Culture That Performs: DEI and the Heart-Based Workplace

Culture That Performs: DEI and the Heart-Based Workplace

We are excited to invite you to an exclusive panel discussion.  In this engaging session, our panel of experts will explore how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) can be powerful drivers of innovation, employee engagement, and sustainable success. Learn how heart-based leadership and inclusive practices can transform your workplace culture and performance.

Date: Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Time: 10.00 am - 11.30 am
Venue: MGCC Office, Level 20, Menara Hap Seng 2, No. 1 Jalan P. Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur

🌟Panel Highlights

• Inclusive policies for marginalized groups and people with disabilities
• Bridging generational gaps and addressing ageism
• Emotional intelligence and empathy as leadership tools
• Tackling workplace bullying and discrimination
• Creating psychologically safe environments for innovation and growth

🌟Key Takeaways

• How DEI contributes to building high-impact, high-performing teams
• Practical strategies to embed DEI into workplace culture
• Real-world challenges and solutions from diverse organizational perspectives
• The role of leadership in modeling inclusive behavior
• How heart-based management enhances employee retention 

🎯 Who Should Attend

• Business leaders and C-suite executives
• HR professionals and DEI practitioners
• Team managers and department heads
• Legal and compliance officers
• Organizational development and training specialists
• Anyone passionate about building inclusive, high-performing workplace

Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring three seasoned industry leaders and an expert moderator.  Together, this panel offers a rich blend of legal insight, financial governance, and human-centered leadership strategies to help organizations build inclusive, high-performing teams.

Moderator profile

Dharani Langkeswaran
Career Services Manager
INTI International University

Dharani Langkeswaran is a skilled moderator known for leading meaningful conversations on workplace culture, leadership, and performance. With a background in communications and organizational development, she brings a thoughtful, inclusive approach that highlights diverse perspectives. Her engaging style fosters psychological safety while making complex topics accessible to a wide audience.

Panellist profile

Gene M. Tan
DEI Specialist, Business & Human Rights Lawyer, Author 

Gene M. Tan is a Barrister of England & Wales and Managing Partner at GM Tan & Company, specializing in business and human rights law. He is the founder of The Heartbased Group and author of The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Handbook for the Malaysian Workplace (2025). Gene serves on the Bar Council’s Human Rights and Animal Rights Committees and is a sought-after speaker on DEI, ethics, and legal advocacy. His work bridges law and workplace transformation, championing inclusive, high-performing organizations.

Dr. Rethina Gunaseelan
Principal Consultant, Corporate Wellness Strategy and Development
KLEM Group of Companies

Dr. Rethina Gunaseelan is the Principal Consultant for Corporate Wellness Strategy and Development at KLEM Group of Companies and a specialist in Business Emotional Intelligence. A medical doctor by training, she brings a diverse background spanning clinical practice, corporate wellness, and a strong foundation in sales and medical affairs with leading pharmaceutical companies including Roche, AstraZeneca, and Novartis. As the author of EI-Driven Sales in an AI-Driven World, she advocates emotional intelligence as a core driver of influence, leadership, and human-centered innovation. Her work integrates DEI, heart-based leadership, and power skills to foster high-performing, inclusive workplace cultures.

Marina Baharuddin
Chief Executive Officer
Financial Markets Ombudsman Service

Marina Baharuddin is the CEO of the Financial Markets Ombudsman Service, with over 20 years of experience in financial dispute resolution. She began her career in banking before moving into mediation, holding key roles across Malaysia’s financial mediation bodies. Marina holds degrees in finance and law, and is an accredited mediator and FINSIA Affiliate. Her leadership blends fairness and empathy, offering grounded insights into ageism, workplace bullying, and inclusive leadership.