Be genuine and communicate well
in 2013. The reason I admire him is because, as a person, he exudes absolutely strong positivity, is very focused, goal-oriented and highly disciplined. He is one person who is capable of creating a sense of bonding and team-spiritedness in a company.
Although he is not my mentor or personal coach, I have observed the way he addresses issues and setbacks in the company and his leadership style has certainly impacted me in many ways.
How do you stay abreast of issues affecting your industry? I mingle around with my peers. In business, we should not always look at each other as competitors. I take part in many events organised by the wealth management industry. To me, this is one great way to connect and network with many other CEOs and industry players where I learn the tricks and trades of the business from many unique and differentiating perspectives. By doing so, I am able to open my mindset to new and creative methods in which business is conducted and that keeps me abreast of the current industry situation.
Apart from that, I also usually go online to keep myself updated on the latest industry news as well as the many new developments arising in the wealth management business, not just in Malaysia but globally. I also occasionally travel to the US and while catching up with old friends, we often exchange thoughts and views about what’s the latest and upcoming.
If you could have an hour with any thought leader in the world, who would it be and why? Warren Buffet. I admire him for his nobility. He is a well-known man and highly reputable yet practices humility and humanity despite his immense wealth. As we all know, he is greatly recognised for his philanthropic causes through the Gates Foundation where he has donated most of his wealth to a charitable organisation. I truly admire him for that reason.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced? And what did you learn from it? The biggest challenge was when I came back to Malaysia and took on the role of CEO in one organisation. There were many serious issues in the organisation that needed to be ironed out and throughout my work experience, I would say that was by far the most challenging. The most valuable lesson I learnt from that experience would be doing things right, from the very beginning. If there are too many short-cuts and (too much) manipulation, the consequences will definitely be detrimental on a larger scale.
It is true when they say, it takes years for a company to build its reputation and only a few crisis hours to destroy it.
What man-made innovation confounds you? Why? Smartphones. Everything can be done in a matter of a click with smartphones. Apart from making phone calls and getting messages across, its functions are simply far-reaching; be it getting to a place at a scheduled time, performing online transactions, getting information in just seconds or even being your responsive personal assistance such as iPhone’s Siri. The evolution has certainly amazed me and I believe that in many years to come, these devices will be able to do more.
Malaysia’s greatest brand. Datuk Lee Chong Wei. Everywhere he goes, people know he is a Malaysian and that is our biggest Malaysian brand. A must-read for every business owner/manager is ... Toyota Culture. This book speaks about the development of a positive culture be it among family members, friends, colleagues or within an organisation. A positive culture is fundamental to the growth and development of not only an individual but also a community as a whole. It begins with setting the right value system and behaviour, which – over time – progresses into a habit. This habit, when practised without fail, will transform into a culture.
As a leader in an organisation, I truly believe in cultivating the right value system because in the long haul these value systems will transmute into a work culture that will help in the development of the company.
How do you expect policies on climate change to impact businesses in the future? A lot of things today are go-green. Not so much locally. But when I travelled to the US, I noticed the use of electric cars whereby people recharge them with support electric charges. One good and established organisation that has put this into practice would be Google where they encourage their employees to go-green with the use of electric cars as well as bicycles.
Despite the population increasing and businesses sprouting all over the world, there is still a lack of awareness in the need to conserve the earth. I strongly uphold the belief that we are all responsible for the well-being of mother earth.
What are the top three factors that you would attribute to your success? First is attitude. I would say that I am a positive person. Shorttempered too but I recover very quickly.
Perseverance. When I have a goal, I never give up.
Prayer is very important. Being a leader at times when I hardly have anyone to reach out to with my thoughts, I pray.