Part II
Not all leaders lead with a roar.
Some guide with a quiet pulse, steady hands, and an unwavering sense of duty. Dr Saat Shukri Embong, Acting President and Group Chief Executive Officer of MIMOS Berhad, is one such leader, forging one of the most impactful transformations in Malaysia’s innovation history, without ever raising his voice.
“I don’t need to be the loudest in the room. I just need to be the one who listens deepest,” he says with a soft smile.
A Steward, Not a Star
To those who know him, Dr Shukri’s strength lies in his stillness. In a world obsessed with titles, he chooses responsibility. In times of crisis, he chooses reflection. And in moments of pressure, he chooses people.
“My role isn’t to shine. It’s to make sure others can,” he shares.
And he does so with unwavering discipline, building a culture at MIMOS anchored in transparency, collaboration, and national service.
Transforming the Engine Room
Under his stewardship, MIMOS has reoriented itself from a siloed research body to a nationally aligned innovation engine. He streamlined operations, eliminated redundancies, restructured teams, and, most critically, built belief.
“We weren’t just changing systems. We were healing an organisation,” he says.
The result: MIMOS now stands as a credible force in sovereign technology, driving AI, semiconductors, National Digital ID systems, and industry-academic linkages.
“Our role is no longer just to invent. It’s to secure Malaysia’s digital independence.”
Leadership That Listens
Dr Shukri is known for being present, physically and emotionally. From walking the R&D floor to sitting down with interns, his leadership is grounded in empathy.
“The day I stop learning from my junior engineers is the day I’ve failed,” he says with conviction.
He makes time for mentoring. He celebrates small wins. And he ensures that every voice, from junior technician to senior fellow, feels heard.
Guided by Faith, Driven by Purpose
Though globally accomplished, Dr Shukri never lost touch with his humble beginnings growing up in Terengganu, where values were forged before visions.
“Whatever we build must benefit the Rakyat. That’s the test. That’s the prayer.”
Faith, for him, is not separate from leadership, it is the foundation. It shapes his humility, his discipline, and his view that real legacy is service, not status.
What Keeps Him Going?
It’s not awards. It’s not recognition. It’s the mission.
“I carry this role like amanah. One day I’ll leave this office. What matters is whether I’ve left it better, for those who’ll come next.”
His eyes well slightly, but his voice remains steady.
“My dream is to nurture 700 CEOs, to see every MIMOSian empowered to one day lead their own venture. But even before we reach that goal, if MIMOS can help just one kampung gain digital access or inspire one student to dream beyond their limits, then we have already begun to change the future. And for me, that is enough.”
Final Words of Hope
“We don’t need perfect leaders. We need sincere ones. Leaders who are tired but keep going. Leaders who don’t seek applause, but impact.”
And in Dr Shukri, Malaysia has not just found a technology leader. It has found a national soul, one who walks quietly, but carries the future in his heart.
