By Nazreen Daud, Malay web consultant and marketer in Singapore · Originally shared on LinkedIn, 20 August 2026
The short answer: not all networking happens at conferences. Some of it happens over curry, prata and teh tarik. I call it "lepak profits": not lepak without direction, but lepak with purpose. A good session should leave you with better questions, clearer thinking and at least one action to take.
What is "lepak profits"?
In Singapore and Malaysia, to lepak means to hang out and relax. Usually it means time with no particular agenda.
I call the good version "lepak profits". Not lepak without direction, but lepak with purpose. You sit down, have a good chat, exchange experiences, and leave with something valuable.
Where did the idea come from?
One morning in August, I had a fruitful session with the Soutudeen team, Dyn Norahim, and a few friends who came together to discuss how marketing can help small businesses and B2B clients.
It was my first time at Casuarina Curry at Thomson. The food was good. The conversation was even better.
That morning, I profited from:
- their experience,
- their connections,
- their industry knowledge, and
- their different perspectives.
Why do casual business conversations work so well?
Sometimes, you don't know what you don't know. Then someone says something that challenges your assumptions, breaks an old belief, or opens your eyes to a different way of doing things.
That is the real value of sitting in a group. Not everyone needs to be the smartest person in the room. Sometimes, you just need to be willing to listen.
| Formal networking event | A good lepak session |
|---|---|
| Short conversations with many people | Longer conversations with a few people |
| Business cards and elevator pitches | Real experiences and honest challenges |
| You present yourself | You listen and learn |
| Easy to forget by next week | Leaves you with at least one action |
Both have their place. But if you only ever network in name tags, you miss the conversations that actually change how you think.
What makes a lepak session worth your time?
A good lepak session should leave you with:
- Better questions
- Clearer thinking
- At least one action to take
Four questions to bring to your next meet-up
So the next time you gather with friends or business owners, ask:
- What are you currently learning?
- What challenge are you facing?
- What opportunity are you exploring?
- How can we help one another?
That's how ordinary conversations become meaningful connections. And meaningful connections can become meaningful opportunities, insyaAllah.
What does a clear offer have to do with networking?
One more thing: if your business offer is unclear, your marketing conversations will be unclear too. When someone at the table asks "So what do you do?", a clear answer makes it easy for them to help you, refer you or remember you.
If you'd like to sharpen yours, try my free Offer Generator on Mulacan.
Make your next "So what do you do?" easier. Try the free Offer Generator, or book a call with me.
As a Malay web consultant and marketer in Singapore, I think the humble mamak table deserves more credit as a networking venue.
FAQ
What does "lepak" mean? Lepak is a Malay word, widely used in Singapore and Malaysia, meaning to hang out or relax. "Lepak profits" is my term for hanging out with purpose: a relaxed conversation that still leaves you with new ideas, connections and at least one action.
How do I make casual networking more productive? Go in with a few good questions: what are you learning, what challenge are you facing, what opportunity are you exploring, and how can we help each other? Listen more than you pitch, and leave with at least one action to take.
Why does a clear offer help with networking? If your offer is unclear, your conversations will be unclear too. A simple, specific description of who you help and how makes it easy for people to understand you, refer you and remember you after the meet-up.
Next step
Sharpen your offer with the free Offer Generator, or book a call with me. Read more about me, see the tools I use, or explore my ventures.