By Natasha Isabel Saravanan
Tan’s understanding of SCORE’s potential changed when the company joined the FitMalaysia movement, travelling across the country to organise events that encouraged people to become more active. “We weren’t just organising races,” Tan said. “We were helping people change their lifestyles.” Seeing participants progress from struggling with 5km runs to completing half and full marathons showed her that a race could have an impact beyond the finish line. “At the end of the day, it’s not just about the event,” she said. “It’s about what happens to people after they take that first step.”
That belief has since shaped SCORE’s approach, with the company expanding beyond race-day logistics to provide education, training clinics and community activities that help runners stay active. For Tan, running is ultimately about creating a sense of belonging. “People want to belong to something,” she said. “Running gives them a reason to come together, but the community is what keeps them coming back.” SCORE therefore aims to build an experience that extends beyond the race itself, helping runners form connections that keep them engaged long after race day.
The Business Of Keeping People Moving
Tan quickly discovered that organising races involved far more than creating a route and welcoming runners. Cash flow was an early challenge, with expenses such as permits, equipment, manpower, medals, T-shirts and logistics accumulating before an event generated revenue. “So our focus was simple,” she said. “Get more runners. Get more sponsors. Deliver a good event. Repeat. Understanding participants was equally important to SCORE’s growth. “If you listen carefully to your customers, they will tell you where the business needs to go,” Tan said. By listening to runners, observing developments in the industry as well as working with sponsors and government agencies, she has continued to adapt the company’s approach.
“I’m always looking at what can be done better,” Tan said. “The industry keeps changing, and we have to keep learning.”
That willingness to adapt eventually took SCORE beyond Malaysia through a partnership with a Singapore-based organisation to organise the BYD Singapore International Marathon. For Tan, the expansion demonstrated the potential of Malaysian companies to compete in the regional market. “It shows that Malaysian companies can compete regionally,” she said. “We don’t have to think of ourselves as being limited to Malaysia.”
Building the Right People, Not Just the Right Business
As SCORE grew, Tan found that building the right team was just as important as building the business itself. “As founders, we often spend too much time working in the business and not enough time building the people and systems that allow the business to grow,” she said. Her role has since shifted from solving every problem herself to developing people who can take responsibility. “My job is no longer to solve every problem,” she said. “My job is to build a team that can solve problems well.”
Tan also believes in acting rather than waiting for the perfect answer. “I would rather make a decision, learn from it and improve than wait forever for the perfect answer,” she said. This approach is reflected in SCORE’s emphasis on speed, curiosity, teamwork, customer focus and excellence.
For Tan, however, attitude matters more than technical ability.
“Skills can be taught,” she said. “Attitude is much harder to teach.”
She believes putting the right person in the right role is essential, as even a capable employee can struggle when their strengths do not match the position they occupy.
Changing Course Without Stopping
Tan’s experience has taught her that no business remains unchanged for long. “Every year there is a new challenge,” she said, pointing to COVID-19, inflation, rising costs and changing consumer behaviour. When the pandemic halted physical events, SCORE moved into virtual runs to stay connected with participants. “You keep moving forward,” Tan said. “You may have to change direction, but you cannot stop.”
Technology has also reshaped SCORE operations, from registration and participant tracking to marketing and content creation. Tan sees these developments as opportunities for smaller companies to compete more effectively. “Technology gives smaller companies a chance to move faster,” she said. “If you use it well, you can compete with businesses that have much bigger resources.” She is similarly optimistic about health, wellness, experiences and community-focussed businesses, while SCORE is trying to improve its sustainability efforts through initiatives such as recycled medals and waste reduction programmes.
For Tan, sustainability extends beyond environmental practices to the long-term value a business creates.
“It’s also about building events, communities and businesses that can continue creating value for many years,” she said.
The Next Lap: SCORE Goes Regional
Tan wants SCORE to become the leading mass participation sports platform in ASEAN, creating a regional platform that encourages healthier lives through shared experiences. “We want to create something that is bigger than a single event,” she said. “We want to build a platform that helps people live healthier lives.”
That ambition informs her advice to other Malaysian SMEs. Rather than allowing their current size to limit their vision, she encourages founders to think beyond the present. “Don’t let your current size define your future,” she said. “You have to ask yourself what the business can become five or ten years from now.” She sees opportunities across technology, AI, health, wellness and experience-driven businesses, particularly for companies willing to look beyond Malaysia.
For Tan, however, growth is ultimately a means to a more personal end.
“I hope we’re remembered because we changed lives,” she said.
Her approach is rooted in the same persistence required to complete a difficult race. “Business is never a straight line,” she said. “There will be setbacks, mistakes and difficult periods. The important thing is not to quit.” She believes success belongs to those who keep learning and stay committed for the long term. “Most successful entrepreneurs are not necessarily the smartest,” Tan said. “They simply stayed in the game longer than everyone else.”
As SCORE looks towards its next chapter across ASEAN, Tan’s vision extends beyond growing the number of races it organises. She wants to build something that lasts: a platform that brings people together, changes everyday habits and leaves a meaningful impact on the communities it reaches.
In the end, the finish line is not the measure of success. It is how many people SCORE can inspire to keep moving forward.
