One Positive Change You Have Made In Your Life

Describe one positive change you have made in your life.

WordPress Prompt

In 2013, I was a researcher in the Internet of Things (IoT) field, and I was excited about the opportunity to attend the first IoT Asia conference in Singapore. I submitted a proposal to my superior, hoping to get approval to attend. Unfortunately, my proposal was rejected, while two staff members were approved. I was disappointed because our department was very active in IoT R&D, and I believed the conference could shed some light on our work.

Despite this setback, I continued to share my thoughts and opinions about IoT on social media, especially on Twitter. I was passionate about the industry and wanted to contribute however I could.

In early 2014, one of my staff members approached me and told me that my name was listed in the 2014 Onalytica Report as one of the "Top 100 Thought Leaders" in IoT, ranked 20th. I was surprised and excited about this unexpected recognition. I shared the news with my HR Director, and she congratulated me, saying, “Dr. Mazlan – You are a Thought Leader.” I was unsure what a "Thought Leader" meant at that time.

Curious, I researched the term "Thought Leader" and why contributions to the IoT industry significantly impact others. As I learned more, I realized how important it was for me to continue on this path.

Over time, I received several other recognitions from various media outlets, including being listed in the "Who's Who in IoT" report by Onalytica in May 2022 and ranked among the "Top 50 Global Thought Leaders on the Internet of Things" in February 2019. I also appeared in many publications, including being named one of the "Top 50 Most Impactful Smart Cities Leaders" by the World CSR Congress in 2017 and being in the "Top 10 in IoT Top 100 Influencers" by Postscapes in 2017 and 2018.

But perhaps the most meaningful recognition came in 2016 when I was invited as the first Malaysian speaker to discuss "Issues and Challenges of Deploying a Smart Citizen Engagement Solution" at IoT Asia 2016 in Singapore. This experience made me realize how becoming an IoT Thought Leader could inspire and change the lives of others.

From that day forward, I have never looked back, and I am happy to continue sharing my knowledge and insights with the public through talks and other platforms. I am proud to be part of the IoT community and excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.

The list of Talks can be found?here.

[Note: This article "One Positive Change" was originally published here]