Ep 148.2: The Impossible Game + Scared of Wives Club?! - Dato Sri Idris Jala [Chairman, PEMANDU]

So This Is My Why

10-09-2024 • 59 mins

We're back with Part 2 with Dato' Sri Idris Jala - the former CEO of Malaysia Airlines, Managing Director of Shell Sri Lanka and Senator & Minister in the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office, and current Chairman of PEMANDU.

In Part 1 of this So This Is My Why feature, we delved into his tribal origins, how becoming top of his class was a matter of life and death, and his journey to becoming the Managing Director in Shell Sri Lanka - still his toughest gig to date. Listen here: https://youtu.be/KekuCGZJYlk

In Part 2, we go even deeper, exploring things like:

🔸 If Dato' Sri Idris would act the same way if he had a chance to redo everything?

🔸 How Shell moved Idris out of Sri Lanka because he was taking huge risks and they thought, “We should take you out before you kill yourself!”

🔸 What he learned from Michael Black

🔸 How he put Eddy Leong as the first CEO of Firefly because “he’s a bit crazy but he has the tenacity to push it”

🔸 Why he gave up the job he really wanted - to be the Chairman of Shell - to become the CEO of Malaysia Airlines

🔸 The advice he has for his sons

Want to learn more?

You’ll just have to tune in.


Highlights:

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 1:30 If you had a chance, would you redo anything?
  • 6:01 Shell was a fantastic school of management
  • 6:43 Why Michael Black left such an impact on him
  • 10:52 If you really want to do the real impossible stuff, you must put everything on the line
  • 12:06 The line between the impossible goal v being foolhardy
  • 14:54 The best way to tell you what you don't want to hear?
  • 15:39 Why did you reject your dream job?!
  • 16:46 Huge leap of faith - MNC to GLC
  • 18:46 Launching a budget airline, Firefly
  • 23:36 Common values of incredible people
  • 24:43 Making it sustainable
  • 29:07 Common issues
  • 35:27 Lessons from PEMANDU operating in other countries
  • 37:23 Check into Hotel California
  • 39:14 Having a soulmate
  • 44:16 SOW Club - Scared of Wife Club
  • 48:58 Advice to sons
  • 53:46 Legacy you want to leave behind?
  • 54:03 What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful person?


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🍿 YouTube: https://youtu.be/lhIUOf7jSKs

📍Show notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/148

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