By MOHD IZHAM BIN HASHIM
KOTA KINABALU: Entrepreneurs must look beyond profit generation and recognise their role in preserving culture, strengthening communities and protecting the environment, said National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN) CEO Viviante Sarjuni.
Speaking at a recent symposium on Redefining Sustainability: Indigenous Stewardship and the Future of Entrepreneurship, Viviante said sustainability should be understood beyond modern frameworks such as ESG compliance, climate action, carbon reduction efforts or the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She highlighted that long before these frameworks existed, indigenous communities had already practised sustainability as a way of life through their relationship with land, nature and future generations.
“We are not the owners of nature; we are its stewards,” Viviante said, emphasising that indigenous communities possess valuable ecological knowledge, cultural resilience and sustainable resource management practices that can contribute to future development.
She said the global market was increasingly moving towards authenticity, sustainability and clear purpose, creating opportunities for sectors such as indigenous tourism, forest-based products, traditional crafts and natural wellness.
However, Viviante stressed that the future of entrepreneurship should not be focused solely on creating businesses for profit, but on building enterprises that address wider social and environmental challenges.
She encouraged entrepreneurs to move beyond simply asking what products they could sell and instead consider broader questions: what systemic problems they could solve, what heritage they could preserve and which communities they could uplift.
“Entrepreneurship should be an act of stewardship,” she said, adding that businesses should aim to secure livelihoods while safeguarding culture, communities and the environment.
Viviante also called for a shift in how indigenous communities are viewed in development efforts, saying they should not be treated merely as passive beneficiaries of aid or development programmes.
Instead, she said they should be recognised as partners and leaders with deep ecological knowledge, proven systems of sustainable resource management and generations of experience living in balance with nature.
“When we stop viewing these communities through the lens of charity and start recognising them as partners and leaders, we unlock a different future — one where development is done with communities, not for them,” she told participants who attended the Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit 2026.
To support this vision, INSKEN is strengthening its participation in a broader international ecosystem through collaborations with organisations including the World Economic Forum, Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), AVPN, the Asia Foundation and the United Nations.
Viviante said INSKEN is also preparing a bid to host the Social Enterprise World Forum in Malaysia in February 2027, subject to approval. The initiative builds on last year’s Rural Social Enterprise Gathering, which was organised in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) and supported by the State Government.
She added that INSKEN is moving forward with the Rural Social Enterprise Network, an initiative aimed at connecting entrepreneurs, local communities and resource partners to build a resilient cross-border ecosystem.
Viviante said the objective was not merely to create more entrepreneurs, but to nurture business leaders who serve as stewards of their communities, cultures and environment.
She added that sustainable development should recognise existing indigenous wisdom, invest in community-led solutions and create pathways where economic progress, environmental stewardship and community well-being can advance together.
Viviante speaks during her presentation at the Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investment for Sustainable Development Summit 2026.
