Businesses are rolling out change faster than ever but when handled poorly, it becomes an invisible, costly drain on the organizations. According to McKinsey study “Common pitfalls in Transformations: A conversation with Jon Garcia’,, nearly 70% of transformation efforts either stall or fail, often due to vague goals, lack of employee buy-in, and missing change infrastructure.
And these failures aren’t just setbacks; they come with a heavy cost in lost productivity, wasted investments, and demotivated teams.
A 2024 Bain & Company study titled “88 % of business transformations fail to achieve their original ambitions; those that succeed avoid overloading top talent”, adds to this picture, revealing that only 12% of major business transformations hit their original targets. Success, it notes, depends on clear focus, avoiding talent overload, and often, a dedicated Chief Transformation Officer, a role still missing in many companies.
The stakes are more pressing in dynamic, diverse markets like Indonesia and Southeast Asia, where digital disruption, workforce shifts, call for tailored change; not just copied frameworks. Still, many treat change as a checklist, not a core skill.
Yet when done right, the payoff is clear. Prosci's 2025 research ““Change Management Success”, finds that projects with strong change management are up to seven times more likely to succeed. Furthermore, organizations that clearly define success and measure progress can improve their odds of meeting or exceeding goals by up to five times.
“While Malaysia and ASEAN countries may be at different stages in their transformation journeys, organizations across the region face a common challenge:- getting people on board to embrace organisational change. What we need are practical, homegrown strategies that deliver real results. That’s where real breakthroughs happen,” said R.A. Thiagaraja, an advocate for change leadership in Southeast Asia.
Against this backdrop, the 2nd ASEAN Change Management Conference (ACMC) 2025 returns to Kuala Lumpur on 1–2 October under the theme “Advancing Results, Change Done Right!”. Following its impactful debut last year, this year's edition focuses on practical solutions designed for ASEAN’s unique challenges - helping leaders make change that truly delivers results.measurable impact.
“Change in ASEAN isn’t one-size-fits-all,” said who also serves as Chairperson of ACMC and CEO of K-Pintar Sdn Bhd, the organizer of the event. “Success comes from understanding local realities and adapting strategies that work on the ground.”Thiagaraja, who also serves as Chairperson of ACMC and CEO of K-Pintar Sdn Bhd, the organizer of the event.
This year’s conference stands out by zeroing in on ASEAN realities.While speakers come from the UK, Poland, Africa, India, Singapore, and Malaysia, the real spotlight is on how cultural differences, organizational pushback, and industry challenges shape change efforts in this part of the world.
Malaysia’s National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) joins as a strategic partner this year, reinforcing the importance of public sector transformation alongside private enterprise.
ACMC 2025 is gearing up to welcome 500+ participants from across the region. Don’t miss your spot—register now at aseanchangemanagementconference.com.
Press release provided by K-Pintar.
