“Success is a journey. It is about achieving our purpose in life.” – Dr Nurmazilah Dato’ Mahzan, Chief Executive Officer of MIA

Describe your university life – what was your experience like at IIUM & how was student life for you?

I was very active in co-curricular activities since I was in school and this continued when I was an undergraduate. Since I was in the first year, I joined many community services locally and globally. One activity that I really liked was the intellectual discourse series where we selected books and discussed the content, including works by John Naisbitt and the Muslim philosopher, Malek Ben Nabi. Through student activism, I learnt discipline, how to implement a balancing act, networking, decision making and tolerance.

Do you believe that your university education and experience played an important role in your development?

Education irrespective of whether it is a formal university education or informal education is definitely very important. I believe in lifelong learning and knowledge seeking. Even while working, I continue to learn in order to be relevant to the current scenario.

How did your education at IIUM shape you into the person you are today?

One important impact of my education in IIUM is that it shaped the worldview that I embrace on integrity, tolerance and moderation. Such a worldview helps me to be where I am now and to work with all walks of life.

What would you advise lecturers to tell their students should they be asked about taking up MICPA?

Taking MICPA will strengthen students’ knowledge on technical accounting and sharpen their decision making ability. The syllabus  will also help them to make judgements and articulate various points when making decisions.

Description of your role – what are the important roles you play professionally?

I was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) since 2016 and was previously the Deputy Chief Executive Officer since 2015. Throughout the past 5 years, I have led MIA’s transformation journey through enhancement of its management team, branding and global recognition, and operational excellence, as well as adoption of technology and Integrated Reporting.

How has your MICPA membership impacted you / your career?

I obtained the MACPA (MICPA now) qualification in 1995. I planned to sit for the exam whilst I was still in my final year of a Bachelor of Accountancy at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). This came about because in my 2nd year, I simulated my results and realised that I wouldn’t be able to achieve 1^st class honours. Hence, I applied to cram and finish my degree in 3 ½ years rather than 4 years. I already figured out that to add more value to my credibility, I needed to sit for a professional exam. Once I completed my degree, I applied to work in Arthur Andersen and enrolled for the MICPA exam.

I made the right decision because my learning experience whilst preparing and sitting for the MICPA exam gave me a deeper grasp of accountancy, further enhanced with the working experience obtained at Arthur Andersen. It was not an easy journey because whilst preparing for the exam I was also building a family. I sat for the exam when I was heavily pregnant with my first child. However, it was really a worthwhile journey.

What is your definition of success?

Success is a journey. It is about achieving our purpose in life.

What are the most important decisions you make as a leader in your organisation?

Operationally, I make decisions almost every day. It is part-and-parcel of running an organisation. One momentous decision that I am grateful for was to rebrand MIA in 2016 with the #nationbuilding purpose and tagline. We reached this decision during a soul-searching discussion with then MIA President Dato’ Muhammad Faiz Azmi and my management team. Since then, the whole direction of MIA is oriented towards nation building and our team is united on this purpose.

When faced with two equally-qualified candidates, how do you determine whom to hire?

A lot of hiring decisions are made by the executive directors and heads of department. My hiring decisions are limited to my direct reports, such as the Executive Directors. The process is very rigorous, and I consider multiple factors. If there are 2 candidates, the final determinant would be the one who possesses leadership traits.

What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?

I learn a lot and am always passionate about new knowledge. Since I am always occupied with work, listening to audiobooks (audible), podcasts, webinars and reading books on Kindle are my learning platforms. I am grateful for technology advancement as it helps me tremendously in multi-tasking.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy spending time with my 7 children, and I hope to have grandchildren and spend my retirement days taking care of my grandchildren. Children give me many positive vibes that always encourage me to be a better human being.

What would you do differently if you had the chance?

Exercise more and eat more healthy food. Most of the time, when life is in the fast lane, I tend to pay less attention to these two areas.

What advice would you give to rising young accounting professionals?

I urge young professionals to have passion and patience, because these two attributes are very important in building a career. Once they have embarked on a job or accepted a responsibility, they need to be committed and turn the opportunity into a value-adding experience. Next is to be patient, because your career is a journey and you have to give it time until you master the skills.

 

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