Ts. Dr. Manju Appathurai is a licensed clinical psychologist and licensed technologist (Ts.) with doctorates in Crisis Economics and Artificial Intelligence. She has more than two decades of experience advising organisations including the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, Bursa Malaysia and Malaysia’s federal ministries.

Her work focuses on the human and organisational challenges that affect leadership effectiveness across ASEAN. Through primary research with C-suite leaders, chief executives, managing directors and board members across nine markets, she has examined recurring issues such as the gap between boardroom decisions and frontline delivery, the tension between organisational stability and agility, the governance implications of artificial intelligence, and the psychological barriers surrounding succession in family enterprises.

She is the founder of Mahat Advisory, where she applies clinical psychology, organisational research and technology to leadership and institutional challenges. She is also the host of The Centered Edge, a platform for candid conversations on leadership, governance and the pressures facing ASEAN organisations.

Dr. Manju is a member of IWFCI Malaysia and continues to contribute to conversations on leadership, organisational resilience, AI governance and sustainable decision-making.