Reflections from the ASEAN SEDP 4.0 Regional Workshop
Empower2Free felt privileged. We were selected from over 370 social enterprises in the ASEAN region for the ASEAN SEDP 4.0 program. The ASEAN Social Enterprise Development Programme (SEDP) 4.0, organized by the ASEAN Foundation in collaboration with Instellar, supports social entrepreneurs across Southeast Asia to grow their business and increase their impact. This cohort brought together 30 selected social enterprises from all 10 ASEAN countries.
The program culminated in a regional workshop in Bangkok, hosted by ASEAN Foundation and supported by TikTok and SAP. There, we connected with other social entrepreneurs in the program, ASEAN Foundation program alumni and key stakeholders in the social enterprise eco-system. Beyond peer learning, a business matchmaking session allowed us to meet with capacity builders like RaiSE and ANDE, charities like Pratthadee Foundation, and mentors from the Thai business space.
As we return with new opportunities to serve the ASEAN region with our money management programs, I am ever more aware of the need for our work in moving the needle on women empowerment. I am also more hopeful, taking away these key learnings:
1) To last the journey, protect the heart by travelling together
In this era of digital connectivity, it is easy to settle for a Zoom call. One might even wonder if in-person meetings are necessary. But as I sat in the workshop, listening to the wisdom and experiences shared, one thing became clear. These gatherings provide an irreplaceable space for connection. We relate when we have intentional time to ‘waste’, when interactions are organic and casual chats can happen in the midst of a shared activity.
Being in the same physical space heals and nourishes the heart in a way screens cannot. This is especially true for social entrepreneurs straddling the worlds of business and good. It’s easy to veer to extremes; either becoming so capital focused that we lose our moral intent, or focusing so much on doing good that we become cynical when profitability is a struggle.
When we are together, we see that we are not alone. We are surrounded by cheerleaders and advocates doing what they can to help us, each creating change in their own way. That is chicken soup for the soul.
2) There is still so much that can and needs to be done
Connecting with the other social enterprises at the ASEAN SEDP 4.0 workshop was a powerful reminder of this. Hearing the challenges they face, the work they do and the impact they make, it became clear that every entrepreneur represented a critical gap in services, a community in need, or a systemic problem demanding a solution.
It’s easy to get siloed in our own work, but seeing the breadth of challenges being tackled—from environmental sustainability to education and healthcare—was both humbling and motivating.
For us at Empower2Free, this reinforced the urgency of our mission. Financial illiteracy isn’t a niche problem; it’s a root cause of inequality and a massive barrier to women’s empowerment. The workshop didn’t just show us what needs to be done; it illuminated how much more we can do by collaborating across borders and sectors to build financial confidence and independence.
3) Even in doing good, be rooted in reality
Passion fuels a social enterprise, but a viable business model keeps it running. This was a central theme at the ASEAN SEDP 4.0. We’re here to do good, but doing good also means being good at doing business. The numbers must make sense so that we can be sustainable and continue providing value to the world. Finances are key (a topic close to our heart!).
This idea is about building an organization that can last – one that doesn’t just survive on passion but thrives on professionalism and effectiveness. It means making strategic decisions, not just emotional ones. If what we are doing doesn’t provide competitive value, or is not in demand, it forces us to think harder about our existence. As painful as that reality is, this is a good signal of opportunity cost. It prompts us to ask how we might better serve the world elsewhere with the resources and skills we have.
Such a brutal and clear truth aligns perfectly with our own Empower2Free’s value of Simplicity—cutting through the ‘noise’ and chaos to build something that truly works and delivers lasting impact. Being “rooted in reality” is what allows us to turn our vision into a reality for the people we serve.
We are not alone, and neither are you
This experience at the ASEAN SEDP 4.0 was invigorating and grounding. It reminded us that we are part of a vast, dedicated ecosystem. We are all working toward a better ASEAN region.
In many ways, these lessons echo life itself. We need community to keep us going. There is always more to do. And the importance of dreaming big, while using reality as the firm anchor that helps us get there.
There are our takeaways from the workshop. We know these themes are universal so we would love to hear your perspectives. What’s one “reality check” you’ve experienced on your own journey of trying to make a difference?
