UUM Alumna Is 2019 AACSB Influential Leader

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Alumna, Mdm. Raja Azura Raja Mahayuddin was selected as the 2019 Influential Leader by AACSB International (AACSB) announced recently.

Mdm. Raja Azura Raja Mahayuddin who graduated from Bachelor of Accounting (with Honours) programme from the School of Accountancy (now Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz School of Accountancy (TISSA)) in 1997 is among the 33 graduates selected from worldwide business colleges for the recognition.

The Accounting Programme is among the 15 undergraduate programmes at UUM which are recognized by AACSB. The other programmes are Bachelor of Finance and Islamic Banking (with Honours) and Bachelor of Risk and Insurance Management (with Honours).

Raja Azura said she felt extremely honoured to have been recognized by AACSB as one of the recipients of the AACSB International Influential Leaders award this year.

"As a UUM alumna, this school has taught and helped build a positive attitude in me, as well as having the ability to apply the strong values needed to become a leader and disciplined in action.

"I am fortunate to have the opportunity to actively participate in various activities and engagements up until the national and international levels while still studying in the university," she said.

She said that UUM had also given her a platform to hone the qualities of leaders namely self-esteem, endurance, empathy and optimism.

Meanwhile, UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani expressed his elation when the UUM alumna was selected to be one of the AACSB Influential Leaders from around the world.

According to him, the leadership of Raja Azura had had a huge impact on the development of the community entitled her to the recognition.

"She is proof of what can be achieved at UUM's College of Business and this is indeed an achievement that everyone can be proud of, in fact UUM is also proud to be part of her career development and success.

"I hope this achievement will be the best example for all the denizens of the university, students and alumni in the efforts to uphold UUM's name at the highest level," he said.

The Vice- Chancellor further reiterated that in an environment where the number of female leaders is still lacking, Raja Azura managed to stand out as an inspiration to other women aspiring to become leaders in the corporate sector.

Raja Azura is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera (Peneraju Foundation) an organisation that supports the country's aspiration to hone the talent of the bumiputera.

To date, 25,000 bumiputeras have benefited from the intervention programme formed by Peneraju Foundation under her leadership of over 20 years in human capital and auditing.

Earlier, the UUM alumna held various high positions in several companies such as Malaysia Airlines, Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Arthur Andersen & Co.

In 2014, she was the recipient of the Malaysia Excellence Award for the Quasi Government category and received the Excellent Alumni Award (Public Sector) Award in 2004 awarded by UUM. She was also the recipient of the 2011-2012 Global Human Resource Excellence Award awarded by the World HRD Congress for her corporate contribution.

AACSB President and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas R. Robinson said that it was indeed an honour to award Raja Azura with the recognition.  He also congratulated UUM for successfully producing alumni who can become the prime example of business education in efforts to benefit the whole world.

According to him, the recipients of the 2019 Influential Leader award have different backgrounds, industries and careers which demonstrated that the institutions accredited by AACSB develop graduates to succeed in various fields that they are interested in.

Entering the fourth year, the AACSB Influential Leaders challenge has recognized over 200 business college graduates from more than 800 recognized AACSB universities and institutions that have had a constant impact on businesses and communities.

For more information about the AACSB Influential Leaders challenge, and to view the full profile of the award recipients, please visit https://www.aacsb.edu/influential-leaders.