Hi, I'm Derek.
I did not grow up in a business family. No one around me was an entrepreneur. I come from a normal
middle-class home, and like many people, I chose the safe path.
I started my career in accounting and auditing. It was stable work. It looked good on paper. But
inside, I felt unsure. I was busy every day, but I did not feel like I was moving forward. It felt
like time was passing, and I was just standing there.
Later, I found recruitment. That changed a lot for me. I realised I enjoyed helping people find what
they want in life. I liked seeing someone grow their career. It felt meaningful. For the first time,
I felt that my work had purpose.
There is another part of my story too. When I was 11, back in the early 1990s, I was teaching myself
how to code. I spent hours in front of the computer, trying things, making mistakes, and learning on
my own. I did not know it then, but that interest in technology would come back to me many years
later.
Today, these two parts of my life come together. I am building Hiredly, a recruitment platform that
brings people and technology together. I want to help people build careers they feel proud of. I also
want companies to find the right people, not just fill a position.
Through the Hello Mentor podcast, I hope to involve Malaysian leaders and entrepreneurs to help uplift
other Malaysians to get what they want out of their career.
I am still learning. I am still growing. But now, I can see how every step, even the confusing ones,
has shaped me.
Thank you for reading.