An Afternoon Tea with 8th Cohort

As the saying goes, “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher”- Oprah Winfrey

Recently, on a sunny afternoon in Kuala Lumpur, mentees of the 8th Cohort of the Board Mentoring Scheme had the opportunity to connect with two established corporate board members namely Datin Teh Ija Jalil and Chye Neo Chong, as special guests over tea and scones. 

The special guests shared views and experiences on both personal and professional basis.

The key messages to take away from Chye Neo are as follows:
1. Do your homework on the type of industry and 

   boards you wish to join.
2.Do enquire from others on the culture, level of 

   governance and the board members profiles.
3. Go in with the view that you are there to contribute 

    and to enjoy your boardroom experiences

The key messages to take away from Datin Teh Ija are as follows:
1.  Always be prepared for meetings
2. Continuous learning is key in today’s changing 

    environment
3. Acquire new knowledge on Sustainability topics, for 

    instance
4. Respect all views and ensure views are minuted; 

    be it consenting or dissenting

“Overall, you want to achieve a collegiate atmosphere with a consensus view after a full debate that prioritises the company and key stakeholders’ interests.”

Finally, Norlela Baharudin MIA,FCPA Aust,ICDM,TEFL, the Board Mentoring Manager, as well as Tian Pouw TP Pun Steering Committee member, thanked the two guests for their endless support, being both past and future mentors to the 30% Club Malaysia Board Mentoring Scheme and for being part of this first of such event.

The mentees had not only benefited valuable networking but also shared learnings and career path growth as part of their Mentoring journey.