2010 marks 13 years of my working experience. My career path has brought me places from my debut blue collar as legal assistant in a medium size Solicitors firm in London to KPMG, Investment Bank and now a government link company that manages the development of Johor State economic region down south of Peninsula Malaysia.
Throughout these experiences, I have worked under 7 different superiors/bosses.
I was exposed to people relation since my first day or work. Being in legal profession I am tasked to meet a lot of people. In fact at a novice age and experience, my previous boss, the partner of the legal firm where i worked in London has given me the trust to deal with his clients independently. I did well and eventually, since the partner is busy with big clients, I was entrusted to deal with the smaller clients with little and at times without senior assistance. That is how well I do with human relations perhaps that the trust given to me was exceeding my expectations. I also grasp well quickly without much taken time to comprehend any instructions, or work given.
Climbing up the corporate ladder, i came back to work with a Malaysian legal firm and didn't last than a year before joining KPMG (one of the big 5 accounting firm then and one of the top Corporate Finance firm in the world) back in year 2000.
I joined KPMG as an assistant consultant due to my degree limitations where most of them are either from accounting or finance background. I was roped in due to the KPMG Partner's plan of having a diversified team and my penchant for numbers helped me to get one of the best jobs currently there was a legal graduate. I took the offer regardless of the ranks for the sake of learning something new.
Then I had no clue what Corporate Finance entails and requires of me but my Partner who took me in was willing to raise me to be a Corporate Finance person. This was my stepping stone... it has brought me to where I am now. I have to thank Allah ultimately for His blessings towards me achieving my success.
There was no looking back and I knew where i wanted to go and be. Corporate Finance! I love the nature of the job and learning curves i ventured. This has encouraged me strongly and stand my belief to pursue my Masters degree in Applied Finance. I came back graduating with MApp Fin from The University of Melbourne in 2005.
In 2006, I joined an Islamic Investment Bank and given the responsibility as the Manager. There I was spoilt with perks of a Manager like department secretary and staffs that I can count on to delegate my responsibilities. Nonetheless, my term there was shortened by an offer for a greener pasteur.
So here I am in this GLC seeking a greener pasteur.... indeed it is with salary by 25% increment and benefits that market couldn't match. All because it is a new entity with big hopes and plans and in dire need for brains in its workforce. Anything to incite and fish out the few talents in the industry. Yet many declined to the fact that relocation to the south was deemed inevitable. This is something many couldn't accept simply because of family commitment in capital city and more due to relocating to an under developed city that only has Singapore as its means of escape to modernisation, luxury and lifestyle living that some are so used to.
I took the offer in hoping for a new challenge and dreams. I am a robust person that consistently need to have new experience in life. To me... learning in life is perpetual. You can never stop learning until the end of life because knowledge is vast and everywhere... unless you are an arrogant man who thinks "I know all" or ignorant who would say "I don't need to know anything more than I already have" then, I feel sorry for you.
I also had hopes for being able to stand out and perform under this new entity with so much potential offered and given hope for. I was taken in by a head of department whom I believe could mould me someday to lead one of the subsidiary entity.
That's the mistake...
Mistake of believing there is someone who will guide you to achieve your dreams. I had assumed my career in this GLC was similar to the previous support I had obtained from my superiors and bosses in my past working experiences.
This is all due to the typical "GLC disease". Power greed and inevitably politics. Change of events in the company had re-mapped by luck in this company. The hopes and dreams I used to have slowly diminishing from my career enhancement horizon as if you catch a mirage and as you get closer... it was never there.
It is a place where cultures, priority, importance and intelligence are different in many ways. Many mismatched talents and lack of manpower support with too heavy on the top. That says something about the company doesn't it? Too many brains makes too many opinions, and only one ant to work.
Now.. I realised, I am no more important. I am just like many other ants that waiting to be pressed on or stepped on to death as there are many other ants that are available. This trend will continue until there are no more ants in the house. Perhaps only then they will realise they have destroyed not just the hopes and dreams of many but the absolute entity of the company.
Those survive may not be the best at what the work requires of them but how well they play their political trump. I don't see any outstanding brain within the company except a few within what I can count with my fingers.
Just when I thought this job is a career enhancement but suddenly I realised to my dismay I am stepping back 6 steps! The Management who lacks human relation and basic emotional intelligence. Selfish enough to make people slaved and wasting the talents that was not meant to be used for. Talents are scarce in this limited world yet this GLC wastes them.
I quench for knowledge and experience yet never allowed to shine. But I somehow still have faith in this company to become better in every way. All I need is time.. and I shall wait and see... what my future holds.. at least for a moment.
Throughout these experiences, I have worked under 7 different superiors/bosses.
I was exposed to people relation since my first day or work. Being in legal profession I am tasked to meet a lot of people. In fact at a novice age and experience, my previous boss, the partner of the legal firm where i worked in London has given me the trust to deal with his clients independently. I did well and eventually, since the partner is busy with big clients, I was entrusted to deal with the smaller clients with little and at times without senior assistance. That is how well I do with human relations perhaps that the trust given to me was exceeding my expectations. I also grasp well quickly without much taken time to comprehend any instructions, or work given.
Climbing up the corporate ladder, i came back to work with a Malaysian legal firm and didn't last than a year before joining KPMG (one of the big 5 accounting firm then and one of the top Corporate Finance firm in the world) back in year 2000.
I joined KPMG as an assistant consultant due to my degree limitations where most of them are either from accounting or finance background. I was roped in due to the KPMG Partner's plan of having a diversified team and my penchant for numbers helped me to get one of the best jobs currently there was a legal graduate. I took the offer regardless of the ranks for the sake of learning something new.
Then I had no clue what Corporate Finance entails and requires of me but my Partner who took me in was willing to raise me to be a Corporate Finance person. This was my stepping stone... it has brought me to where I am now. I have to thank Allah ultimately for His blessings towards me achieving my success.
There was no looking back and I knew where i wanted to go and be. Corporate Finance! I love the nature of the job and learning curves i ventured. This has encouraged me strongly and stand my belief to pursue my Masters degree in Applied Finance. I came back graduating with MApp Fin from The University of Melbourne in 2005.
In 2006, I joined an Islamic Investment Bank and given the responsibility as the Manager. There I was spoilt with perks of a Manager like department secretary and staffs that I can count on to delegate my responsibilities. Nonetheless, my term there was shortened by an offer for a greener pasteur.
So here I am in this GLC seeking a greener pasteur.... indeed it is with salary by 25% increment and benefits that market couldn't match. All because it is a new entity with big hopes and plans and in dire need for brains in its workforce. Anything to incite and fish out the few talents in the industry. Yet many declined to the fact that relocation to the south was deemed inevitable. This is something many couldn't accept simply because of family commitment in capital city and more due to relocating to an under developed city that only has Singapore as its means of escape to modernisation, luxury and lifestyle living that some are so used to.
I took the offer in hoping for a new challenge and dreams. I am a robust person that consistently need to have new experience in life. To me... learning in life is perpetual. You can never stop learning until the end of life because knowledge is vast and everywhere... unless you are an arrogant man who thinks "I know all" or ignorant who would say "I don't need to know anything more than I already have" then, I feel sorry for you.
I also had hopes for being able to stand out and perform under this new entity with so much potential offered and given hope for. I was taken in by a head of department whom I believe could mould me someday to lead one of the subsidiary entity.
That's the mistake...
Mistake of believing there is someone who will guide you to achieve your dreams. I had assumed my career in this GLC was similar to the previous support I had obtained from my superiors and bosses in my past working experiences.
This is all due to the typical "GLC disease". Power greed and inevitably politics. Change of events in the company had re-mapped by luck in this company. The hopes and dreams I used to have slowly diminishing from my career enhancement horizon as if you catch a mirage and as you get closer... it was never there.
It is a place where cultures, priority, importance and intelligence are different in many ways. Many mismatched talents and lack of manpower support with too heavy on the top. That says something about the company doesn't it? Too many brains makes too many opinions, and only one ant to work.
Now.. I realised, I am no more important. I am just like many other ants that waiting to be pressed on or stepped on to death as there are many other ants that are available. This trend will continue until there are no more ants in the house. Perhaps only then they will realise they have destroyed not just the hopes and dreams of many but the absolute entity of the company.
Those survive may not be the best at what the work requires of them but how well they play their political trump. I don't see any outstanding brain within the company except a few within what I can count with my fingers.
Just when I thought this job is a career enhancement but suddenly I realised to my dismay I am stepping back 6 steps! The Management who lacks human relation and basic emotional intelligence. Selfish enough to make people slaved and wasting the talents that was not meant to be used for. Talents are scarce in this limited world yet this GLC wastes them.
I quench for knowledge and experience yet never allowed to shine. But I somehow still have faith in this company to become better in every way. All I need is time.. and I shall wait and see... what my future holds.. at least for a moment.