You may have seen HARYANI OTHMAN in local Malay comedy television productions or doing stand-up comedy with celebrity Kumar from 2005 to 2019. Although no longer on the screen, the Singaporean’s comedic presence shines through in videos for her current business – MakBesar, an event management company in Singapore. She’s got some great events coming up soon!
Tell us a bit about your company.
Since 2019, I’ve owned a media and event management company in Singapore. It’s called MakBesar, which means “big mama” in Malay. We specialise in consumer exhibition events that are full of food, activities and fun for the whole family. In 2022, we were named Consumer Show of the Year in the Singapore MICE Awards.
Some of our annual events include Food Village@Expo, Ramadan Bazaar and Treasures Arcade at OTH (Our Tampines Hub) Food Bazaar and Funworld@Bayfront that just happened in July. We also run events for companies or brands who want to do an event but have limited knowledge and resources, and we run advertising and marketing campaigns for clients, some of which include Pokka, a local law firm and an insurance group.
What does a typical working day look like for Haryani Othman?
I work from home – I wake up, check emails and work threads to ensure that the next event’s operations are smooth.
Once a week, I will do a meeting with my partners and one with my marketing team. These allow me to get updates and make decisions for the upcoming event.
Sometimes I create funny behind-the-scenes videos or walkthrough videos to showcase my events. Despite my comedic nature, I like to keep to myself most of the time. I need to maintain my zen as I have a history of depression and anxiety. I have to manage my mental health daily to avoid any episodes so that I can run my company with my partners, Firdaus Faisal and Lina Liyana. There were many times when I couldn’t function, and they would jump in without complaint to keep everything running.
What are a few things you like to do when you’re not working?
I like to take long walks around my neighbourhood – brisk walking in the wee hours of the night at least twice a week. It helps to clear my head as well as stay healthy. Also, having been a writer and content creator for television for more than 10 years before I started my business, I’m a television junkie!
What are you looking forward to most for the rest of 2024?
I’m excited for my upcoming events. One of these is the Grand Market on 23 to 25 August at Suntec; there will be more than 50 food vendors together with more than 200 lifestyle and fashion vendors as well as live stage performances.
There are also a few more events coming up, one in September and November at the Singapore Expo as well as one in December at Jewel Changi Airport.
Quick questions about Singapore: what is your favourite …
- Casual restaurant? Pondok Upeh in Tampines
- Date-night restaurant? Too many to list!
- Café? Dutch Colony
- Local food? Nasi padang
- Thing to do with visitors? Go to local food events
- Nearby holiday destination? It’s not exactly near but I go to the US a lot in my life, and I love it there! Recently, my husband and I have been exploring Europe too.
- Solo destination? Madinah and Mecca in Saudi Arabia
makbesar.com
FB @themakbesar | IG @makbesarsg | IG @haryani_othman
This article about MakBesar, Haryani Othman’s event management company, first appeared in the August 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy. Head to our section on Living in Singapore for more articles, including the best things to do in Singapore and an expat’s guide to where to live in Singapore. Finally, to make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free!
