Advisory that stays close to the ground
Halvard was built around a simple idea — that small business owners in Malaysia deserve the same quality of thinking that larger organisations take for granted, delivered in a way that fits how a small business actually operates.
Back to HomeWhere Halvard came from
Halvard started from conversations we kept having with small business owners who felt stuck — not because they weren't capable, but because they were too close to the daily work to see the patterns clearly. They weren't looking for a consultant to hand them a 50-page report. They wanted someone to sit down, look at how the business was actually running, and help them think it through.
We opened our Bangsar Baru office in 2019 and have since worked with owners across the Klang Valley in sectors ranging from food service and retail to professional services and light manufacturing. What they share is a desire to build something lasting — and the honesty to admit when they're not sure how to get there from where they are.
Halvard's engagements are deliberately structured in small units. A single Check-In session can be useful on its own. A Roadmap engagement covers more ground over four sessions. The Development Programme goes further, walking alongside an owner across several months. The size of the engagement depends on what you need — not on what fills the most billable hours.
Our Mission
To give Malaysian small business owners a thinking partner who helps them see their business more clearly — and move forward with more confidence.
Our Approach
- Start with what you're actually dealing with
- Keep sessions practical and grounded
- Leave you with something you can use
- Say what we observe, not what you want to hear
People behind the advisory work
Razlan Hashim
Principal Advisor
Over 15 years in SME operations and planning across Malaysia. Formerly with a regional management consultancy before setting up Halvard.
Syarifah Lim
Operations Advisor
Specialises in process review and workflow clarification for small businesses. Has worked with owners in food, retail, and professional services sectors.
Nadia Binte
Client & Programme Coordinator
Manages session scheduling, documentation, and client communications. Ensures the practical side of each engagement runs smoothly from start to finish.
Standards we hold ourselves to
Confidentiality
Business details shared during sessions are never passed to third parties. We treat your information with the same care we'd expect for our own.
Written Outputs
Every engagement produces at minimum a written note. Longer programmes include playbooks and phased outlines so progress isn't lost between sessions.
Plain Language
We don't use jargon to sound impressive. Sessions and documents are written for someone running a business day-to-day, not an MBA reader.
No Pressure to Upsell
We suggest the right engagement size for where you are. If a Check-In is what you need, that's what we'll say — even if a longer programme would earn us more.
Prompt Communication
We respond to enquiries within one business day and share session notes within 48 hours. Owners shouldn't be waiting to know what was discussed or agreed.
Local Market Focus
Our advisory draws on direct experience working with Malaysian SMEs — SSM registration realities, local procurement dynamics, and the Klang Valley operating environment.
What we believe about small business advisory
Small businesses in Malaysia face a particular challenge: the owner is usually responsible for almost everything. Strategy, hiring, client relationships, finances, and daily operations all land on the same desk. When something isn't working, it's hard to know whether the problem is a process, a habit, a resource gap, or just a particularly difficult month. Outside perspective helps — not because an advisor knows more about your industry than you do, but because they aren't inside the noise.
Advisory work is most useful when it's honest and specific. A session that produces three actionable observations is more valuable than one that surfaces twenty vague suggestions. Halvard aims for the former. We spend more time preparing for sessions and less time filling them with process.
The businesses that tend to benefit most from our work are those where the owner already has some self-awareness about what's working and what isn't — they just haven't had the time or structure to work through it properly. Our role is to create that structure and hold the space for thinking clearly.
We work in English and Bahasa Malaysia, and our Bangsar Baru location is accessible from most parts of the Klang Valley. Remote sessions are equally available for owners who prefer not to travel or who operate outside the city.
Ready to have a first conversation?
Get in touch and we'll schedule a short introductory call to understand where you are and whether Halvard is a good fit for your situation.
Contact Halvard