The Unexpected Journey of an Edupreneur

Some journeys don’t start with a clear roadmap. They begin with a question.

In my case, the question was simple: “How can I afford a camera?”

I didn’t realize then that the quest to buy that camera would change the entire trajectory of my life. What started as a side hustle in tutoring ended up being the spark for something far deeper—a calling, not just a career.

The Accidental Start

Back in university, I studied accounting and finance. The obvious path was to follow my sister’s footsteps into a stable job in Singapore.

But I needed extra cash. A friend suggested tutoring—it paid well and was flexible. My first student had been in a serious accident and was homebound for six months. He had given up on school, given up on trying. I had no formal teaching experience, but I walked into that room and said something that surprised even me:

“I’m not here as your teacher. Let’s just be friends.”

That one year changed both of us. By the end of it, I wasn’t just helping him prep for exams—I was helping him rebuild confidence, fit a prosthetic leg, and reintegrate into life. I realized something I didn’t expect:

Teaching, at its best, is not about delivering content. It’s about restoring dignity.

That’s when I knew. I wasn’t made to crunch numbers. I was made to shape lives.

Saying No to the Inheritance

But choosing this path meant saying no to another.

My father ran a successful business. As his only son, he expected me to take it over. He started showing me the accounts, revealing the inner workings of the company, subtly preparing me to step in. At one point, he showed me his six-figure tax returns—not to boast, but to bait me.

I looked at those numbers and felt… nothing.

So, I did the unthinkable. I sat my father down and said, “Dad, I love you. But I don’t want your business.”

He was furious. To him, I was rejecting decades of sacrifice. But I wasn’t rejecting him. I was choosing my own mountain to climb.

This was the first of many moments where I learned:

If you want to live a life of purpose, you must be willing to disappoint people who had different plans for you.

From Academy to Early Years

My early teaching career was in college-level education. I loved it. I taught scholarship students—smart, sharp, curious. They challenged me, and I welcomed it.

My goal? Make accounting fun. (Yes, it’s possible.)

I used stories. I gamified lessons. Medical and engineering students began choosing my elective—not because they loved numbers, but because the experience was different.

So how did I end up in early childhood education?

Because I became a father.

When my son was born, I began asking, “What kind of school would I want him to attend?” That question changed everything. It drove me to leave a profitable venture, sell my shares at half the value, and start from scratch—with a preschool.

Building from the Ground Up

My father did help. He taught me how to stretch every ringgit, how to build with sweat, not just capital. We didn’t hire expensive interior designers. We hired Indonesian workers by the day. Bit by bit, brick by brick, the school took shape.

But we clashed. He had a very traditional mindset—“You can’t run a kindergarten like this.”

Eventually, I drew a line:

“Dad, thank you for your help. But this is not a kindergarten for your generation. It’s for mine—and for my children’s.”

That was hard. But necessary. Leadership, I learned, is often about honouring wisdom while still owning your convictions.

When You Teach, You Listen First

One of my most powerful lessons came from a rebellious student.

He thought I was just another adult sent to judge him. So I told him, “I’m not here to fix you. I’m here to understand you.”

That conversation changed our dynamic. Over time, he became curious again. He’d chase me down with math questions. His eyes lit up. He was no longer learning out of fear, but out of fascination.

Every student is a story waiting to be retold.

And every good educator must listen before rewriting that story.

East Meets West

While pursuing my Master’s in Australia, I noticed something striking: kids were so confident.

They weren’t necessarily smarter—but they could articulate thoughts clearly, debate respectfully, and carry themselves with ease. I began imagining: What if we could combine that confidence with the values of the East? Respect, resilience, rootedness.

That became the foundation of Stellar Education Group: Future-ready learners with timeless values.

Mistakes That Shape You

I once spent RM50,000 developing a custom school app to go paperless. It bombed.

Why? Because I tried to do too much, too soon. We didn’t test enough. We didn’t budget for iterations. Eventually, I shut it down and absorbed the loss.

That failed app taught me more than any successful launch.

Now I test faster, listen better, and never let tech replace touch.

EDUpreneurship: A Different Breed

People often ask: Are you an educator or a businessman? My answer: Edupreneur.

I didn’t coin the term, but I live by it.

E – Embrace Uncertainty

You’re building something that hasn’t been built. Embrace the mess. The unknown. The risk.

D – Design for Impact

Don’t copy. Don’t start a school because others did. Design for a problem you see.

In our case: High-quality, values-driven education that’s affordable and future-ready.

U – Understand Cash

If you can’t manage cash, you can’t sustain impact. But also: behind every transaction is a value exchange.

If we charge RM1,000 a month, we must deliver RM10,000 of value. If we don’t, no discount can save us.

The Power of Collaboration

We don’t see other schools as competition.

Why? Because playing not to lose is different from playing to win.

At Stellar, we cross-train with other international schools. Share resources. Co-host events. Even exchange teachers for niche subjects. Marlborough, Sunway, Invictus—we’ve worked with many.

Because together, we can impact 1,600 students instead of 700.

Leadership at Scale

As the organization grows, decisions slow down. What used to take a week now takes a year.

So I had to learn a new kind of leadership:

• Set clear boundaries. (Even with family.)
• Create culture, not chaos.
• Focus not just on speed, but sustainability.

And I realized something:

When a company is small, innovation comes from the founder. When it grows, innovation must come from the culture.

So we reward mistakes that lead to insight. We encourage feedback from every level. And we track everything—from parent satisfaction to teacher morale.

The Reverse That Redefines It All

People say: “Be yourself.” It sounds wise. But it’s passive.

“Become yourself”—now that’s active. Intentional. Relentless.

It’s not about staying true to who you are. It’s about becoming who you were meant to be.

So if you’re reading this and you’re a young educator, or a parent with a dream, or a reluctant leader trying to find your way—remember:

The path will not be clear.
The pain will be real.
But the purpose… is worth it.

Just like I once saved up for a camera, not knowing it would lead to classrooms,
Maybe you’re saving up for something too.

Be curious.
Be bold.
And become.