Lim, a long-time advocate of creativity and innovation, has written and spoken at length about what Malaysia needed to do to close the innovation gap in the country. His views and thoughts have been compiled into the book, The Future is Coming, Transform Now.

Always thinking out of the box, Lim has shown how creativity and innovation can lead one to wider horizons and unbelievable success.

This compliment was made by Asia Pacific Brands Foundation president Dr K.K. Johan when conferring the inaugural BrandLaureate Legendary Award on Lim in January 2011.

Lim’s trailblazing endeavours in his early years included being Malaysia’s first serial cartoonist, Malaysia’s first regional creative director for a multinational agency when he was in his 20s, and the one who set up Malaysia’s first local advertising agency which grew to become Malaysia’s first global advertising agency.

He ventured into education using his vast experience to transform education to become more industry-relevant. In less than 20 years, he built a formidable university offering accelerator units that excel in web communications, design, publishing, film/video production, brand management, industry innovation, cultural preservation and education.

In 2009, the Malaysian government bestowed upon him the title of Father of Innovation in Creative Education. Last year, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology was named Malaysia’s University of Innovation by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Lim is admired for his creative genius that has won him more than 100 international awards covering a gamut of skills from entrepreneurship, film and video production, publishing, advertising, innovation leadership, web creativity, among others.

He works closely with the governments of the developing world to build human capital needed to fuel their progress. He has been the catalyst to revive economies that were flagging in the face of aggressive global competition triggered by technology advancement.

In all the countries where he has set up campuses, he has introduced digital technology at a scale that has made his campuses the most hi-tech in the countries they are located in. In Africa, he is seen as a driving force to bring transformation that will lift many of these economies out of the poverty circle they are trapped in.

As adviser to a number of organisations including the SME Association, Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association among a number of other associations he contributes his experience and knowledge to strengthen the business of others.

He is valued for his counsel as president of the SME Branding Innovation Council, Malaysian Education Promotion Council, Malaysian Content Creation Council, National Creativity and Innovation Institute, Designers & Animators Guild Malaysia and UK. He also sits in the National Innovation Council, National Higher Education Council and Malaysian Arts and Culture Council.

A philanthropist credited with setting up Cancerlink and the Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped to serving with institutions such as the Malaysian Red Crescent, he has provided solutions and mapped the way forward for the rehabilitation of the needy and the physically challenged.

His Limkokwing Foundation For Creative Excellence has already chalked up a contribution of over RM100 million in providing scholarships and financial aid to students, not only in Malaysia but also abroad. The foundation has been designed to focus on empowering youths as the solution to eradicate poverty.