MISSION: IMPACT POSSIBLE

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU TACKLE SOCIAL ISSUES WITH COLLABORATION, INNOVATIVE FUNDING, AND A REVIVED KAMPUNG SPIRIT.

- ZAT ASTHA

SUHAIMI ZAINUL-ABIDIN

"WE BELIEVE IN COLLABORATION TO TACKLE COMPLEX SOCIAL ISSUES."

As Quantedge Foundation's director, Suhaimi grasps the crucial link between philanthropic funding and social equity.

How would you describe the work you do?

As the CEO of Quantedge Capital, I “amplify resources for the greater good”. As a director at Quantedge Foundation, I “invest in people to create impact”.

Why is your work important to the world today?

What’s incontrovertible is the fact that the world is becoming increasingly divided between the haves and have-nots. How do we create equal opportunities for people, regardless of the circumstances they are born into? If we believe that people are our greatest resource, then we need to create the conditions that will allow every individual to thrive. Quantedge Foundation is looking to address this question in the Singapore context by creating solutions that empower households and individuals who belong to the bottom 20 per cent as measured by income.

What do people most misunderstand about your work’s aims?

First, I want to clarify the difference between inequality and social mobility. Inequality concerns the unequal distribution of resources, while social mobility focuses on creating equal opportunities. At Quantedge, we emphasise creating equal opportunities rather than just redistributing resources.

Secondly, unlike traditional grant-giving organisations, Quantedge Foundation actively maps out the landscape, co-designs interventions and collaborates closely with partners to develop effective programs. We that we can achieve positive and lasting social change. We’re constantly planting seeds because we know we’ll benefit from the trees many years from now.

What three things would make your bigger work goals easier to achieve today?