Lessons I Learned Navigating the Unpredictable Path of my Career

I’d like to share with you the remarkable twists and turns of my career journey.

It’s a story of unexpected shifts, surprising opportunities, and valuable lessons learned along the way.

Discovering an Unexpected Role as a CEO and Entrepreneur

I always dreamed of becoming a scientist, fascinated by the idea of creating robots.

However, life had other plans for me.

I never thought I would one day be a CEO or embark on the challenging path of entrepreneurship.

This transition in my life taught me how our goals and aspirations can transform over time.

My Academic Foundation

My professional life began in the world of academia.

As an educator, I started as an Assistant Lecturer and worked my way up to Associate Professor.

I cherished my role as a teacher, driven by a natural instinct to educate and inspire.

Venturing into the Corporate Realm

Faced with the possibility of transferring to UTM Skudai, I made a bold decision to join Celcom, a private sector company.

During my 13 years there, I experienced a rich variety of roles – from Research and Development to Integrated Business Solutions.

This period was instrumental in broadening my professional horizon.

Pursuing R&D Excellence at Mimos

When I joined Mimos, I was fueled by a desire to uplift national R&D standards.

Working in a government agency, I had lofty ambitions and faced a mix of experiences.

Although I spent eight years as a Head Researcher, I sometimes felt that my earlier experiences were not fully utilized, which was a source of some disappointment.

The Evolution from Dreaming of CTO to Becoming a CEO

For over three decades, my career goal was singular – to become a Chief Technology Officer.

Yet, fate had a different plan for me.

At REDtone, I was tasked with establishing a new IoT-focused subsidiary, which unexpectedly led me to my first role as a CEO.

Here, I learned the intricacies of dealing with government business, a challenging but enriching experience.

Stepping into the World of Entrepreneurship

After about two and a half years with REDtone, the entrepreneurial bug bit me.

I took the leap into starting my own business with some colleagues.

The journey at FAVORIOT and the stories there are for another day, but they mark a significant chapter in my life.

Lessons I’ve Learned on My Journey

Embracing the Journey: Life’s path, though sometimes divergent from our dreams, is always a gift.
Striving for Excellence: Every challenge is an opportunity to grow and excel.
Education Beyond the Classroom: Real-world career experiences teach lessons no book can.
Breaking Stereotypes: Transitioning from academia to the corporate world is possible.
The Intersection of Tech and Business: A technical background can be a strong foundation for successful entrepreneurship.
The Possibility of Becoming a CEO: The right opportunities can lead anyone to a CEO position.
Turning Adversity into Opportunity: Every challenging moment has the potential to become a positive experience.
Academics in the Corporate World: A background in academia can be valuable in private sector roles.
Challenging Retirement Norms: There’s no predetermined time to retire or slow down.
Making an Impact: We all have the ability to create significant changes in our industries or even globally.
Valuing Diverse Experiences: Every unique career experience adds invaluable perspective.
Lifelong Learning and Contribution: The journey of learning and giving back is endless.

This journey of mine underscores the unpredictable, yet fulfilling nature of a career path, where continuous learning, adaptation, and the reshaping of goals are part of the adventure.