Revised 18 April 2025
Culture shapes nations—culture can either build or break them.
A World in Need of Hope
Tonight, over a quiet dinner with my wife, I realized something profound—culture isn’t just important; it’s everything.
As a leader, I’ve learned strategies alone don’t build great institutions—culture does. In education, the best strategies aren’t flashy campaigns or expensive promotions. You can invest millions in marketing and showcase world-class facilities, yet if students don’t feel deeply connected—if they don’t belong—they leave.
Culture is what makes them stay, and culture must be anchored in purpose. Without purpose, nations, schools, and students become lost.
My Struggle With Identity & the Power of Perspective
For a long time, I struggled with my identity as a Malaysian. Life in Melbourne was ideal—the lifestyle, the efficiency, the vibrancy. I was on track for Australian citizenship. Returning to Malaysia felt like stepping back into chaos—corruption, inefficiencies, and racial tensions overwhelmed me.
Frustration consumed me for months, prompting painful questions:
“Why was I born here?”
But then came clarity—I wasn’t here by accident. I was born Malaysian, a Malaysian Chinese, for a reason. My circumstances didn’t change, but my perspective did. Instead of seeing barriers, I saw bridges. Instead of focusing on what was broken, I saw possibilities.
Hope doesn’t come from governments or policies. Hope comes from people who believe they can create change.
How We Inspire a Better World at Stellar
At Stellar, we don’t simply educate—we transform lives. We achieve this through three foundational principles:
1. Embrace the Power of Identity
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
Identity crises plague modern society. Many spend their lives trying to be someone else, chasing happiness in new countries or lifestyles. True fulfillment comes from embracing your authentic self.
When students accept their identity, realizing it as their greatest strength, transformation naturally follows. At Stellar, identity isn’t just embraced—it’s celebrated.
2. The Future Belongs to the Curious, Not the Memorized
We are living through unprecedented change, navigating multiple industrial revolutions simultaneously. Yet schools are still preparing students for yesterday’s world. The future belongs not to those who memorize answers, but to those courageous enough to ask the right questions.
At Stellar, we teach more than facts. We ignite curiosity. We equip students not with a cup of knowledge, but with a compass for navigating uncertainty. A cup holds information, but a compass gives direction. In a world reshaped by AI and rapid change, the most critical skill is innovation—learning how to think, adapt, and lead.
3. Transforming Lives, One Student at a Time
We don’t measure success by graduates’ salaries or titles. Instead, we measure success by transformation—how many students shift from hopelessness to purpose, from self-doubt to self-belief.
We exist not for recognition or profit but because one transformed life can inspire countless others. This is how we change the world—by innovating education, igniting purpose, and transforming lives, one student at a time.
Your Turn to Inspire
Now, let me ask you:
- What is your purpose?
- What legacy are you building?
- Are you waiting for change, or are you creating it?
The world isn’t changed by policies but by passionate people committed to something greater than themselves.
If you’re reading this, you are part of that legacy.
Together, let’s inspire the dream of a better world.
(Original version here.)
