She Means Business

Do not let her unassuming and demure exterior fool you, as Datin Hasliza Abu Hassan proves that entrepreneurship can be a woman’s realm, as Kathlyn D’souza discovers

Had datin Hasliza Abu Hassan not found her calling to be a successful entrepreneur, she would have been found lecturing MBA students at one of the most prestigious universities or colleges here. Born in Selangor and having studied in the US, certified as an accountant and MBA holder, she is now one of the biggest names in Malaysia’s entrepreneurial circles, yet shows no sign of stopping or slowing down, not in the very least. This tenacity dates to her younger years, which she recalls with a giggle, “I actually got into a big confrontation with my father, who told me to stay at home, and think of my six children. I said no; just because I have six kids doesn’t mean I have to stay at home—it isn’t written anywhere, you know?” In the end, her father did come around, and agreed that her ability to manage and compartmentalise things is one of her greatest traits. “I want to go out there and impact others,” she added. “If I stay at home, I feel like it’s a waste of knowledge and talent. Ever since I was little, I made sure I got what I wanted. And once I set my mind on something, I go for it.” ‘It’, these days, constitutes of her mentoring millennials, advocating a work-life balance among her staff as well as the community at large, and organising programmes focusing on women’s empowerment. She had recently organised the International Work Life Balance Forum, two months back, in which people from all walks of life gathered in one spot to share their expert advice on how to achieve a work-life balance as a nation, and as women, in particular. “As simple as it sounds, a lot of women are struggling to do things they are passionate about and balancing their lives, simply because there are jealousy issues. They focus on other people too much, rather than themselves,” said Datin Liza. “We want to make sure that they focus on themselves. It’s not about others, but about you and what you want.” Other than the subject of competition, the forum also touched on how to manage relationships, marriage and children as well. Datin Liza also plans to gather more women—especially from the SME industry, who are good at what they do, but whose talents go unrecognised by the masses—for a monthly brunch talk, where they share their stories, mainly about how they build their businesses. It is in a way, her form of recognising talents, so to speak. A motherly mentor at heart, she is well aware of the struggles that millennials also face these days. “They need mentors. They need people like us to go out there and mentor them, because I want them to be better,” she expressed. “It is a big challenge for them to go out there and make it work, and they have to be very careful in the areas that they delve into, because it’s all about investing yourself in the right areas. Most of them make the mistake of getting into branding without having put enough thought into it, and get too excited in building themselves that they lose track or forget about the business.” Speaking of her love of mentoring, I asked if she would consider lecturing, to which she answered, “Oh, I would! I have a passion for that as well. I have been called to teach at several colleges that have expressed a liking for me to be part of their academic faculty... maybe one day!” But between her current and future career plans, one cannot help but marvel at how she manages to fit everything else in her life. Her answer lies in the power of listing down priorities. “When I do up my calendar, I will block everything pertaining to my children first—school holidays, exams, birthdays. Those go first on the calendar, then only will the rest come in. That’s how important they are.”

“Having six kids doesn’t mean I have to stay at home—it isn’t written anywhere”