Lily Ong discovers how the charismatic edupreneur Vishen Lakhiani connected the dots of his past to form his own belief system and a world-class company.
Vishen lakhiani is not content with being just an entrepreneur. “Someone who designs logos on Elance or builds million dollar companies can be entrepreneurs. The spectrum is too wide. What defines me is what I stand for as an individual,” says the founder of Mindvalley—an edu-tech company. Only five minutes into our chat and Vishen was already aflame with passion, telling us about what he believes is his mission on earth.
Growing up in Kuala Lumpur, he was picked on because of his appearance during his public school days. And while he admired his mother’s work as a teacher, he knew it was not feasible to pursue education as a career thanks to the state of the educational system at the time. So instead, he chose computer engineering and went on to study in the University of Michigan, where he then secured an internship at Microsoft in the United States.
“My parents were so proud of me for landing a great job. I did what society wanted, but it was not what I wanted. One day, Bill Gates invited the company’s interns to his home for a barbecue. Everyone was having fun, except me. I couldn’t bring myself to shake his hands, because I hated my job. I left eventually, because I knew I chose the wrong path,” reflects Vishen.
As he pondered over what to do next, he joined a non-profit called AIESEC, which allowed him to travel the world to foster cultural understanding between countries. Helping others rejuvenated him, although he knew he was on borrowed time. After that, he set his sights on Silicon Valley to seek his fortune. Unfortunately, this was when the dot-com bubble burst in the US.
This story is from the September 2017 edition of Malaysia Tatler.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2017 edition of Malaysia Tatler.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Tech Talk
Rami Madani of ISKL discusses how AI is impacting education
Boarding Abroad
Elizabeth Marini and Mira Rosa Marini share parentchild perspectives of life at TASIS, the American boarding school in Switzerland that shaped a confident young woman
Gateway to Greatness
Three students share how Garden International School helped them reach their desired Oxbridge institutions
Choose Your Own Ed-venture
There are many noble academic reasons for undertaking a doctorate, but does having a PhD provide any career advantages a master's degree doesn't?
The Human Advantage
Can fresh graduates thrive in an Al-driven world? The future workforce is expected to move away from mundane tasks towards positions that demand critical thinking and interpersonal skills. Here’s what you need to excel in this dynamic era of human-AI collaboration
Join the Green Revolution
Redefine your digital footprint with the Acer Chromebook Vero 514, a revolutionary device that sets the standard for sustainability and performance
Not Your Average Joe
The Chromebook unlocks a seamless computing journey that merges style with functionality
Learning Unlocked
Gamification in education represents a paradigm shift in teaching and learning. By leveraging game-like elements to enhance motivation and engagement, the learning experience is transformed into an interactive and immersive journey
The Power of
What does this mean for our children's education and how can they benefit from it?
AS ABOVE
Dont forget to look up when you stay at these five-star hotels