The spotlight is on Dr. Kenny Hong, Oracle NetSuite Solution Consulting Director, Oracle, Malaysia.

Oracle NetSuite, the world’s first cloud company and leading AI-powered ERP platform, gives organizations a complete view of their business—all in one place. In 2017, Oracle Academy expanded its free offerings to include NetSuite in many parts of the world, and later expanded globally, enabling business students to develop practical skills in accounting and all aspects of enterprise resource planning.

Dr. Kenny Hong is a highly accomplished leader in solution consulting and business applications, with two decades of experience in ERP and cloud-based platforms. Currently, he leads a team of Oracle NetSuite solution consultants across ASEAN nations.

He and his team help drive regional vertical sales plays and define go-to-market strategies, handling Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Proof of Concepts (POCs), showcasing how customers can get maximum value from their NetSuite investments.

Dr. Hong holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia; an MBA from Taylor’s University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and a doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, Malaysia, with the topic of his dissertation: Evolve or Perish: Cloud ERP Guidelines for SMEs in Malaysia. Cloud ERP is the focus of Kenny’s engagements both with customers and with universities in his role as Oracle Academy Ambassador.

He is a frequent speaker at ERP and AI events, recently sharing the stage with Indonesia’s top chief information officers at the World CIO 200 Summit.

Oracle Academy: What spurred you to accept the Oracle Academy Ambassador role?

Kenny Hong: Oddly enough, it was my own return to academia that inspired me to engage more closely with students and teachers. Twenty years after getting my bachelor’s degree, I studied for an MBA and, since the experience was so fulfilling and I have a penchant for learning, decided to pursue a doctorate in the field I am passionate about. Getting those qualifications spurred me to give back in terms of knowledge to university graduates entering the world of work. And so, my goal as Ambassador is to help graduates go beyond what they study and expose them to real-world technology that helps businesses.

Oracle Academy: What do you wish to accomplish?

Kenny Hong: I see the Ambassador role as an influencer in getting more universities to offer NetSuite as a cloud ERP platform in their business programs. That students have free access to the software, thanks to Oracle Academy, will surely strengthen our cloud ERP market share down the line. Part of my task will be to address member institutions, giving future graduates tips on how their skills in NetSuite will help companies gain a competitive edge. What better platform than Oracle Academy for getting quality airtime with students and lecturers?

I will be talking with business, accounting and IT faculties, introducing Oracle Academy as a free source of enterprise resource planning software, encouraging them to implement NetSuite as part of their syllabus. I will show the stakeholders — the university faculty — how the program will open a gateway to the job market for graduates.

Oracle Academy: NetSuite is more than just accounting…

Kenny Hong: Very true. NetSuite is more than just accounting. Even though accounting is the starting point, I think we can put emphasis on other areas: customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain and manufacturing management. We will be demonstrating the huge scope of NetSuite as an integrated system.

And for faculty using other ERPs, we will promote the idea of comparing and contrasting different ERPs according to different use cases.

Oracle Academy: Given today’s market disruption caused by tariffs, does NetSuite have a role to play?

Kenny Hong: Very much so! Tariffs currently are influenced by powerful nations, and they impact the entire world. From a business perspective, people need to manage the uncertainty that tariffs create. As an ERP solution, NetSuite can help in optimizing the supply chain, spreading the risk. It can be rapidly deployed for more flexible sourcing, adapting to upsets in inventory and lead time, simulating risk in ways that put businesses ahead of the curve.

Oracle Academy: Brilliant. How are you reaching out to universities?

Kenny Hong: To start with, we as product experts will go into meetings jointly with Oracle Academy staff, often joined by NetSuite customers or partners. We have launched a program called Oracle Academy NetSuite Goes to Campus. The first incarnation of this was an event at BINUS University in Jakarta, the first institution in Indonesia to integrate Oracle Academy NetSuite resources into its curriculum. My contribution was to explain how embedded AI within NetSuite enhances decision-making and drives business growth.

150 Information Systems students attended this guest lecture along with two customers based in Jakarta, who shared insights into implementation and customization, and how NetSuite’s features and intuitive interface helped streamline operations. Participants, especially students, gained a clearer understanding of how their Oracle Academy NetSuite education translates into stronger career prospects, meeting growing demand for qualified, tech-savvy ERP professionals.

A BINUS alumni, now working as a project manager with an Oracle partner, shared her career experience, why she got into ERP, and how she became a successful project manager. One month later, six of the attendees had applied for interviews with that partner and two were hired!

In summary, I intend to replicate Oracle Academy NetSuite Goes to Campus across our region, starting with Malaysia.

Oracle Academy: Sounds like a riveting formula. And do you discuss your Cloud ERP doctorate and why you attained it?

Kenny Hong: I certainly do. Continuous learning should be integral to one’s career path. Doing the DBA refreshed my enjoyment of academia and led me to the Ambassador role. It is deeply rewarding to share one’s journey, knowledge, and experience.

Last year I was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award by Taylor’s University, where I did my master’s degree. In my talk to the students, I shared what I have learned, what to avoid, and how I managed to motivate myself to graduate way ahead of time — in two years instead of the usual 3-5 years.

A lot of times students don’t get the right guidance to stay on their path towards their goals. Often, it’s a work commitment, or family, or research, but my advice to doctoral candidates is to soul search, decide once and for all on the right topic, stick to it, and then reap the reward. My DBA journey was a test of endurance, but it paid off. I also tell students that a DBA is not a PhD, it’s tailored for practitioners — senior professionals like me — who seek to bridge theory and real-world solutions.

Oracle Academy: That must have resonated. And lastly, what about yourself outside of Oracle and academia?

Kenny Hong: With a packed daily schedule, much of it spent in front of a PC, my remedy is a daily workout, usually a 7-8 km run before I start my day, or 10,000 steps to stay relevant and stay fit. I also run a couple of half marathons each year. All this gives me a lot of balance, keeps me grounded and sharp. It gives me the energy to get me through the day, energy that rubs off on my team members. If I can be positive and be proactive in everything I do, it energizes everyone else.

Otherwise, as mentioned, I like to keep on learning, keeping up new emerging trends and new research, intertwining that with my daily work. It inspires me, and, as with my doctorate, inspires others.

Thank you, Dr. Kenny Hong, for volunteering to be an Oracle Academy Ambassador.