Great Eastern Life: Empowering Individuals To Live Great

Photo above: Great Starts With You – Great Eastern Life director and chief executive officer Dato Koh Yaw Hui (fourth from right) and senior vice-president and head of company secretariat and legal division Liza Hanim Zainal Abidin (far right) with her company secretariat and legal team members at the company’s Annual Appreciation Awards 2015 held last month.

The success of an organisation begins with its people

Empowering its employees to live great and reach for their potential, is one of the many reasons why Great Eastern Life Assurance (M) Bhd is the employer of choice for insurance.

The company, which recently celebrated its 107th anniversary, bagged the title of the most popular graduate employer in Malaysia’s insurance sector for the seventh year in a row for Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers, ultimately placing them as the longest record holder in the country.

Empowerment through growth

Engaging with and nurturing the growth potential of employees is of great importance to Great Eastern Life’s talent agenda.

Senior vice-president and head of human capital Dennis Tan said, “At Great Eastern Life, from the day a new employee comes on board, they are offered comprehensive training to orientate them into their roles and new working environment, as well as providing them with continued professional development throughout their career with the company, so that their career may flourish as they progress within the organisation.

“The company emphasises internal promotion and in its pursuit of grooming in-house talent, supports education at the workplace through its Educational Assistance Programme that allows for professional memberships, study leave, examination subsidies, and special salary increments upon successful completion of courses. The company also offers transcendent rewards to employees who excel through the Annual Chairman’s Awards and recognises long-term service through the Annual Appreciation Awards.”

Empowerment through activities

In celebrating a great life, one has to consider their actions in their everyday lives which will consequently lead them to their aims, and ultimately provide meaning to what constitutes a great life.

According to Great Eastern Life director and chief executive officer Dato Koh Yaw Hui, “Apart from encouraging policyholders, friends and family to live great towards a healthier, better and longer life, the company also empowers its employees to take charge of their health and wellness.”

The company established several programmes such as the LIFE Programme, Making Life Great (MLG) activities, 3G Go Green staff initiative and provision of incentives – subsidised gym membership, free annual health checks, fun workout sessions, health talks by medical experts and reward of LIFE points (that can be redeemed against products and services from LIVE GREAT merchants) for participation in LIFE Programme activities.

Empowerment through community

To be great, one has to be giving as well. Similar to a pride of lions that is socially aware and collaborative, employees are encouraged to channel their pride and give back to society together.

For over 20 years, through its own ChildrenCare charity in partnership with the Social Welfare Department and several non-governmental organisations, the company contributed towards various children welfare programmes and donated over RM2.2mil to 180 children homes in Malaysia.

Empowering the young

Nurturing young talent is crucial to churning out skilled and great graduates entering the workforce.

In its effort to provide talented young Malaysians access to good education, Great Eastern Life offers Annual Supremacy Scholarships.

The company also provides an Internship Programme where students can learn about the industry and enhance their marketability for a favourable career upon graduation.

Aside from students, graduates can have a head start to a promising career within the financial sector through the FSTEP Management Trainee Programme.

Great starts with you

Great Eastern Life offers an array of career options for graduates in actuarial science, law, accounting, business administration, psychology, marketing, economics, social sciences, and more.