Ipoh – The City of Millionaires: Talks & Leadership Awards – EdQuest International School by Rochford's Education

Ipoh – The City of Millionaires, founded by Harry Seggu: banner with a photo of founder Harry Seggu

Ipoh was once called the City of Millionaires. Ipoh – The City of Millionaires is a project founded by Harry Seggu. It celebrates the people who built this city, and encourages the next generation to build their futures here, too.

Harry is also the founder of Rochford's Education Group, EdQuest International School and Poket School AI, and the author of The You Economy. Through talks, stories and awards, the project brings together people who have made a difference in Ipoh, and the young people who might be next.

The Talks

On Saturday, 10 May 2025, a private talk was held at ZUS Coffee in Taman Jubilee, Ipoh, from 6pm to 8pm. This talk, part of Ipoh – The City of Millionaires (a project founded by Harry Seggu), was co-organised and co-hosted by Harry Seggu and Andrew Chen, admin of the Facebook group We Love Ipoh – City of Good Food. It was announced as part of a private meeting and talk series. More talks in the series are coming soon.

The goal was simple: to inspire young people to stay, build and grow in Ipoh. The speakers and their topics were:

Harry Seggu, founder of Ipoh – The City of Millionaires: "The You Economy: How to Take Ownership and Build a Business Around Your Life"
Sundralingam, founder of Ipoh Heritage Walk: "Walking Through Time: Preserving Ipoh's Soul, One Story at a Time"
Anna Aziz, entrepreneur and digital coach at AnnaAziz.com: "From Zero to Six Figures: Building a Digital Empire from Ipoh"
KT Pillai, master trainer and public speaking coach: "Speak to Inspire: How to Build Confidence and Influence Through Communication"
Andrew Chen, co-organiser of this talk and admin of We Love Ipoh – City of Good Food: "Fueling the Future: Encouraging Young Entrepreneurs to Rise in Ipoh"

According to a local news report, more than 20 people attended. Andrew Chen said many young people leave Ipoh for Kuala Lumpur, Penang or even Singapore, often on their parents' advice or in search of better opportunities. He hoped the talk could help change that mindset.

"We hope to encourage the young people in Ipoh to stay here."
Andrew Chen, as quoted in a local news report

Harry spoke about building an impactful business in Ipoh, with an emphasis on innovation, community engagement and long-term sustainability. Sundralingam spoke about how heritage tourism can create jobs. Anna Aziz shared strategies for authentic content and building a personal brand online. KT Pillai spoke about confidence in public speaking: posture, tone, preparation and storytelling. Andrew Chen closed with the challenges young people in Ipoh face, among them salaries, the limited number of jobs, and a lack of mentorship.

VIP guests included Puan Sri Dato' Sandra Lee, Dato' Gan Tack Kong, Executive Chairman of Ngan Yin Food Industries Sdn Bhd, veteran journalist SeeFoon Chan Koppen, and pageant organiser Anita Phang.

The message of the evening: Ipoh is not a city to leave, but a city to lead from.

Photos from the Talk

Five speakers giving a thumbs-up inside ZUS Coffee, Taman Jubilee, Ipoh: a man in a black The You Economy T-shirt, an older man in a black T-shirt, a woman in a black hijab, a man in a pink shirt and a man in a flat cap and waistcoat — The speakers, from left: Harry Seggu, Sundralingam, Anna Aziz, Andrew Chen and KT Pillai. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Harry Seggu in a black The You Economy T-shirt speaking into a microphone and holding notes, in front of a mural of a woman with a parasol — Harry Seggu, founder of Ipoh – The City of Millionaires and author of The You Economy, speaking at the talk. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Andrew Chen in a pink shirt speaking into a microphone to a seated audience under a large floral mural — Andrew Chen, admin of the Facebook group We Love Ipoh – City of Good Food, addressing the audience. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Anna Aziz in a black hijab and black dress speaking into a microphone to seated guests — Anna Aziz, entrepreneur and digital coach, speaking at the talk. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

KT Pillai in a flat cap and pinstripe waistcoat speaking into a microphone to a full room under a floral mural — KT Pillai, master trainer and public speaking coach, giving his talk. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Harry Seggu in a black The You Economy T-shirt speaking into a microphone and holding notes, while guests listen at café tables under a large floral mural — Harry Seggu speaking to guests. Seated in front, from left: SeeFoon Chan Koppen, Puan Sri Dato' Sandra Lee, Anita Phang and Dato' Gan Tack Kong. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Four guests seated at round tables with copies of The You Economy, with four speakers standing behind them — Seated, from left: SeeFoon Chan Koppen, Puan Sri Dato' Sandra Lee, Anita Phang and Dato' Gan Tack Kong, with speakers KT Pillai, Anna Aziz, Andrew Chen and Sundralingam standing behind. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Guests seated at round café tables with copies of The You Economy, a woman in a black and yellow dress, a woman in an orange top, a woman in a blue dress and a man in a white linen shirt in the front row — Guests listening to the talk, with SeeFoon Chan Koppen, Puan Sri Dato' Sandra Lee, Anita Phang and Dato' Gan Tack Kong in the front row. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Harry Seggu in a The You Economy T-shirt posing with Dato' Gan Tack Kong in a white linen shirt — Harry Seggu with Dato' Gan Tack Kong. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Harry Seggu in a The You Economy T-shirt smiling beside SeeFoon Chan Koppen in a black and yellow dress — Harry Seggu with SeeFoon Chan Koppen. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Harry Seggu in a The You Economy T-shirt beside Puan Sri Dato' Sandra Lee in an orange top, in front of the mural — Harry Seggu with Puan Sri Dato' Sandra Lee. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Sundralingam in a black T-shirt and Anita Phang in a blue dress smiling in front of the floral mural — Sundralingam with Anita Phang. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Andrew Chen in a pink shirt and Sundralingam in a black T-shirt smiling and holding copies of the book The You Economy — Andrew Chen and Sundralingam with copies of The You Economy. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Anna Aziz in a black hijab chatting with a young man in a green polo shirt near the ZUS Coffee counter — Anna Aziz chatting with a young guest. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

The Leadership Award

Ipoh – The City of Millionaires also recognises people who lead in our community. The Leadership Award recognises leaders in Ipoh and Malaysia. The certificate, signed by Harry Seggu as founder and creator of Ipoh – The City of Millionaires, presents the award "for their exceptional leadership and contributions to our community."

Recipients include:

Ceylyn Tay Wei Lung, co-founder of Canning Dim Sum, Ipoh
Louis Rozario Doss, former principal of St Michael's Institution, Ipoh

Harry Seggu in a blue polo shirt and Ceylyn Tay holding a framed Leadership Award certificate together — Harry Seggu presents the Ipoh – The City of Millionaires Leadership Award to Ceylyn Tay. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Harry Seggu in a red polo shirt and Louis Rozario Doss holding a framed Leadership Award certificate in front of the white facade of St Michael's Institution, Ipoh — Harry Seggu presents the Leadership Award to Louis Rozario Doss outside St Michael's Institution, Ipoh. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Louis Rozario Doss holding his framed Leadership Award certificate outside St Michael's Institution, Ipoh — Louis Rozario Doss with his Leadership Award at St Michael's Institution, Ipoh. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

Ceylyn Tay holding her framed Leadership Award certificate in an office with bookshelves — Ceylyn Tay with her Leadership Award. Photo: Ipoh – The City of Millionaires

See every Leadership Award recipient, and read more about our founder, on Meet the Founder.

Read more about the people who shaped our city in Ipoh Stories.