Deborah Melissa Bottreau

“I was not born a business person,” Deborah, who is the founder of Sienna DMB, confesses. Taking the plunge to leave a job with steady pay cheques to run her own graphic design, branding and event management company was a nervewracking decision for the budding entrepreneur, who possesses experience in branding, marketing and managerial e-commerce.

As president of the Malaysian Association of ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs (MAAYE), Deborah’s personal belief is that the entrepreneur of the future will need to be open and forward thinking as collaborations and partnerships hold the key to success. “My advice is, entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone and that is ok. Always remember that information is key,” she says. As the only young entrepreneurs association mandated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), MAAYE aims to be the place for entrepreneurs who desire a louder voice, connecting them to ASEAN countries and network with like-minded people.

As someone who wears many hats, Deborah is also a strong advocate of design and is currently in the midst of setting up Design Exchange Asia (DeXA) to build a community for creative professionals and educate the public about the importance of good design, branding and marketing. If she was given the opportunity to go back in time, Deborah is adamant that she wouldn’t change anything. “I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. We may not realise it but what has happened brings us to where we are today.”