By Sabariah Mohamed Salleh
Pictures by Muhammad Izwan Azman

BANGI, 17 December 2016 – Any job will give you beneficial experience.

That was Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar, Chemical Company of Malaysia (CCM) Group Managing Director’s advice to UKM students who are about to venture out to the working world, at the recent CEO@Faculty Talk, in UKM.

“When I came back after graduating in 1988, jobs were scarce and about 15 per cent of the people I knew, ended up selling burgers, despite graduating with honors, or having a masters and PhD degree.

“However, five percent, out of the 15 per cent who sold burgers after graduating, now run public listed company,” said Leonard adding that where one starts his or her career is not a reflection of where they would end up later in life.

He added that, it doesn’t matter how or where one begins his or her career as it is a way to gain experience, and therefore, nothing will be wasted.

“Do not despair, if, as a law graduate, the first job offer you get is as a cashier at a tire shop.

“Look at it in a positive way as you can garner new skills and learn something new along the way,” advised Leonard.

The CEO@Faculty Talk also saw Leonard sharing invaluable tips on becoming a good leader and his experience in being the Group Managing Director of CCM.

The CEO@Faculty Programme is one of the initiatives outlined under the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 and is a bid to bring more industrial insight into the classroom.

The programme aims at bringing the CEOs from leading business corporations to mentor the Malaysian universities, share their experiences and knowledge, invest time and energy via many types of engagement sessions, ultimately for the benefit of the academia and most importantly, the students.

Leonard saw his appointment as UKM’s CEO@Faculty as a way of giving back to the community.

“I have been blessed because I obtained scholarships to pursue my studies and I feel that accepting this appointment is a way for me to give back to the country that has given me so much,” said Leonard.

An MOU signing ceremony was also held between UKM and CCM for the Jati Programme.

Also present at the talk was UKM Deputy Vice Chancellor of Industry and Community Partnerships Prof. Dato’ Dr. Imran Ho Abdullah and UKM Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jamia Azdina Jamal.