“CGC is also very resourceful. They always update me with relevant information, invite me for events and offer new information and services."
AC Interactive Solutions Sdn Bhd | Training
Kuching, Sarawak
Agatha Charlotte Anak Gerek
The last company that Agatha Charlotte Anak Gerek worked for - a training company - had to close down. She was unsure of what to do next. However, since she enjoyed working with her clients, she was reluctant to leave them in the lurch. So she asked some of her large corporate clients if they would support her in her own training company. “Training is my passion and, at 33, I didn’t really want to send out resumes and go to interviews again.” Agatha wanted to become an entrepreneur.
It has been seven years since she set up on her own, delivering mainly IT training to government agencies and corporate clients. She also provides digital marketing programmes to MSMEs, GLCs and HRDF contributors. For her public programmes, participants come from government agencies and private companies. She recently launched a CompTIA IT certification programme, as she is an authorised partner. Training is both online and on-site, although the current MCO situation has led to her gearing up her online platforms.
Though the business was quite a struggle in the beginning, Agatha has no regrets. Today, her company is well-known for its IT training, digital marketing courses and lab rentals. Since 2013, she has diversified her range to accommodate topics currently in demand.
In 2015 Agatha applied for a CGC BizMula-i financing because she needed to expand her premises. She moved to a new building, paid for renovation and added fittings. The number of labs increased from one to three, equipped with new computers and laptops.
“CGC is also very resourceful. They always update me with relevant information, invite me for events and offer new information and services.” The approval process was fast. Moreover, despite Agatha not fitting all the necessary borrower requirements, they gave her the opportunity, trusting her to move ahead. Agatha thinks that, in the current conditions, CGC should organise more workshops on the practicalities of running a business, especially on how to cope post-Covid-19.