ESG as a Growth Strategy for Asia’s SMEs: Practical Steps from Yvonne Au Yong

In this episode, I speak with Yvonne Au Yong of Stratx Advisory of Malaysia who reframes ESG for Asia’s SMEs - from a compliance obligation to a strategic growth lever.

She shares a practical four-step starter plan, explains how sustainability can drive revenue and cut costs and discusses the urgency of acting now before broader regulatory demands intensify.

With real-world examples and market insights, Yvonne shows how small businesses can position themselves as responsible, forward-thinking partners in their ecosystems.

• 00:00 – Episode opening and guest introduction
• 00:06 – The urgency of climate action and the 1.5°C threshold
• 00:12 – Four-step starter framework for ESG
• 00:26 – ESG as a revenue and cost-saving lever for SMEs
• 00:33 – Government procurement, climate reporting, and Scope 3 emissions
• 00:41 – Communicating ESG commitments and stakeholder engagement
• 00:47 – The first-mover advantage in ESG; closing thoughts

3 key takeaways

• ESG is a strategic growth tool for SMEs, not just a compliance burden.
• Start with Yvonne's four-step plan, then scale and communicate your progress.
• Early adoption creates a competitive edge as regulatory and market expectations rise.

This episode is brought to you by RedboxStudio.com

For the full show notes, visit WomenpreneurAsia.com