For most of my life, I measured success through achievement. I built businesses, mentored entrepreneurs and reached milestones others called inspiring. Yet somewhere between the meetings, targets and accolades, I began to feel a quiet longing, not for more, but for meaning.

I had worked since the age of fifteen, learning through experience rather than academia. Every decision came with risk, and every success with sacrifice. But after years of building ventures, I realised that growth without reflection can become routine. I wanted to rediscover not what I could achieve, but why I was doing it. That question eventually led me to The Asia School of Business.

Returning to study after years of professional life was both exhilarating and daunting. The decision came at a time when I was balancing motherhood, business and community leadership. It demanded courage, but also humility. I reminded myself that learning does not end when success begins; it only deepens.

The moment I stepped into the Asia School of Business, something shifted. The energy was different. The conversations were alive with curiosity. I knew instantly that I was in a place that valued not just intelligence, but introspection. When I received the YTL Foundation Scholarship, it was more than financial support. It felt like validation that I was meant to be there.

What struck me most during my MBA journey was how learning became deeply personal. Professors at the Asia School of Business and MIT did not just teach frameworks. They challenged us to rethink how we lead, decide and connect. Leadership, I learned, is not about standing above others but beside them. It is the courage to listen, the discipline to pause, and the strength to admit when you do not have all the answers.

One of my most transformative experiences was the MIT Immersion. Being in a new environment surrounded by innovation and open thinking allowed me to step back and reflect. I realised that success is not about being the best in the room, but about creating space where others can thrive. Curiosity became my greatest teacher. It turned challenges into opportunities and failures into lessons.

Public speaking used to terrify me. As a leader, I often avoided stages and microphones. But at the Asia School of Business, communication was reframed not as performance but as responsibility. I began to understand that expressing ideas clearly and authentically is an act of respect for the work, the audience and oneself. Through coaching and reflection, I gradually found my voice. Today, I use that voice to mentor women entrepreneurs and advocate for inclusive business practices.

Balancing motherhood and studies taught me another vital lesson. Strength is not doing everything alone. It is accepting help, embracing collaboration and offering the same support in return. The friendships I formed with peers from across ASEAN reminded me that leadership transcends borders. Through Action Learning projects, I worked with organisations in Vietnam and collaborated with central bankers from the Master of Central Banking programme. These experiences grounded me in the region’s diversity and resilience.

I have always believed that Malaysia’s true strength lies in its inclusivity. At the Asia School of Business, that belief was reinforced daily. In every class, discussion and project, I saw how empathy and collaboration build better leaders and better societies.

Today, as CEO of CAFIA and founder of Be Noor Capital, I carry those lessons forward. Be Noor means “Be the Light,” and it has become my guiding philosophy. Leadership, to me, is no longer about visibility. It is about helping others to see their worth, their potential and their purpose.

My journey at the Asia School of Business was not a detour; it was a rediscovery. It taught me that the most powerful leaders are those who lead with humanity, curiosity and grace. As I continue mentoring and building, I no longer chase success. I seek meaning, and in doing so, I find fulfilment.