Penang teen a beacon among giants
AT only 19 years old, Allison Choong Ming Sze has demonstrated the qualities of a leader capable of effecting change.

Recently, the Penang native, along with three other Malaysians, was honoured at the Women of the Future Awards Southeast Asia, which provides a platform to showcase regional emerging leaders.

The 2023 edition of the awards ceremony, held in Singapore on Nov 29, saw Choong earning the “Highly Commended” recognition in the arts & culture category.

Also recognised were Lee Wan Theng and Looi Kit Ying in the property, construction and infrastructure category – Lee received the “Highly Commended” accolade while Looi was named the winner.

Another Malaysian who secured victory at the awards was Cassandra J Poyong, the winner in the sport category.

Commendable effort

Choong, who is a “She’s the First” girls’ rights activist fellow, was nominated for the award for her involvement in co-writing and fully illustrating a children’s book titled “Safiya Speaks Up”. She’s the First is a United States-based non-profit organisation that provides girls with the foundation they need to advocate for their rights in their families, communities and societies.

The book, produced in collaboration with her four teammates, is aimed at helping young girls learn how to respond to domestic and sexual violence.

“It feels so surreal receiving this recognition, especially as I’m a teenager among many older women who are veterans in their fields and have done so much,” Choong, who is pursuing her pre-law studies in the US, told StarEdu.

“I feel very grateful because I see this recognition as motivation that I’m on the right track,” she said, dedicating the recognition to all the young girls in the world who have dealt with violence.

Choong, who is also a participant of The Star’s BRATs Young Journalist Programme, shared that she read “Safiya Speaks Up” to over 300 children in schools in Penang last November.

She also distributed copies of the book, which has translations in Malay, Tagalog and Swahili, to four schools.

“I hope for opportunities to have the book translated into more languages to increase accessibility,” said Choong, who is responsible for the Malay and French translations of the book.

Sharing her joy at receiving the commendation, Lee said the recognition was a milestone not only for her, but also for all the women striving to innovate and lead in traditionally male-dominated fields.

“Let us continue to challenge the norms, support one another, and build an industry that values collaboration, innovation and diversity. Together, we can construct a future where everyone has the opportunity to learn, contribute and thrive,” said the senior building information modelling (BIM) and digital manager.

The Singapore-based Selangor native was responsible for spearheading the implementation of a comprehensive BIM tool and a digital management strategy, which significantly improved project delivery.

BIM is a process of creating and managing information on a construction project.

“I supported the development of data analytics and visualisation tools tailored to cost management needs, automating and accelerating tasks while enhancing accuracy and tracking to facilitate more informed decisions,” she said.

The 34-year-old was also involved in upskilling her colleagues by initiating a Young Professionals Circle, fostering a community of learning and support among emerging talents in her industry.

“The commendation serves as a reminder of the importance of our efforts and inspires me to continue pushing for progress and innovation,” she said.

“My aim is to further refine our work techniques, explore new technologies in artificial intelligence and machine learning for predictive analytics, and expand our training programmes to empower more professionals with these tools.

“The ultimate goal is to drive better and more efficient work processes, as well as sustainable project outcomes,” she added.

Top honour

Her colleague Looi, who bagged the top award in the same category, expressed elation that her hard work was recognised not only by her bosses but also by professionals outside her company.

Likening the honour to a dream, the senior quantity surveyor said it was her first award in her career and a reminder to remain humble and dedicated.

The 29-year-old Johorean, who has led several large and complex projects, notably the Emergency Medicine Building for the Singapore General Hospital campus, added that she is grateful for the meaningful connections she has made during events.

“I look forward to meeting new people, expanding my horizons and propelling my professional growth to new heights,” said Looi, who was recently selected to take part in the Young Leaders Programme initiated by the Building and Construction Authority in Singapore.

Sport category winner Cassandra has made a name for herself in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu arena.

Among the achievements under her belt included winning gold at the World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2022, gold at the Abu Dhabi World Masters Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2019, and silver at the 2019 Sea Games.

A Sabahan who resides in Kuala Lumpur, Cassandra said she had not expected to receive the honour at the awards ceremony in Singapore.

“I was nominated together with women who play tennis and rugby, which are more widely known than Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

“But I’m really glad to finally have my efforts recognised. Jiu-Jitsu is a male-dominated sport, so a woman being commended for doing well is quite rare,” said the 34-year-old athlete and coach.

“I would love to influence the community around me in a positive way.

“I hope I can train better, win more tournaments, help more kids and women achieve their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu goals and create for them a safe space to thrive as individuals,” she added.

Weng Sam, 21, a student in Penang, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.

With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.

1. What do you think are five qualities that a leader must have? Create a list. Do you yourself have these qualities? Write down how you can take incremental steps to become better at these qualities and explain why they are important to you.

2. Scan today’s newspaper for a leader whom you admire. Cut out his or her picture. What do you think this leader would say to you when you are facing setbacks as a student? Create a speech bubble next to the picture. Then, write the leader’s motivational quote. Have fun!

The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes the use of English language in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.

Winning formulas

“Dream big and create your opportunities. Growing up, I didn’t have confidence; I was always the student who wasn’t selected for leadership roles or was picked last in groups. But things changed when I started looking out for opportunities to get involved and even initiating my projects in fields I had a passion for. It is easy to sit, wait and hope that an opportunity falls into your lap, but it is more gratifying to be a part of the action of creating your own and seeing it grow to its fullest potential. The coolest things I’ve been a part of were self-initiated.” – Allison

Lee

“Dive into your field with curiosity and resilience. The path is rarely straight but each challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Embrace technology and innovation, as they are powerful tools for transforming industries. Seek out mentorship and networking opportunities, and don’t be afraid to take on leadership roles. Your perspective and skills are crucial for the future of any industry. With persistence, support and passion, you can make significant impact.” – Lee

Looi

“I am a firm believer in continuous learning, consistently enhancing my skills through various courses. I believe it is my positive attitude, commitment at work, and passion for lifelong learning that got me noticed. My advice is to find happiness and embrace authenticity. Discovering joy in your work is crucial for sustaining motivation and unlocking your full potential. Remember, everyone is unique, and our individuality allows us to attract and connect with others in our own way. – Looi

Cassandra

“Take care of yourself – eat good food, drink enough water, sleep well, and exercise. Then, keep striving. Sometimes, we make mistakes but that is how we grow. Do not be disheartened even though you may feel down during those times.” – Cassandra
BRATs,Star-NiE,girls' rights,domestic violence,sexual violence,advocacy
Young girl activist among four Malaysian women feted at regional awards.