My story starts in Chennai, South India, where I was born. Growing up with mixed Eurasian heritage, I experienced diversity firsthand through my own family. At the age of three, we moved to Malaysia, making it our second home, and it was Malaysia's own rich mix of cultures that shaped most of my early years. Moving between these worlds early on taught me something I still hold onto: humans are connected in ways people don't fully realise when confined to one place. Understanding the world on a macro level, learning the shared history of people, and realising that human values and dreams connect us, no matter where we're from, matters. This foundation, paired with a longing to connect better with people as an introvert, played a part in why I chose the business programme.

My educational journey at Sunway began at Sunway College, where I completed the Cambridge GCE Advanced-Level (A-Level), followed by a Bachelor of Business through Victoria University (VU) at Sunway College. I then continued my postgraduate studies at Sunway Business School, completing a Master in Sustainable Development Management and a Doctor of Philosophy (Business). This educational journey allowed me to grow academically, personally, and professionally while being part of the Sunway community for more than a decade.

That decision turned into something much bigger over ten years at Sunway. The university didn't just teach theory; it pushed me toward real problems and encouraged me to meet and collaborate with people in every way possible. The Sunway Business School Embassy Series, organised by Dr Arumugam Muthusamy, was one of the initiatives that had the greatest impact on my journey. It allowed me to meet people I would otherwise have had almost no chance of meeting: people whose lives are deeply embedded in politics and national security, standing front and centre on the world stage alongside presidents and rulers.

Through these connections, I came to understand, more deeply than before, the importance of appreciating different cultures and maintaining world harmony alongside national interests, something I now believe we, as citizens of this connected world, need to practise. This experience taught me that cultures are unique and should be preserved as such, but also that there is a fine balance between diversity and integration for global collaboration. Respecting and understanding one another through communication and empathy is of utmost importance for world harmony and peace.

Coming from a mixed background, I have always held on to the notion that the world is one big family with different interests and ambitions. Each culture contributes its own piece to a shared human story, and this belief has shaped how I move through the world. During my studies, I constantly sought out opportunities myself, and this is an important tip for any student seeking to realise their future dream: don't wait for doors to open; learn to knock on them yourself!

My path moved through business consultancy, research, and sustainability strategy, then into marketing, with mentors like Dr Benedict Arulanandam guiding me. I was fortunate to also have mentors like Professor Leong Choon Heng, who helped me get involved in the Harvard Club of Malaysia's Prize Book Programme. I organised it for five years, recognising hundreds of Malaysia's most promising young scholars and carrying Harvard's legacy of celebrating excellence into classrooms across the country.

Toward the end of my time at Sunway, with the guidance of my supervisors, Dr Khor Kuan Siew and Dr Ooi Pei Boon, I completed a four-year PhD study on sustainable energy management for hospitals in Malaysia. Alongside it, I ran seminars and corporate training on SDGs and ESG for several companies. Another turning point came as I began mentoring Japanese students at Sunway, helping them settle into life abroad and organising events with Sunway University and the Harvard Club to encourage students to take part. This created lasting friendships and helped build the connections that led me to my future career.

That career eventually brought me to Ikubunkan Global High School in Tokyo, one of Japan's most prestigious Global High Schools, where students are pushed toward the same kind of global, SDG-driven thinking Sunway instilled in me. Many of the values I carried from Sunway Business School, such as curiosity across cultures, respect for different perspectives, and a belief in education as something bigger than a syllabus, fit naturally with the environment I now work in.

My advice to fellow Sunwayians: always learn from your mistakes, think positively, be honest, pay attention to the world beyond your syllabus, stay curious about people different from you, hold a clear picture of where you want to be, and trust in yourself and God. Wherever your path leads next, let these lessons be an anchor.

I am always seeking meaningful ways to collaborate and bring opportunities to students. Feel free to reach out to me: @email

Edited by
Dr Arumugam Muthusamy
Sunway Business School
Email: @email