Employer
Samsung Malaysia Electronics
Position
Chief Marketing Officer
Qualification
MBA Business Administration & Management, Anglia Ruskin University, UK
Has been with the company for
11 years and 8 months
What does motivation mean to you? How do you keep yourself motivated in challenging times?
I define motivation as the drive to get me where I want to be, with challenges along the way that makes life a little more interesting. Challenges come in many forms, and their nature becomes more complex as you climb higher in your career. And there are times I too need to step back and re-evaluate my next move due to the novelty of the circumstances.
What gets me going is the purpose that I hold in everything that I do and the people that I work with. When there’s a purpose, there’s a direction; a solid steer that helps not only me but also my team to navigate changes.
Name three (3) ways a student or fresh grad can invest in themselves.
First, invest time to read. Broaden your knowledge and don’t latch on to books only to solely pass exams. When you can see things from different angles, you’re more creative in your solutions. Your school equips you with the tools, but it is your responsibility to figure out how to contextualise these in real life.
Second, invest in essential technological devices or services. Connectivity is imperative. Without a reliable connection, you miss parts of your learning experience. Without a reliable device, you might fail to stand out in an engagement to secure your future career (e.g. having an old pair of earphones without a built-in mic makes your voice unclear during interviews).
Third, invest your time to build your presence. Your network can be valuable and helpful once you step into the working world. Your attributes will set you apart from your peers. So, go out there and participate in things outside the classroom. It could be joining volunteering work, organising fundraising campaigns or simply acquiring new hobbies.
However, remember that investment sometimes may require some form of spending. Be smart in choosing what’s essential, and what’s not.
What are the qualities that separate leaders from managers?
Leaders are visionaries. The key quality that sets them apart from managers is that leaders are proud disruptors whereas managers stick with what works. Leaders paint a picture of possibilities and inspire others to make changes for the better.
Leader works by communicating their purposes and cultivating trust in the team. Only with strong trust, you can build a strong team that is willing to go above and beyond to achieve the common goal.
If you could turn back time, how would you improve yourself – personally or professionally?
Probably to slow down and spend a little more time with my family. Also, I wished that I could have learned that sometimes, being a leader doesn’t need to be the typical alpha. Strong words said to another doesn’t change a person, but a strong passion to grow and inspire another will always triumph.
I believe you can never separate personal and professional because it is the personality that will make a leader shine, or fall. So, if I really could turn back time, I would focus on developing myself, and my leadership skills would then align itself.
What is the one habit that has continued to help you grow as a person?
Proactive communication. Trust is built over time and what other way to do so than to establish a conducive space for discussion and candid conversation. The more you get to know about others, the better you understand the struggles they are dealing with and the ways you can help.
The importance of vertical and horizontal communication are accentuated because of the pandemic, and I am proud of my high-spirited team who continue to deliver though we have been physically apart for almost a year.
Name one surprising or interesting fact about yourself.
Most people that I know in my professional network will often perceive me as an extrovert, energised and love being surrounded by people. My very few close friends would say otherwise.
I am quite the opposite. After a day of chaos, I’d choose to shut myself away from people and recharge by connecting with nature, i.e. as simple as walking barefoot on my lawn.
It’s important to know yourself because not knowing how or when to recharge will cause you to burn out. You are your own barrier to success, so self-awareness is really, really important.
