Prepping Leaders of Tomorrow

The participants, speakers and committee before the end of the conference 

“Young people, after all, are not just adults-in-the-making. They are people whose current needs and rights and experiences must be taken seriously.” – Alfie Kohn

With the need to empower youth for the future, the Department of Student Affairs organised the Young Leaders Conference 2018 (YLC 2018) Preparing Today for the World Tomorrow: Achievement Unlocked at Sungai Long Campus on 20 and 21 October 2018.

The one and a half day conference saw 10 speakers sharing their expertise in youth context as a preparation to be leaders of the future. Other than talks, the conference drew its curtains with an insightful forum at the end of both days.

The conference aimed to provide the participants, consisting of secondary school and university students, with the opportunity to rediscover the wonders found within various professional fields by providing exposure on the knowledge, skills, experiences, challenges as well as success stories across the disciplines. 

“University isn’t just a place to learn technical skills, it is a place to learn soft skills and complex problem-solving skills as well. Let me give you an example; if an engineer comes out with a project to build a dam, it is complicated but not complex. If he considers beyond merely the project, such as the environment and human management, that is complex problem-solving skills. Join programmes such as seminars or conferences to learn these skills that you will not get in the classroom,” said UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik in his welcome speech.

Also attending the opening ceremony were Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Mindvalley Resident Coach and Head of Learning & Culture Cheah Kar Fei, Sungai Long’s Head of Student Affairs Department Loh Nyuk Leung, Head of Soft Skills Competency Department Fook Oi Yee, Chairperson of YLC 2018 Navamani Nagappon, speakers and students from local universities and secondary schools. 

Cheah advising the audience to run at their own pace as everyone is not running on the same timeline in life

The conference commenced with a talk from keynote speaker Cheah. As a coach who started his career as early as 21 years old, he shared his life story of juggling between his study and his passion for coaching. During his talk, Cheah said that people often see ‘copying’ as a bad action. However, copying something that pays off is good because that is how innovative ideas are generated, by copying something that works and making it even better. 

Lau (left) and Lim during their talk

The duo Lau Chung Han and Alex Lim, from Sri Emas International School, Petaling Jaya brought irrepressible humour into the hall by sharing their hilarious experiences as teachers and great inspiring stories about their life. 

Dr Norashikin sharing tips as well as challenges that await an entrepreneur 

Founder of i-Pro Dental Surgery Dr. Norashikin Hassim said that the determination to become an entrepreneur kicked in when she decided to not take orders from others and decided to be ‘the boss’. Ironically, being an entrepreneur requires one to work hard, work long hours and sacrifice holidays. Owning a clinic, just a few kilometres away from Sungai Long Campus, she said that UTAR is dear to her heart as UTAR students are among her patients. “It’s not about what you say, it’s about how you make people feel,” advised Dr Norashikin.

Wong worked as a customer service officer before becoming a pilot 

The conference took off to the sky when Sr First Officer of Malaysian Airlines Berhad Alvin Wong shared his career path, beginning from the primary school back in Sarawak to Perth, Australia to study aviation and then back to Malaysia only to find himself unemployed for three years before securing his career in Malaysia Airlines Berhad.

 

Sim (left) and Faisal proved that different career and passion can get along well

The participants’ attention was later drawn to a man in black and white racing suit with a helmet— Digital Banking Test Lead Aaron Sim graduated in computer science from Australia, and is currently working in the information technology industry. However, his career did not stop him from pursuing his passion for motorsports. He now runs a workshop and he actively participates in local races. Other than Sim, McDermott Malaysia SAP HR Specialist Faisal Rosli is another example of pursuing passion without leaving the career. An SAP HR during working hours, Faisal also practises wushu and plays a saxophone during his spare time. He does it on a freelance basis. “Try not to be perfect, just be better. Chasing perfection will only cause delay and frustration,” said Faisal. 

Lalmuhunthan showing collage of his life goals 

The second day commenced with a talk from  Lal & Partners and City Harbour International School Founder N.S. Lalmuhunthan titled, “Pursuing Your Passion, Living Your Dream”. He said, “You need to start young when building your career. It is about having the mindset that everything can be learnt regardless of what environment you are in. Your thoughts create reality which is also your choice of abundance.” He also spoke about the subconscious doubts and the subconscious beliefs. He said, “Be an opportunist and create your own destiny. It is your choice to be anybody or to be somebody. Success is not going to be easy because we have different aims in life and different decisions to make. However, when faced with obstacles, remember to think positively, organise yourself and motivate yourself so you can enjoy your life.” 

Chai inspiring the participants to dream big 

Double Tree by Hilton Hotels and Resorts Front Office Manager Marshall Chai shared the experience of pursuing his career in the hotel industry during the conference. He said, “It is important to seize the opportunity and continuously acquire knowledge as you grow. If you want to do something, dream big and do not give up even when things go wrong. Learn to face the realities and learn from it, to be better in the future.” 

Tan shows how a person should not underestimate their capabilities through an activity 

“Investing for the future” was delivered by Savwee Education Sdn Bhd CEO Tan Meng Teck. He shared about the conventional ideas of life versus the ideal life as well as the investment, trading and tips to lead a better life. During his session, he said, “You must believe you can do it. Whatever happened in the past does not determine your future. Look ahead and remember that your future is in your hands. Find out what you’re good at and pursue it to earn a living and remember to turn crisis into opportunity. If you want to achieve your dream bad enough, chances are you will find ways to achieve it.”

Dr Sia said that a clear conscience will lead to a clear heart and mind 

The final speaker S.C.O.R.E Founder and Motivational Consultant Dr Sia Ah Hiok said, “It is important to realise your skills within yourself and improve on it to gain access to global competence. Also, getting involved in activities outside the classroom will enable you to learn to make an impact in the society. Thus, I would like to encourage you to challenge your comfort zone and celebrate diversity for further self-improvement and networking for your future career,” as she shared her views through her topic titled, “Find Your Edge, Employers Will Find You”.

A youth-relevant forum discussing education, depression, unemployment and interview tips, from left: Lim, UTAR Japanese Intern Yushi Okudaira, Wong, Head of Curriculum Inspiros International School Ina Chong and moderator Dr Charanjit Kaur Darshan Singh

The forum saw discussions on topics including ideal life, blended learning in classrooms, setting achievable and realistic targets in life and many more, from left: Dr Sia, Chai, Teck, Lalmuhunthan and Dr Charanjit