With a deep-rooted passion for social entrepreneurship, I have always been committed to helping the underprivileged. This drive has led my company to pivot towards a socialpreneur business model, providing aid to those in need while giving them the tools to become self-sufficient. To achieve this, we started a donation business to stop the misappropriation of funds for the poor and protect them from scammers and profiteers using Blockchain technology. In October 2014, I co-founded DLM, or Dhuryyah Al Laily Marketing, with my sister and wife. What started as an online retailer for oats products has now grown to offer more than 20 different types of food from various manufacturers, employing a team of ten staff members.
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Malaysia, DLM quickly realized the devastating economic impact it had on many people, especially the poor and those who lost their jobs. In response, we organized food distributions and online talks, and in 2022, we took it further by organizing visits to raise awareness about the importance of supporting the less fortunate in our society.
Our efforts have transformed DLM into a socialpreneur company that aims to create widespread awareness about the significance of caring for those in need and the importance of assisting individuals who have lost their jobs. We believe that by fostering a culture of empathy and support, we can build a better and more equitable Malaysia for all.
Our DLM mission has evolved to focus on helping the poor. We are committed to ensuring that all donations reach those who truly need them. Unfortunately, we have come across instances where individuals who requested our help were not genuine, and we have also encountered questionable charitable organizations that fail to pass on donations to their intended recipients.
To combat this issue, we have developed a scam-proof system called Infaq GPS. This innovative system is designed to ensure that donations are directed to the right people. It also makes sure that as much money as possible is handed over to recipients, including the poor and orphans. We are proud to promote Infaq GPS through our own website, and we are determined to create a more transparent and effective charitable giving system.
While giving donations is important, we also want to provide high quality food to the poor as we are already in the F&B business. They need nutritious food and we are doing our part to be a socialpreneurship company responsible to society. We are in discussions with several F&B companies to provide high-quality food at an affordable price and are exploring ideas via the design of the food product or the processes involved in getting the product to the poor.
Prior to pivoting to a donation-based business, DLM had many agents who were very attached to the company and even finished paying their student loans, but due to Covid19, they weren’t allowed to market face-to-face anymore; however, the memories of their agency activities give DLM the confidence to succeed in the donation business.
The biggest challenge in pivoting is getting people to purchase our products for donation. Donating has never been a top priority in anyone’s life. It is a challenge for us to change the public’s perception that only charitable organizations can run donation activities. We believe that it can be a profitable venture provided we have a sustainable business model. This is what we are trying to create. Determination to succeed no matter what is the most fundamental thing we must have even before identifying our product’s market fit.
We are currently looking at any opportunity to work towards non-monetary donations. This would give us some ideas of how to invite a wider range of donors to contribute to the poor.
Running a successful business requires unwavering determination to overcome obstacles. At DLM, we have faced numerous challenges that have required us to step out of our comfort zone and take risks. It’s like walking on a tightrope, but with a team of supportive coaches to encourage us to keep moving. We have had to reassess and reboot several times, embracing more modern ways of marketing and networking, and expanding our reach to the international market. It takes a lot of persuasion and teamwork to shift our systems thinking, but we remain determined to succeed and explore new opportunities.
As an aspiring leader, I look up to Steve Jobs for his innovative and creative approach to business. But I also seek guidance from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as my mentor in servant leadership. Drawing from the rich insights provided in the Hadith, his example inspires me to lead with humility, empathy, and a deep commitment to serving others. I believe that to continuously improve and achieve success, it’s important to strive for daily progress by setting small achievable goals that lead to a compounding effect of growth, as even a 1% improvement each day can result in significant positive changes over time.
My ultimate goal for DLM is to be regarded as the pioneer in secure and transparent donation tracking in Malaysia, and to encourage and empower more individuals to contribute towards the welfare of the underprivileged through our platform. I want to create a ripple effect in the community by equipping the less fortunate with the tools and skills they need to thrive on their own.
Join us in our mission to help the poor by reaching out on these platforms: Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn