Originally published March 17, 2025 10:28 PM (GMT+8)
Culture builds nations. Culture destroys nations.
Tonight, over a simple dinner with my wife, I had a realization: culture is everything.
As a leader, I’ve learned that strategy alone doesn’t build a great institution, culture does.
And in education, the best strategy isn’t about aggressive marketing or flashy campaigns.
You can spend millions on promotions, hire the best sales team, and showcase world-class facilities.
But if students don’t feel a deep connection, if they don’t belong, they leave.
Culture is what makes them stay.
And the only way to build a great culture is by anchoring it in purpose.
But what happens when a nation, a school, or a student loses sight of their purpose?
They become lost.
For a long time, I struggled with Malaysia.
I fell in love with Melbourne: the lifestyle, the people, the efficiency.
I was even on track for Australian citizenship. Everything seemed perfect.
But then, something unexpected happened.
I came back to Malaysia.
And the moment I returned, I felt like a foreigner in my own country.
The inefficiency. The corruption. The racial divides.