In this cover story from July 2018, Nadiah Wan, who is also the executive director of TMC Life Sciences, shares why age and maturity don't necessarily share the same spectrum
“Would you rather be liked or respected?” I pitch, making a mental guess at the latter.
“Respected,” confirms the group chief corporate officer of TMC Life Sciences Bhd, CEO of Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara, and Gen.T lister. “People may or may not like you for any reason. Most of the time it’s personal rather than logical.”
Her expression is insouciant. “Especially with a very strong character, many just won’t jive with you. But respect implies having something decent inside of you, something that others hold in esteem. I’m not going to beat you over the head, but I will always let you know what I stand for,” she underscores.
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Recently named one of Forbes Asia's 20 most powerful businesswomen—she's the only Malaysian on the list—Nadiah is a woman of few words. She proffers her autobiography in a soft drawl inflected with a light American accent.
I learn how her 19-year-old self, a graduate of SMK Sri Aman who was torn between her love of History and Biology, had longed to fly the coop, which led to the pursuit of her a liberal arts degree. “Fortunately I managed to get a scholarship to the US,” mentions Nadiah offhandedly.
When I call her out for downplaying this achievement, she titters and shifts her glance. Feeling warmly towards her, I think of the many others who happily brandish their bragging rights if in her shoes. After all, circumstance alone doesn’t make one an alma mater of the Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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