E-sports Company GCG Asia Founder and CEO Phillip Chow Opens Up About the Company and Giving Back
Since being founded in 2018 GCG Asia Games as an organisation has tried to build a strong name for itself on the scene. GCG Asia Founder Phillip Chow and Co-founder Anita Loh have seen GCG Asia SCAM and other teams grow from strength to strength.
At the same time, GCG is not legitimately shy about doing things for the benefit of the community. For example, handing out covid masks to schools and colleges around Kuala Lumpur and supporting similar initiatives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where they support local efforts by the gaming community there.
In this post, we hear from GCG Asia founder speaking from GCG’s Malaysia office, on some of his efforts on community building, giving back, his gaming background and GCG Asia Games vision for the way forward.
GCG Asia’s Community Initiatives and Social Issues
“Presently, 71 million youths are jobless. In Malaysia, Cambodia, even in Singapore, with the pandemic conditions, it’s even worse than before. So we are just trying to do what we can and not turn a blind eye because we can’t. We try to create a favorable atmosphere for youngsters, helping them to connect during this time,” said GCG Asia founder Phillip Chow.
Since 2020, GCG Asia Games has launched many small-scale initiatives that support gamers and their community. The company has been distributing free masks and health packs to low-income families and subsidising costs of mental health support to gamers and the gaming community. In 2021, the GCG Asia Founder also held various fundraisers to support various initiatives via streaming tournaments. All proceeds are donated to local charities.
“GCG Asia co-founder Anita and I strive to position ourselves as more than just an e-sport brand, and we do want to tackle topics that other organisations may be hesitant to tackle because it may be risky. We wanted to do more than just send out something on our official twitter or Instagram,” said GCG Asia Founder Phillip Chow.
Digital technology is driving the production and use of products and facilities in new ways. “The technological revolution brings about major shifts to economic forces throughout the industry, affecting the type of jobs and the capacity of young people in the labour marketplace to prosper,” GCG Asia founder Phillip Chow said.
For a sustainable future, according to GCG Asia founder Phillip Chow, we must provide chances for today’s youth and treat them as active participants. “Over the next few years, we want to build a community that’s healthy in all aspects–career development, mental health, character-building, these are key for GCG,” said GCG Asia founder Phillip Chow.
Phillip Chow, GCG Asia founder, believes today’s youth are drawn to digital technology, and wants to provide the opportunity to define a new path. “Digital technology such as digital banking has immense potential to assist e-commerce, e-sports, and financial technology may provide opportunities for the young in the global economy and responsible development in a rapidly shifting market context. Things like e-commomy, as well as entrepreneurs seeking self-employment locally,” explains GCG Founder Phillip Chow.
According to GCG Asia Founder, GCG youth and gamers get to also discuss their personal experiences by voicing their opinions on critical problems that need to be addressed for them and their community. “We let them take the lead since it’s their future, the community belongs to them so it’s only fair. We merely facilitate,” explains GCG Asia Founder Phillip Chow.
Performance Coaching
In esports, performance coaching is becoming more popular. “I like to believe we’ve done well in this area; we’ve been one of the few local organisations to openly advocate for it. We started with a two-person performance team in 2020, with a performance manager Johnny Lum and another coach Andy from Japan who does the 1-on-1 sessions,” explained GCG Asia founder Chow.
Lum would discuss what it means to be a team, how to eat and sleep better, and other topics. GCG Asia founder said that it was fantastic to see the crew connecting and participating in the workshops. “It’s just as essential for us to improve outside of the game as it is inside,” Phillip Chow said, GCG Asia founder.
According to the GCG Asia founder, GCG’s youth-centered approach underlines the vital role that new management methods in the company play into facilitating the e-sports company development and increasing the efficiency of current operations.
Avoiding Burnout in Gaming
The GCG Asia founder addressed issues of hustling to grow the company and the competitive nature of the e-sport game. “When Anita and I started, we really did and still do to an extent, do everything from A-Z. It’s a grind, nothing romantic about it. I understand that and, in a way, agree with it, especially in my case. I performed a lot of work that I didn’t need to do at times,” the GCG Asia founder Chow said.
Now however, things have changed which brings with it a different perspective. “I think that working smarter, not harder, is the way to go. I’ve seen streamers go for 13 or 14 hours, which is certainly excessive. You wouldn’t play football for eight hours every day, so why would you overdo it with other sports?
“I enjoy the concept of individuals being passionate about something and working hard to achieve their goals, but I don’t believe we should celebrate it or imply that working [unrealistic] hours is the only way to go ahead,” said Phillip Chow, GCG Asia founder.
It is critical that individuals do not become burnt out. It relates to the topic of performance coaching that we discussed before. It would be beneficial to get additional information and data from them on this.”
It’s just as essential for us to improve outside of the game as it is inside.”
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