Dato Lau Siew Wai talks to Curtin students about entrepreneurship and education

Miri – 3 September 2013 – Miri Housing executive chairman Dato Lau Siew Wai recently spoke about achieving success in business and education in an hour-long talk entitled ‘Idea to Reality’ to some 100 students and staff of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak).

In the talk organised by Career & Alumni Services and the Leadership & Entrepreneurship Centre under the Department of University Life, the octogenarian housing developer and hotelier shared his fascinating life journey, from his humble beginnings in Chaozhou, China and his early schooling in Hong Kong, to his professional and business life in Miri, which he has called home for over 60 years.

He also talked about entrepreneurial spirit and drive, which he considers the two most important characteristics of a successful entrepreneur, and traits that have helped him become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Sarawak.

Dato Lau related how he dealt with failure through various business start-ups and how he never gave up, and will continue to strive until he has fulfilled his lifelong ambition.

Besides his business interests, he also takes a strong interest in creating educational opportunities for Sarawakians. He was instrumental in bringing Curtin to Miri 15 years ago, and more recently, Tenby International School and Sunderland Technical College.

He is also an avid writer, having published the following books: ‘Strive to Survive’; ‘In every cloud, there is a silver lining’ and ‘Face adversity with courage and self-confidence’.

In his closing remarks, Dato Lau urged the students to continually be inspired, to think and act outside the box, like him, be strong believers of the proverb – failure is the mother of success.

“I want to a good example of how not to give up hope easily. One should strive with self-confidence,” he concluded.

In thanking Dato Lau for his inspirational talk, University Life Manager Haslina Malek said he was an inspiration to young people, and a living example of what one can achieve through sheer hard work and perseverance.

Indeed, many of the students present were inspired, citing how Dato Lau’s discourse encouraged them to be more analytical and critical in their thinking, and to be life-long learners.

One student, Vigneswaran Duraragh, commented, “It was a very inspiring talk. Dato Lau has shown that circumstances are only circumstances if you allow them to affect you. Success can only happen if you believe and work for it.”

As part of its commitment to learning beyond the classroom, and develop leadership and entrepreneurship skills in its students, the schools and units within Curtin Sarawak regularly organise talks by guest speakers from academia and industry at its campus.

Upcoming talks include one on corporate governance by Chong Chee Fern, General Manager, Corporate Monitoring, Minority Shareholder Watchdog Group (MSWG) on 13 September, and another on human capital management by Dr. Shaik Roslinah Bux, Transformation Management Office Manager at Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) on 17 September 2013.

Dato Lau stressing a point.

Dato Lau and wife receiving token of appreciation from Curtin management.