Lim Sheng Feixiang
Name: Lim Sheng Feixiang
Age: 28
Nationality: Malaysian
Degree in Marketing & Degree in Communications (Double Degree Program)
Tell us briefly about your work or role in your current organisation.
I’m in the business of streetwear fashion with Major Drop – a streetwear multi-brand store that curates exciting brands from across South East Asia and the world. In essence, my role is to lead 15 people within this company in growing this business into SEA’s leading streetwear destination store.
How has your study in Monash Malaysia helped to prepare you for the working world?
My 4 years pursuing a double degree – Business and Communications - gave me the best experience by teaching me to view the world from two very different perspectives. The lecturers and many other people I managed to connect with further opened up my horizons to what’s out there in the world. Beyond the exams and assignments, it was building relationships and facing the challenges that came with them that shaped my attitude and passion to do some great work – no matter the industry.
While at Monash what type of opportunities did you participate in?
Spearheading the very first Monash Entrepreneurship Forum with the Monash Business Club was a great introduction at organising a large scale event that added value for over 200 attendees. Conceptualising and coordinating a startup accelerator program with the Monash Entrepreneurship Club was another feat that exposed me into this world of startups and entrepreneurship. Lastly, starting my film crew, The Weekend Projects, alongside my Monash comrades with the support of the School of Arts and Communications was a fantastic passion project that lead me career growth. The school also organised a study trip to Vietnam where we were tasked to document the journey in various formats – written word, pictures, and video. This turned out of be one of the best experiences I had to date.
These opportunities which were seemingly small at the time, were just part of the overall picture of invaluable experiences that allowed me to accelerate my footing into the working world. The key thing is to learn to say “Yes!” to as many things as possible while you have the time. I believe that in every opportunity there’s a key lesson that you can carry forward into the future that you’re creating.
When you were choosing a course and a university did you have a clear picture of your future (and if so what was it)?
In the initial stage, I imagined myself as an Advertising-man (like in the series, Mad Men). The appeal of pitching great ideas to huge companies in a suit and tie was what I was gunning for. But reality sunk in and changed everything.
How did that change (or reconfirmed) during your experience at Monash?
Speaking to people in the industry and understanding the importance of “work-life balance”, I knew that being an Ad-man was going to make me really unhappy. Climbing the “corporate ladder” and pursuing greatness at the expense of everything good in life, created an existential crisis of sorts. However, as I went on with the various units that were available under my course, that helped provide me greater exposure to different possibilities out there.
If you didn’t have a clear picture of your future, was there a moment at Monash that made you change the direction you would like to take in life?
During the “existential crisis” period, I was also preparing the very first Monash Entrepreneurship Forum with MBC. To cut the long story short, I connected with one of the founders of a company speaking during the forum. I learned about what they did and the vision that was with Wago, a boutique creative agency with great leadership which became my first job right after university. I was hooked and up to this day, the former Managing Director, Hassan Alsagoff, is still my mentor.
Whilst at Monash, did you have any industry exposure/placements? How has it made a difference to your own life or the life of others around you? Did it consolidate what you have learnt from your undergraduate course?
The only placement that was worthwhile was the one I created for myself with The Weekend Projects and my bunch of Monash comrades. What started out as a passion project in making short stories/films on YouTube turned into a revenue generating business for us. Both schools (Business and Arts & Social Sciences) allowed me to see things from both a creative and business angle that allowed us to work hard on what we loved doing while studying at the same time.
It was there that we got to work with various companies e.g. Pestle & Mortar Clothing, Urbanscapes, and even Monash University itself, to name a few.
If it wasn’t for that gig with Pestle & Mortar Clothing, I don’t think I would have been given this opportunity with Major Drop today. The work that was done during that time made an impression that carried through because we took the initiative to pitch for a video. It pays to have the courage to dive into things that scare you. Saying “Yes!” pays off.
What was it about Monash that made you select this university in the first place?
It was arguably the most exciting University at the time while the appeal of being able to study abroad was a big plus. The name, "Monash University”, definitely carries weight across every industry.
What do you love most about your student life at Monash?
It was a long and rewarding four years. Being able to study on a campus is something that people often take for granted. Getting to interact and build relationships with friends from abroad was a great way of expanding my international network. That made my time going to Australia for the exchange program a lot more fulfilling as they took care of me while I was there and I got to experience how my Australian friends studied, worked and played.
In relation to the course, I believe that the syllabus is relevant to this ever-changing, fast paced world we live in. The lecturers knew how to teach well, which is a trait that’s difficult to come by today I believe. They knew how to inspire, how to shake things up a bit and challenge your thinking.