Behind the Work: The Path I Never Planned
- 27 Apr 2026
If you ask me whether I carefully planned my career path, honestly… not really.
Since graduation, I have always been in the education line. Funny enough, this was not exactly the plan. I was a Sony scholarship recipient, and naturally I thought my career path would begin there. But because of the recession at that time, I was released without bond. Honestly, I was heartbroken. I felt sad, lost, and quite demotivated.
At that moment, it felt like the future I imagined suddenly disappeared.
But sometimes, what feels like a setback is actually life quietly redirecting us.
That unexpected turn brought me into academia, and looking back now, I think it was one of the best things that happened to me.
In my early years, I was more of a teacher than a researcher. I genuinely enjoyed teaching, being in the classroom, sharing knowledge, and seeing students grow gave me a lot of happiness. Research was part of academic life, of course, but it was not where my heart was at the beginning.
As an academician, pursuing a PhD became part of the journey, and that chapter changed me in many ways. It was not an easy path, but it became a major turning point in my life and career. After that, I slowly grew into research, focusing on biomedical engineering, control systems, signal processing, physiological signals, and later on, AI applications in biomedical engineering.
Somewhere along the way, I realised, I actually enjoy solving problems, exploring ideas, and creating work that can make life better for others.
In simple words - I like doing work that makes me happy.
That became my personal motto: Do things that make you happy :)
And surprisingly, that simple mindset has guided many important decisions in my life.
Another big turning point came in 2017, when I joined MyAgeing® as Deputy Director, almost by accident rather than by planning.
At first, I saw it as another responsibility.
But slowly, it became something much more meaningful.
Through MyAgeing, I met many inspiring older persons and began to understand the realities of ageing in a deeper way. I saw how rapidly technology was moving, but many older adults were being left behind, not because they were unwilling, but because digital technology can sometimes feel intimidating, confusing, or simply not designed with them in mind.
That experience changed how I look at technology.
I began to see that technology is not just about being advanced or intelligent. It should also be accessible, inclusive, and human-centred. It should help people live better, stay connected, and maintain dignity and independence as they age.
That was when my engineering journey found a bigger purpose.
Today, my work continues at the intersection of engineering, AI, and human wellbeing — from physiological signal analysis and intelligent biomedical systems to healthy ageing technologies, fall prevention, and digital inclusion for older persons.
Some of these efforts have now grown beyond Malaysia, reaching regional collaborations in Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia through the support of the ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing & Innovation.
If there is one thing I have learned, it is this:
You do not always need a perfect plan. Sometimes, you just need to keep moving, stay open to opportunities, and do things that make you happy :)
Funny how life works.
The path I never planned became the path that gave me purpose.
Since graduation, I have always been in the education line. Funny enough, this was not exactly the plan. I was a Sony scholarship recipient, and naturally I thought my career path would begin there. But because of the recession at that time, I was released without bond. Honestly, I was heartbroken. I felt sad, lost, and quite demotivated.
At that moment, it felt like the future I imagined suddenly disappeared.
But sometimes, what feels like a setback is actually life quietly redirecting us.
That unexpected turn brought me into academia, and looking back now, I think it was one of the best things that happened to me.
In my early years, I was more of a teacher than a researcher. I genuinely enjoyed teaching, being in the classroom, sharing knowledge, and seeing students grow gave me a lot of happiness. Research was part of academic life, of course, but it was not where my heart was at the beginning.
As an academician, pursuing a PhD became part of the journey, and that chapter changed me in many ways. It was not an easy path, but it became a major turning point in my life and career. After that, I slowly grew into research, focusing on biomedical engineering, control systems, signal processing, physiological signals, and later on, AI applications in biomedical engineering.
Somewhere along the way, I realised, I actually enjoy solving problems, exploring ideas, and creating work that can make life better for others.
In simple words - I like doing work that makes me happy.
That became my personal motto: Do things that make you happy :)
And surprisingly, that simple mindset has guided many important decisions in my life.
Another big turning point came in 2017, when I joined MyAgeing® as Deputy Director, almost by accident rather than by planning.
At first, I saw it as another responsibility.
But slowly, it became something much more meaningful.
Through MyAgeing, I met many inspiring older persons and began to understand the realities of ageing in a deeper way. I saw how rapidly technology was moving, but many older adults were being left behind, not because they were unwilling, but because digital technology can sometimes feel intimidating, confusing, or simply not designed with them in mind.
That experience changed how I look at technology.
I began to see that technology is not just about being advanced or intelligent. It should also be accessible, inclusive, and human-centred. It should help people live better, stay connected, and maintain dignity and independence as they age.
That was when my engineering journey found a bigger purpose.
Today, my work continues at the intersection of engineering, AI, and human wellbeing — from physiological signal analysis and intelligent biomedical systems to healthy ageing technologies, fall prevention, and digital inclusion for older persons.
Some of these efforts have now grown beyond Malaysia, reaching regional collaborations in Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia through the support of the ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing & Innovation.
If there is one thing I have learned, it is this:
You do not always need a perfect plan. Sometimes, you just need to keep moving, stay open to opportunities, and do things that make you happy :)
Funny how life works.
The path I never planned became the path that gave me purpose.