[As and When the article is published,writer made it Top 5 ASEAN EDS]
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When growth asks you to step into bigger rooms, you realize the journey has only just begun.
When I first saw my name among the Top 10 in ASEAN EDS (from the initial Top 100), I paused in disbelief.
Out of so many incredible entrepreneurs, thinkers, and changemakers across the region, how did my journey find its way here? Excitement quickly followed, mixed with humility and an almost overwhelming awareness: this recognition wasn’t just about me.
It was about the stories, struggles, and dreams I carried on behalf of the communities I serve.
Stepping Into Bigger Rooms
Being part of ASEAN EDS wasn’t just about attending another program.
It was about stepping into a space where ideas, cultures, and aspirations collided in the most inspiring ways.
Each session felt like opening a window : new perspectives, fresh energy, unexpected lessons.
I listened to entrepreneurs from across ASEAN, each navigating challenges unique to their countries but familiar in spirit: resource constraints, balancing vision with survival, learning to lead with both heart and strategy.
In those conversations, I found not just peers, but companions in a shared journey of growth.
It struck me that while our markets, languages, and contexts may differ, the thread that binds us is the same i.e the courage to create something of value, and the determination to see it through.
Lessons That Stay With Me
1. Courage
To show up in bigger rooms is to admit you don’t have all the answers. It requires humility to listen, bravery to contribute, and resilience to keep learning.
Courage, I realized, isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the decision to keep moving forward even with fear in tow.
2. Connection
Growth multiplies when it is shared.
One of the most powerful moments for me was realizing how quickly strangers from different nations could become collaborators, teachers, and even friends.
The borders we imagine are thinner than we think. When we share knowledge, we don’t just expand our businesses ,we expand the possibilities for our communities.
3. Contribution
Recognition means little if it stops with us.
The true measure of growth is in what we bring back;to our teams, to our clients, to the micropreneurs who are still finding their footing. EDS ASEAN reminded me that leadership is not about the spotlight; it’s about creating spaces where others can also shine.
A Beginning, Not an End
For me, ASEAN EDS was not a finish line.
It was a reminder that the journey is far wider than I had imagined.
It opened my eyes to how far we can go when we dare to think beyond borders, when we carry not only our personal ambition but also the hopes of those we represent.
For MyGalore™️, this means dreaming bigger ,not only as a platform for Malaysian micropreneurs, but as a bridge that connects local talent to global opportunities.
For me personally, it means continuing to show up with both courage and vulnerability, ready to learn and ready to contribute.
Closing Reflection
When I look back at this journey, what stays with me most isn’t just the recognition of being in the Top 10.
It’s the quiet realization that growth doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we allow ourselves to be stretched, challenged, and inspired by others.
And perhaps that’s the greatest gift ASEAN EDS gave me: the reminder that leadership and entrepreneurship are not solitary pursuits. They are collective journeys.
And when we dare to walk beyond borders, we find not just new opportunities, but also new parts of ourselves.
