"Change is the only constant" is a common saying. The current world we live in has endured much of that. The world is surely advancing very fast. What was inconceivable to the human mind 10 years ago is an absolute reality now. We must catch up to this inevitable fact if we do not want to be left out. We might laugh at the idea of flying cars, but we may not when it happens, probably ten years from now. When this is true, the students of Management and Science University (MSU) echo this in many of their academic and non-academic facets too. From the classroom to an international competition, the students perpetually give their best in all that they do. This exemplary achievement of MSUrians is believed to inspire the next generation of MSU students.
Resonating with that, Danial Anaqi Adam Sham, a student of Bachelor in Law and Commerce (Hons) from the Faculty of Business Management and Professional Studies (FBMP), and his exceptional team achieved a remarkable feat by securing the second position in the prestigious CEO Challenge Competition, hosted by Axiata as part of the University Leadership Development Programme in 2023.
"The award is not really easy to get. It was hard for us to be selected for the programme as well. I do feel very grateful for all the work we have put in. But we pulled it off at the end," he said.
Outshining an initial pool of 1600 applicants, Axiata meticulously selected 60 participants for the qualifying round. Danial, along with his dedicated teammates, faced rigorous challenges during the semi-finals, ultimately emerging as one of the final four teams to advance to the competition's grand finale.
"There were countless sleepless nights. The organisers were fascinated by the data. We had to prepare a lot of data for that purpose—pitch decks, company profiles, graphs, and statistics. We scraped them from trusted sources. This helped us gain merit to win the competition," he said.
In the culminating event, each team was tasked with presenting a business simulation case. Danial, in his role as CEO, presented a groundbreaking concept centred around "early cancer detection using nanochip technology." Their visionary proposal envisions a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Health and public healthcare systems to extend this transformative technology to high-risk cancer patients, both in Malaysia and on a global scale.
"We had several simulation cases. The first was a motorcycle manufacturing business. We were the manufacturers and had to deal with retailers who wanted motorcycles. We raised the capital to RM58 million; it was an achievement on its own. The second was an F&B business. We created a territory for our business in Southeast Asia. The third was a marketing simulation. We were a marketing agency selling supplements. It taught us a lot about digital marketing. Then, there was another business simulation case proceeding to the final round, which was the CEO task. We represented Pfizer in that case study. We had to strike an invention for 2035, 12 years from now. We proposed the idea of implanting a nanochip in people’s capillaries that will help detect cancer at an early stage and prevent it from worsening. We believe this can save many lives," he said.
Among the reasons to participate in this competition, Danial was transfixed by growing his professional networking and empowering soft skills. Students of this day and age must possess exemplary interpersonal and leadership skills to stand out from the rest. Danial’s goal-fixation on building his career at an early stage further proves his dedication to pressing on to be better at his craft.
"It is very challenging to constantly be better at what we do. The biggest challenge I faced in the competition was exactly the same. I know I have good leadership skills, but having to manage different "heads" during the brainstorming sessions, catering to the varying creative levels of the teammates, and most importantly, convincing them to agree on my ideas was harder than I thought," he said.
Danial's achievements extend beyond his role in the CEO Challenge Competition. He has showcased profound entrepreneurial skills as the proprietor of "CWorld Apparel Enterprise," a company specialising in printing and fashion design services. Additionally, he holds pivotal positions as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Executive Director of "Infinitum Sdn Bhd," a Malaysia-based enterprise specialising in the distribution of cutting-edge Hologram telecommunications devices, robotics, and AI content development.
"I do not see myself working in a traditional environment. I like to work on my own terms. I have done many businesses, and I see myself as a successful entrepreneur in the future," he said.
Danial’s remarkable journey exemplifies the calibre of talent nurtured at MSU, inspiring and setting a high standard for prospective students looking to embark on their own path of academic and entrepreneurial success.
"Go for entrepreneurship if that is where you see yourself. But do not disregard studies. When we are young and have limited commitments, we are allowed to fail. Imagine having kids and a family and then failing them; that is not going to put food on the table. As young entrepreneurs, we have the strength, power, and age to take risks. Keep learning and continue to progress," he said.
"Change is the only constant" is a common saying. The current world we live in has endured much of that. The world is surely advancing very fast. What was inconceivable to the human mind 10 years ago is an absolute reality now. We must catch up to this inevitable fact if we do not want to be left out. We might laugh at the idea of flying cars, but we may not when it happens, probably ten years from now. When this is true, the students of Management and Science University (MSU) echo this in many of their academic and non-academic facets too. From the classroom to an international competition, the students perpetually give their best in all that they do. This exemplary achievement of MSUrians is believed to inspire the next generation of MSU students.
Resonating with that, Danial Anaqi Adam Sham, a student of Bachelor in Law and Commerce (Hons) from the Faculty of Business Management and Professional Studies (FBMP), and his exceptional team achieved a remarkable feat by securing the second position in the prestigious CEO Challenge Competition, hosted by Axiata as part of the University Leadership Development Programme in 2023.
"The award is not really easy to get. It was hard for us to be selected for the programme as well. I do feel very grateful for all the work we have put in. But we pulled it off at the end," he said.
Outshining an initial pool of 1600 applicants, Axiata meticulously selected 60 participants for the qualifying round. Danial, along with his dedicated teammates, faced rigorous challenges during the semi-finals, ultimately emerging as one of the final four teams to advance to the competition's grand finale.
"There were countless sleepless nights. The organisers were fascinated by the data. We had to prepare a lot of data for that purpose—pitch decks, company profiles, graphs, and statistics. We scraped them from trusted sources. This helped us gain merit to win the competition," he said.
In the culminating event, each team was tasked with presenting a business simulation case. Danial, in his role as CEO, presented a groundbreaking concept centred around "early cancer detection using nanochip technology." Their visionary proposal envisions a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Health and public healthcare systems to extend this transformative technology to high-risk cancer patients, both in Malaysia and on a global scale.
"We had several simulation cases. The first was a motorcycle manufacturing business. We were the manufacturers and had to deal with retailers who wanted motorcycles. We raised the capital to RM58 million; it was an achievement on its own. The second was an F&B business. We created a territory for our business in Southeast Asia. The third was a marketing simulation. We were a marketing agency selling supplements. It taught us a lot about digital marketing. Then, there was another business simulation case proceeding to the final round, which was the CEO task. We represented Pfizer in that case study. We had to strike an invention for 2035, 12 years from now. We proposed the idea of implanting a nanochip in people’s capillaries that will help detect cancer at an early stage and prevent it from worsening. We believe this can save many lives," he said.
Among the reasons to participate in this competition, Danial was transfixed by growing his professional networking and empowering soft skills. Students of this day and age must possess exemplary interpersonal and leadership skills to stand out from the rest. Danial’s goal-fixation on building his career at an early stage further proves his dedication to pressing on to be better at his craft.
"It is very challenging to constantly be better at what we do. The biggest challenge I faced in the competition was exactly the same. I know I have good leadership skills, but having to manage different "heads" during the brainstorming sessions, catering to the varying creative levels of the teammates, and most importantly, convincing them to agree on my ideas was harder than I thought," he said.
Danial's achievements extend beyond his role in the CEO Challenge Competition. He has showcased profound entrepreneurial skills as the proprietor of "CWorld Apparel Enterprise," a company specialising in printing and fashion design services. Additionally, he holds pivotal positions as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Executive Director of "Infinitum Sdn Bhd," a Malaysia-based enterprise specialising in the distribution of cutting-edge Hologram telecommunications devices, robotics, and AI content development.
"I do not see myself working in a traditional environment. I like to work on my own terms. I have done many businesses, and I see myself as a successful entrepreneur in the future," he said.
Danial’s remarkable journey exemplifies the calibre of talent nurtured at MSU, inspiring and setting a high standard for prospective students looking to embark on their own path of academic and entrepreneurial success.
"Go for entrepreneurship if that is where you see yourself. But do not disregard studies. When we are young and have limited commitments, we are allowed to fail. Imagine having kids and a family and then failing them; that is not going to put food on the table. As young entrepreneurs, we have the strength, power, and age to take risks. Keep learning and continue to progress," he said.