15/06/2025

ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2025 X theSunday Special

Building a future-proof career through visionary leadership

So, how does one lead oneself and RWKHUV WKURXJK VXFK D ÀXLG DQG XQFHUWDLQ environment? The answer lies in visionary leadership: a mindset that prioritises clarity, courage and adaptability, not only in managing others but also in managing your career in motion. Career paths are no longer straight lines Visionary leadership begins with recognis ing that the old playbook – graduate, get hired, climb the ladder, retire is no longer the norm for many. A career today may involve multiple reinventions, breaks for caregiving or upskilling and side projects that eventually become primary pursuits. Rachel Lai, co-founder of Wavemakers Collective, understands this well. With a background in international studies and communications and a diverse portfolio in branding, communications and purpose ful collaborations, her career has been anything but static. “I’ve come to realise that clarity often comes from movement, not just plan ning,” she said. “When I made decisions that aligned with my values, even if they didn’t make sense on paper, new opportunities always emerged.” Lai sees herself as both a nurturer and a lifelong student of life, dedicated to supporting a network of like-minded individuals who help them articulate and achieve their “why, what and how” in ERWK SURIHVVLRQDO DQG SHUVRQDO FRQWH[WV Also, as a certified yoga teacher, she

founded Karma Marketing. This not IRU SUR¿W FRPPXQLW\ LQLWLDWLYH H[SORUHV the discourse of well-being at work while uniting marketers across Southeast Asia by fostering circular kindness and holistic development. L DL¶V H[SHULHQFH UHÀHFWV D ODUJHU WUHQG Increasingly, professionals are choosing to lead with curiosity, rather than certainty. 5DWKHU WKDQ DVNLQJ ³:KDW¶V QH[W"´ PDQ\ are asking “What matters most to me now?”

Vision starts with self-awareness For those who hope to lead with vision, the journey begins within. Leadership, SDUWLFXODUO\ LQ WRGD\¶V FRQWH[W LV OHVV about directing others and more about mastering self-awareness. It requires asking hard questions: What energises me? What values am I not willing to compromise on? What kind of impact do I want to leave behind? According to Lai, one of the most overlooked tools for EXLOGLQJ WKLV LQQHU FRPSDVV LV UHÀHFWLRQ

+P CP GTC FGƓPGF by rapid shifts in technology, work culture and personal values, professional journeys are no longer built in neat, linear progressions T ODAY , many Malaysians are rethinking what success means to them and are pursuing paths WKDW IHHO PRUH SXUSRVHIXO ÀH[ - ible and self-directed. This shift is reflected in the growing number of people embracing hybrid work, pivoting to new industries or even taking sabbaticals to recalibrate their goals. According to a recent report by Talent Corp, nearly 67% of Malaysian profession als under 35 have changed industries at least once since graduating. Meanwhile, a 2024 employment trends survey revealed WKDW WZR LQ ¿YH 0DOD\VLDQV ZHUH ZLOOLQJ WR UHVLJQ LI UHTXLUHG WR UHWXUQ WR WKH Ṙ FH full-time, signalling a deep desire for autonomy and intentionality in career decisions. BY DAYANA SOBRI

I’ve come to realise that clarity often comes from movement, not just planning.”

Lai