“Am I leading… or am I simply following someone else’s shadow?”
That question haunted me for years. I asked myself while sipping coffee in my quiet study room, flipping through my old journals filled with to-do lists, dreams, and scribbled frustrations. Sometimes, those scribbles sounded more like cries for clarity than plans for action.
We often throw around the terms “leader” and “follower” like they are binary opposites—as if you’re either born to lead or destined to follow. But life, as I’ve discovered, is more complex. Let’s unpack that.
What Does It Really Mean to Lead?
Most people equate leadership with titles.
“He’s the CEO, so he must be a leader.”
“She’s the manager—of course she’s leading the team.”
But I’ve seen leaders without titles, and I’ve seen those with titles who couldn’t lead a group of five to a lunch spot. Leadership, to me, is the act of stepping forward when others hesitate. It’s about clarity when confusion reigns. It’s about conviction when options are many.
Let me take you back to the early days of FAVORIOT. It was a time when IoT wasn’t mainstream, when investors looked at us like we were trying to sell flying carpets. There was no path—only uncertainty.
That was the moment I had to lead.
Not because I wanted to boss anyone around. Not because I had all the answers. But because if I didn’t believe in the vision of building an IoT platform from Malaysia, then who would?
“Mazlan, are you sure people will use this?”
“Why not just resell existing solutions?”
These were the voices I heard. From peers, advisors… sometimes, even from inside my own head.
But leaders are the ones who choose to believe—despite the noise.
The Follower Within Us
Now here’s the uncomfortable truth…
We’re all followers at times.
Even I—a self-declared “IoT Man”—have followed trends, people, mentors. Sometimes blindly. Sometimes wisely.
I remember early in my career, during my days at MIMOS, I used to wait for someone to say, “Mazlan, go ahead. You’re in charge.” And when I didn’t hear it? I stayed put. I followed.
Was I scared? Yes. Of judgment. Of failing publicly. Of stepping on the toes of more “senior” people.
“Just keep your head down and do good work. They’ll notice.”
But here’s the hard lesson: doing good work is not the same as making things happen.
A follower waits. A leader initiates.
Leadership Is a Decision, Not a Designation
People often ask me,
“Dr. Mazlan, how do I become a leader in my field?”
And I say:
You decide.
You decide to stop waiting for permission.
You decide to speak up when it’s uncomfortable.
You decide to take responsibility—even when it’s not your fault.
Leadership isn’t a switch that flips on when you’re promoted. It’s a mindset. A posture. A muscle you build every time you act with intention.
One of the most defining moments in my journey was when we pitched FAVORIOT to our very first potential client. We had nothing fancy—just slides, vision, and raw belief.
And I saw the skepticism in their eyes.
But I kept talking. I led the conversation, the energy, and eventually—the trust.
But What If You’re Meant to Be a Follower?
There’s this strange stigma around being a follower, as if it’s somehow lesser. I disagree.
Some of the best people I’ve worked with are incredible followers. They are the engine room of any successful mission. They execute with excellence, support with heart, and think with clarity.
But here’s the nuance: they’re not passive followers. They’re intentional ones.
They choose to follow because they believe in the mission, the leader, and the purpose. That’s very different from following because you’re afraid to lead.
“Is it okay to just be a follower?”
Absolutely. But don’t be a follower because you’re afraid. Be one because you’re aligned.
Are You in the Driver’s Seat or the Passenger?
Let’s pause.
Look at your current project.
Your current role.
Your daily routines.
Who’s steering?
Are you choosing your direction? Or are you being pulled by someone else’s map?
It’s okay to be a passenger… sometimes. But not your whole life.
How to Know Which One You Are Right Now
Here’s a quick reflection I use:
Do I initiate or wait for instructions? Leaders initiate. Followers wait. Simple litmus test.
Do I take responsibility or assign blame? Leaders say, “Let’s fix this.” Followers say, “It’s not my fault.”
Do I create opportunities or react to them? Leaders build. Followers consume.
You might be a leader in your side hustle but a follower in your main job. That’s fine. But know the difference. And more importantly, know why.
Leading Isn’t About Being Loud
Many people think you need to be charismatic, extroverted, or visionary to lead.
False.
Some of the best leaders I’ve seen are quiet. Observant. Calculated. But when they speak, people listen. Not because they shout, but because they’ve earned credibility through consistent action.
My Journey From Follower to Leader (And Back Again)
Over my 30+ years in this tech world—from academia to government, from corporate to startup—I’ve worn both hats.
Some days, I follow trends. I listen to my team. I take advice.
Other days, I break away from the norm and say, “This is the new direction.”
That’s leadership.
But it doesn’t mean I’ve stopped being a follower. It means I choose when to lead and when to follow—consciously.
The Final Question
So now, let me ask you again.
Are you a leader or a follower?
But let me reframe that:
Where do you choose to lead? And where are you settling into following?
Because the real power comes not from being one or the other—but from knowing when to step forward, when to step aside, and when to take the wheel with courage.
And if today you realize you’ve been following too long… maybe it’s time to lead.
“Mazlan… what if I fail?”
Then you fail forward. Because that’s what leaders do.
Dr. Mazlan Abbas is the CEO and Co-Founder of FAVORIOT. Once a follower, now a leader… but always learning.
Dr. Mazlan Abbas 