Instilling leadership qualities among future leaders

It was an enriching session for about 700 undergraduates who participated in the “Meet the Leaders” forum and talks held at UTAR Kampar Campus on 21 July 2019. 

Group photo of the speakers and participants

Organised by Kampar Campus’ Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC), the event aimed to nurture budding leaders and empower them with leadership qualities through a series of forum and talk. The event also aimed to serve as a platform for student leaders to gain a unique learning experience that will provide the confidence, independence and skills required for the next generation of future leaders.

From left: Forum moderator Chua, Mohanagumaran, Sangari and Matt Ngai

The event kicked off with a panel discussion titled “The Mind of a Leader”, which touched on the aspects of leadership’s mindset and how important the leadership mindset is for potential leaders. The participants also gained valuable knowledge on how to develop the qualities of leadership effectively from speakers in different industries and backgrounds. The panellists also shared about their working experiences in their respective industry.

The forum featured Assembly Operations Manager of Carsem (M) Sdn Bhd E. Mohanagumaran, Headmistress of SJK (T) St. Philomena Convent Ipoh K. Sangari and General Manager of Haup Sing Trading Sdn Bhd Matt Ngai. It was moderated by UTAR DSSC academic Erica Chua Ning Jia.

Ng emphasising the importance of values and principles

Next on the agenda was a talk, titled “Meet the CEO” by the CEO of The Alley Malaysia Ng Ching Wai. Ng began his talk by first introducing himself and sharing his work experience, his career path and career progression. Ng enthused, “I first started as a tuition teacher. Then I ventured into the insurance field and eventually decided to start up my own café business. I looked into the latest trend of café and that is how I found The Alley. I grabbed the opportunity without hesitation and started since then.” Throughout the talk, Ng also shared his life’s values and principles to the students. He encouraged them to focus on their strengths He also explained the concept of The Alley to the students and he emphasised that The Alley is not merely a product but it is a brand.

Additionally, there was another talk, titled “Leadership and Career Development” delivered by the Assembly Operation Manager of Carsem (M) Sdn Bhd Mohanagumaran. In his talk, he highlighted the current situations of the current corporate world and how to endure them successfully. He emphasised on the importance of critical and innovative thinking to be a leader. He said, “Innovativeness and creativity will help the young and fresh graduates to stand out and achieve more in their career life. Other than that, interactive, communication and think-out-of-the-box skills are also very essential for young leaders to excel in their careers and lives.”

Participants during the talks and workshops

Further enriching the event were two career workshops, namely “Personality and Career Choice” and “Tips for Interview and Resume Writing”. It was held concurrently for the graduating students. The workshops taught the students how to prepare their resumes by including relevant information and arranging the contents effectively. The workshops also provided some useful tips before attending interviews. The tips include understanding job responsibilities, being an acquaintance to the interviewer, identifying one’s strengths, skills and achievements, and maintaining proper body language.

DSSC Kampar Campus Head Hee Chwen Yee said, “This event was exclusively organised to instil various leadership qualities that make good leaders. The event also aimed at providing an enriching platform for young students to upgrade and develop themselves. The event was indeed informative, useful and impactful for UTAR students.”    

The one-day event came to an end following a souvenir presentation session and group photography session. The “Meet the Leaders” event was sponsored by The Alley Perak and SWAGANZ Ipoh Perak.

Also present at the event was UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong.

Prof Choong presenting a token of appreciation to Ng (left)