We are incredibly proud to announce that Alumni Kasey Leong (Class of 2007) recently won the SOBA (Star’s Outstanding Business Awards) for ‘YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR – OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT’. We spoke to Kasey to congratulate him and find out a little more.
Kasey, please tell us more about your journey after GIS
After my IGCSEs at GIS, I did my Year 12 in Perth; followed by a double degree in Biotechnology (BSc) and Marketing (BCom) at Murdoch University. In 2009, I returned to Malaysia to build my experience ‘from the bottom’ as a Marketing Executive with the family business at Markaids.
Even after school, university and my professional experience, the learning has never stopped for me. The last few years especially have really pushed me to adapt, pivot and grow. The best way that I’ve found is to embrace the challenge, and hold on for the ride!
Tell us about the work that led you to this Award?
As an organisation, Markaids has grown a lot in the last few years – which I can sum up in three words: culture, digitalisation and Industry 4.0.
It was tough to get the ball rolling to tackle these changes at the start. I’m really proud of – and it wouldn’t have been possible without – our committed and aligned team. We were lucky, because our transformation was already gaining momentum when COVID-19 hit. Later on, when we were faced with unprecedented situations like having to totally work remotely, we were able to cope (and even grow). It really validated our earlier efforts and only encouraged us to pivot to digital faster.
After two years of grabbing the bull by the horns and wrestling through the struggles of lockdowns and disruptions, it was good to have a reason to celebrate. That’s how we ended up applying for, and eventually winning, this award. Although it says ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’, the credit really goes to the whole team, and not just one person alone.
Share some of your fondest memories at GIS…
I really enjoyed all my science subjects at GIS, as well as the eloquence gleaned through the tough classes in English Literature. Some of humankind’s greatest minds were able to combine science with communication to incredible effect: Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin (and in more modern terms, maybe Elon Musk). I felt that my time at GIS set the foundations and sparked the curiosity that could open the doors to this.
What is your message to our current students who would like to take the same pathway as yours?
I salute all students who attended classes and school through COVID-19 and lockdowns. The world is going through increasingly faster rates of change and disruption, so my message is to use this experience to become more adaptable, innovative and resilient. No matter the time nor the challenge, stay hungry, keep an open mind and remember that ‘learning is a lifelong journey’.
A huge ‘Thank You’ to Alumni Kasey Leong for sharing her journey with us. Once again congratulations and we wish you many more successes to come in the near future.
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