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Y.A.M.Tengku Datin
Paduka Setia Zatashah
BRUNCHING WITH
01 Samosa 02 Mozzeralla
Cheesesticks 03 Blueberry
Cheesecake
peoplebrunch
by juliana robyn menon
BRUNCHED AT
mandarin
oriental
Kuala Lumpur City Centre,
50088 Kuala Lumpur,
Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia
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Menuthe
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Photographybyjoycelim
“M
y aunt was the former patron of this
organisation, she asked if I was interested
to take over from her and I immediately
said yes,” shares Tengku Zatashah, patron of Make-A-
Wish Malaysia. The organisation grants wishes to children
suffering from terminal illness, and Tengku is visibly excited
to be officially part of it. “I do not see this as merely a child’s
last wish but this wish will bring them happiness, and may
to a slight turn around in their health” the optimistic patron
tells us with a gleam on her face. Tengku continues telling
us that at Make-A-Wish, the funds that has been collected
solely goes towards the wishes and is not utilised as
administration costs. That being said, she assures us that
her presence as the patron is mainly to put a smile on a
child’s face through the efforts that are carried out.
“It is not just about holding the title, but also about
putting in the effort”, she continues. To her, anyone
can hold a position but it is the outcome that makes a
difference. Within less than a year, this petite being had
taken this organisation to an international level, and had
incorporated an additional fund raiser with the Angkor
Wat half marathon in aid of Make-A-Wish.
But while Tengku this cause seems to be a handful
but this is simply her passion project. Apart from being
CEO of Light Cibles, a company that she had started up
with her husband, Tengku also supports Doctors Without
Borders and UNICEF in her roles as a volunteer. She also
fulfils her love for France by organising art-centric events
for Alliance Francaise to increase awareness of the French
culture. At the same time, she holds the title as patron of
the Selangor Symphony Orchestra where she is helping
to, “nurture talent and promote classical music while
running outreach programs to raise awareness amongst
the Malaysian public.”
So how does she do it all? Laughing she replied,
“working women these days still face the same old
challenges but what should make us different and stand
out is the mentality of the individual and how you carry out
your task." She added that there is a difference between
being a woman in the corporate world and in the world of
an entrepreneur stressing that it really is about prioritising
and making sure one gives all to everything at task
balancing work and home life.
For Tengku Zatashah, the world is still very much a
man’s world. More diversity and equality should be given
in the working arena. She advices women to not only
work hard on getting their work done while hoping to
be noticed instead they should network — networking,
she opined is the key to visibility. Visibility is important
to being a successful entrepreneur. She moves on to
saying that “despite inequality being an obvious issue
in Malaysia, this bubble can be broken through with the
presence and success of women entrepreneurs.”
Thismulti-talentedentrepreneurconsiderspersistence
and determination a foundation of achieving any goal,
and she adamantly stresses the importance of keeping at
things despite any negative results or feedbacks. “Even
the simplest dreams can eventually revolve into becoming
a big one someday, just like how a child in Make-A-Wish
wanted to be Princess Elsa, and we made it happen with a
big celebration, and a carriage and all.” It takes effort, and
time management but it surely is fulfilling.