Date: 23 May 2026
Time: 9am to 5pm
Facilitator: Dr Steven Liew

Course Synopsis

This module focuses on strengthening financial management and operational efficiency to support sustainable business growth. Participants will gain practical insights into cash flow, budgeting, profitability, and productivity improvement strategies for better business performance.

Key Learning Objectives

  • How to manage profit & loss, ROI & cash flow position
  • Understand Cost-Based Scenario Stress Testing
  • Using goals seeks to hit management expectations on sales, profit & cash flow.
  • Recognise areas of concern and recommend ideas for improving financial performance and productivity.
  • Contribute more effectively to Budgeting negotiations.


Strategy and Sustainable Growth Planning for SMEs

Date: 20 June 2026
Time: 9am to 5pm
Facilitator: Yvonne Au Yong

Course Synopsis

This module helps SME leaders understand sustainability, ESG practices, and long-term growth strategies. Participants will explore practical approaches to integrating sustainability into business operations while identifying opportunities for resilience and future growth.

Key Learning Objectives

  • Grasp core concepts & global agendas (e.g. SDGs), know regulatory/ customer drivers and spot ESG risks & opportunities
  • Link sustainability to strategy, business model, and operations
  • Understand disclosure purpose, key frameworks, and decision-useful metrics
  • Carbon management basic on Scopes 1–3, baselines, and reduction levers
  • Apply circular economy principles
  • Recognise and know how to access green finance instruments


The Art of War For Customer Growth & Marketing Excellence

Date: 18 July 2026
Time: 9am to 5pm
Facilitator: Casey Tee

Course Synopsis

This module equips SME leaders with strategic marketing and customer growth approaches to stay competitive in a challenging market. Participants will learn how to strengthen brand positioning, attract customers, and drive business growth effectively.

Key Learning Objectives

  • Understand how to compete effectively in uncertain economic conditions
  • Identify new customer acquisition opportunities without lowering price
  • Build stronger value propositions that attract premium customers
  • Position their brand clearly in a crowded market
  • Develop offensive and defensive marketing strategies
  • Translate strategy into actionable plans for immediate implementation
  • Improve productivity, profitability, and team alignment


Leadership Mindset for High-Performing CEOs

Date: 21 Aug 2026
Time: 9am to 5pm
Facilitator: Maresa Ng

Course Synopsis

This module focuses on developing strong leadership capabilities for SME leaders navigating growth and uncertainty. Participants will learn practical strategies for decision-making, team leadership, resilience, and driving organisational performance.

Key Learning Objectives

  • Mastering the ability to make fast, high-stakes decisions under extreme market pressure.
  • Engineering an elite environment that attracts and keeps "A-Player" talent.
  • Developing the mental "armor" to lead calmly through volatility and IPO-level stress.
  • Commanding authority and aligning stakeholders behind a bold, "Bursa-ready" roadmap.


THE AI-DRIVEN CEO: Intelligence, Data & Deal Acceleration

Date: 12 Sep 2026
Time: 9am to 5pm
Facilitator: Wan Yuee

Course Synopsis

This module introduces practical AI tools and strategies to help SME leaders improve decision-making, business intelligence, and sales performance. Participants will learn how to leverage AI to enhance productivity and accelerate business growth.

Key Learning Objectives

  • Master Superior Research: Dominate market intelligence using AI techniques that outpace traditional methods.
  • Transform Internal Data: Convert raw business information into high-level strategic insights.
  • Accelerate Sales: Deploy proven AI tools for deep prospect analysis and presentation excellence.
  • Immediate Implementation: Build a personalised AI toolkit for instant business application


THE SOVEREIGN CEO: Building Authority with AI-Powered Social Media

Date: 3 Oct 2026
Time: 9am to 5pm
Facilitator: Roselin Das

Course Synopsis

This module helps SME leaders build stronger personal branding and digital authority using AI-powered social media strategies. Participants will learn how to enhance visibility, create impactful content, and strengthen professional influence online.

Key Learning Objectives

  • Brand Audit: Identify "leaks" in your professional digital presence and visibility.
  • Personality-Based Networking: Master AI tools to decode the communication styles of high-stakes prospects.
  • Automated Content Mastery: Deploy an AI engine to generate a month's worth of executive-level content in a single session.
  • Visual Authority: Create professional-grade short-form video and infographics that reinforce your status as a market leader.

Our Education Partner – HELP University ELM Graduate School

HELP University ELM Graduate School is a wholly owned division of HELP that focuses on graduate studies and executive education. ELM offers a number of courses for both adult learners and graduates. ELM Graduate School is also equipped with the facilities and know-how to deliver on the education component of the SME100® CEO Academy.

*More about HELP University ELM Graduate School

More Info

Who Can Enrol?

The Academy is an initiative uniquely designed for SME100® Awards winners. All participants of the program will be the respective business owners of the award recipient or assigned team members. The program is not opened to the general public.

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. Kofi Annan (Ex-Secretary-General of the United Nations)


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