• In this issue of Berita Sunway where we wrap up our 50th anniversary, we speak with some of Sunway’s longest-serving staff about their experiences, reflections on the early days and perspectives on what lies ahead.

Endless Opportunities to Make a Difference

Leonard Chew Boon Liang

Senior manager of quality management and finance at
Sunway Digital and Strategic Investments.

Year of joining Sunway: 2012

As a university student, I had read Jim Collins’ book, ‘Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies’, an inspiring read about how great companies that have lasted more than a century were built. I have always admired Sunway, with its fabled entrepreneurial history, so I jumped at the opportunity to be part of the company in 2012.

One of the key philosophies of my idol, Bruce Lee, is to “Be Like Water”, which is to be adaptable and flexible to change. My career with Sunway has been a journey of constantly adapting to new roles – learning, unlearning, improving and being open to new ideas, opinions as well as experiences. It has not always been easy, but it has been quite a ride!

Starting out as an assistant manager of Sunway’s group strategy and corporate development division in 2012, I moved on to roles in Digital Technology Solutions, Sunway Corporate Venture Capital (Sun SEA Capital), Orbit Capital Malaysia, and more recently, digital and strategic investments. The breadth of experience gained through my various roles is truly rare.

In 2012, while part of the Group Strategy and Corporate Development team, Leonard participated in a strategic planning workshop aimed at fostering closer collaboration between Sunway Property and Sunway Construction’s top management.

Leonard receiving the Most Supportive Industry Partner award on behalf of Sunway Group from the Malaysia Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (MVCA) at the MVCA Awards 2021/2022, recognizing the Group’s contributions to Malaysia’s startup ecosystem and venture capital industry.

The diversity of Sunway’s businesses allows for unique exposure and experiences that cannot be found anywhere else. I truly value the opportunity to make a difference and having that sense of purpose and mission through what I do, in whichever role I am assigned to.

It is the people and relationships built over time that has motivated me to stay all these years. The bonds forged with my colleagues while undergoing tough periods together are some of the strongest and among my most cherished relationships.

In terms of my legacy, I hope that I have in some small way helped inculcate an innovation mindset among staff through the design sprint workshops and training that I have facilitated.

Ultimately, I hope to see future revenue and profit-generating ideas attributable to Sunway’s innovation capability-building efforts.

During my tenure, I also coached staff in group fitness classes on the side for a few years because I find coaching very fulfilling. My legacy lives on in those whom I have coached as they continue to live an active healthy lifestyle, and hopefully they inspire future generations of Sunway staff to do the same.

In the next 50 years, I hope that Sunway continues to hold true to our core values – which sets it apart from other conglomerates – while being flexible to adapt and change to our customers’ preferences. I also hope that Sunway can generate truly market-leading innovative products and services.

A Rewarding Journey of Learning

Letchumy Adekan

Director of special projects at Sunway Digital Hub, Sunway IT Shared Services

Year of joining Sunway: 1992

Fresh out of college, I had joined a friend for a walk-in-interview at Sunway. Honestly, I knew very little about Sunway back then – I just wanted to start at an IT-related job to gain work experience. It was my first ever job interview and I got hired as a Management Information Systems (MIS) clerk for Sunway Construction. It has been an exciting and sustainable career development journey since.

Over 31 years, I have worked across many industries within Sunway, been involved in overseas IT projects, led IT projects for external clients and different departments, and gained exposure in various solutions and technologies.

From a very junior position, I became an assistant manager, before being transferred to IT Shared Services, where my career further evolved into manager and eventually, my current role as director of Sunway Digital Hub.

As Sunway continues to grow and the demand for digitalisation increases, I foresee even more interesting opportunities arising, which keeps me, as an IT professional, excited about my future career growth.

Among the reasons I have remained at Sunway is the unlimited learning opportunities I have experienced through the diversified businesses and external opportunities.

The importance that Sunway places on learning and development for its people is tremendous. From technical training, soft skills development training and extensive talent development programmes, to conferences that enlightens us on other organisations’ best practices – learning and development has strongly supported my work performance.

It was the management who encouraged me to pursue my further studies part-time and supported me throughout, which helped greatly in me undertaking more portfolios and strengthening my career development at Sunway.

Besides career growth opportunities and staff recognition, I also appreciate the top leaders’ strong support for digitalisation and innovation, as well as equality and inclusivity in managing talent.

My most memorable moment with Sunway was being awarded the ‘Best Employee of The Year’ within four years of joining Sunway Construction. It was such a glorious moment to receive the award from our chairman, Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, and my family is very proud of my achievement. This was a defining moment in deciding to continue my career journey at Sunway, as I appreciated that the company recognised my contributions, and I was able to see a very promising future ahead for myself in the group.

In the next five decades, I hope that Sunway successfully develops more Sunway smart cities globally and that all its businesses establish a global presence, creating more opportunities for staff. I hope to see more innovative, smart and intelligent technologies introduced to drive business growth and enable work processes where staff can devote their time on higher-value tasks, ultimately contributing to Sunway becoming the top conglomerate in Malaysia.

Where Collaboration and Inclusivity Thrive

Nur Erdawati Binti Ismail

Administrative executive of group internal audit at Sunway Group Corporate Centre

Year of joining Sunway: 2012

I became a ‘citizen’ of Sunway in 2012. I had researched about the company and was amazed by the convenience, technology and availability of facilities under one roof at Sunway.

Starting as an administrative assistant in Sunway Group’s internal audit department (GIAD), I mainly supported the team in handling the day-to-day tasks in the office. As I gained more experience, I took on the role of an executive and began assisting in some internal audit work, which gives me valuable knowledge and experience.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to work with a talented and supportive team at GIAD. Ever since Day 1 of working at GIAD, the head of department (HOD) Yee Meng Haw, my line manager Celia Lee and my colleagues have always made me feel welcomed. More than colleagues, they are like my friends.

Captured during the Group Internal Audit Department (GIAD) 2023 team-building event at Gopeng Glamping Park, where activities included Gua Tempurung exploration, whitewater rafting, ATV rides, and a sunset hike at Bukit Batu Putih. This event was organised by Social Squad 2023 (SS23).

There is no discrimination, politics and racism – I really admire their professional attitude! The relationships with my department head, line manager and colleagues have been an important factor in my decision to stay with Sunway all these years.

The collaborative and inclusive culture has fostered strong relationships and a sense of belonging, making my work experience an enjoyable and fulfilling one. I am also happy and proud to work in Sunway because the abundance of amenities in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur makes for a vibrant working environment.

What I value most about Sunway is its concern for staff welfare, and the professionalism from all sides. Working at Sunway always feels like I am working with a family. Some examples of how Sunway prioritises the well-being of staff include health and wellness initiatives, work-life balance support, and the Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

In the next five decades, I hope Sunway will continue to adhere to its core values, as these reflect a vision of Sunway not only thriving economically but contributing positively to its people, the broader society and the environment. Achieving these aspirations would likely result in Sunway becoming not only more successful but a force for positive change in the world. I hope Sunway will be an example and inspiration for other companies to follow.

Discovering my Fullest Potential

Merina Tsang Yee Ting

Assistant manager of finance at Multicare Health Pharmacy Sdn Bhd

Year of joining Sunway: 2010

I started as a finance executive in 2010, where I learnt handling all day-to-day tasks, dealing with different business units and interacting with colleagues from different departments. Through it all, I’ve found that the real lessons that I have gained from working in finance are far broader than just one industry; finance has taught me life skills and how to deal with people.

I have put a lot of thought into my career even before I set foot in university. Throughout these years in Sunway as a senior account executive, my primary responsibilities include managing accounts, financial reporting, and coordinating with clients. I look back on my career and I am proud of the work I have done and that I tried my hand at everything I had wanted to. Throughout my journey in Sunway all these years, Sunway has made me continuously learn, evolve, and yearn to attain my fullest potential.

The people and friends I met from Sunway – some whom I treat as my family make me feel loved and connected. As we all know, the greatest success often comes when you create and work with a network of friends and colleagues.

One of my most memorable memories at Sunway was having to speak in front of a crowd. I have stage anxiety and am just fearful of public speaking, but I owned up to it and just did it. It turned out to be an awesome experience and now I cannot wait to do more! Sometimes we must face our fears if we want to overcome them.

I value the positive and collaborative work environment at Sunway, which fosters a strong sense of teamwork, encourages open communication and knowledge-sharing. I appreciate the supportive colleagues and the opportunities to collaborate on cross-functional projects, which has enhanced my skills and knowledge in the field.

Sunway supports work-life integration through flexible scheduling and remote work options, while encouraging social connections and team-building activities so that there are opportunities for colleagues to connect and get to know each other better.

My advice to younger staff would be to make learning a high priority in your career. There is never going to be a precisely right moment to speak, share an idea, or take a chance to explore and to expand your networks. The only way to do great work is to love what you do.