Entrepreneur Sam Tsen named among JCI Malaysia's Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians 2026

JOHOR BARU: Entrepreneur and financial strategist Sam Tsen has been named among JCI Malaysia's Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians (TOYM) 2026 in the Moral and/or Environmental Leadership category.

Tsen is the founder and group chief executive officer of SBH Consultancy, and has spent 17 years in the financial sector promoting financial literacy, responsible financial solutions and ethical business practices alongside commercial sustainability.

Tsen said the recognition represented more than personal entrepreneurial success.

"Finance is never just about numbers. Behind every financial problem is a person, a family, a business and a future. I have always believed that financial problems cannot be solved by money alone. Lasting change comes through financial knowledge and responsible decisions," he said.

Tsen entered the debt restructuring industry at 19.

His early exposure to individuals facing financial difficulties convinced him that providing access to money alone was rarely enough to address the root causes of financial problems.

That experience shaped the philosophy behind SBH Consultancy, which he founded to offer a more professional, education-driven approach to financial solutions.

SBH has since expanded into a nationwide network with seven branches and more than 100 consultants. Its services include financial advisory, debt restructuring, SME financing, financial education, technology and asset-backed solutions.

The organisation has assisted more than 30,000 individuals and 2,000 SMEs, while handling more than RM100 million in debt restructuring annually.

Tsen has also made financial education a key focus, reaching more than 310,000 Malaysians through more than 400 free educational programmes and workshops.

He has also ventured into financial technology through Money Buddy, a digital platform aimed at improving consumers' access to financial tools and information.

Beyond his business, Tsen serves as national vice-president of the SME Association of Malaysia, where he advocates financial readiness, responsible financing and sustainable development among SMEs.

Reflecting on past business setbacks, Tsen said the experiences reinforced his belief that profitability and ethics could go hand in hand.

"A strong business model can make a company successful, but strong values are what allow it to last. Business should create profit, value and positive impact together," he said.

Tsen plans to expand SBH into what he describes as a Responsible Financial Ecosystem integrating financial education, advisory, technology, financing and asset-backed solutions.

He said the TOYM recognition also brought greater responsibility to contribute to the community.

"Coming from humble beginnings taught me that where we start does not determine where we can go. This recognition belongs equally to my family, our SBH team, clients, mentors and partners who have supported this journey," he said.

Tsen said he aimed to contribute to a more financially empowered Malaysia by improving financial literacy, strengthening SME resilience and expanding access to responsible financial solutions.