`Creative giant’ Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing continues to enlighten…

The students of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology can expect to step confidently into the real world upon graduation because of the university’s focus on creativity and innovation.

Such focus means they have been trained to use creativity and innovation as the tools to get ahead in the new digital era –  and this is how Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing empowers and motivates his students to succeed.

Without creativity, one is simply unable to solve problems and come up with new ideas and solutions. Unfortunately, this is the mindset some of us are stuck with; we do not see the need to be creative and innovative to advance in life.

Thankfully, there are those enlightened enough to understand the importance of creativity and innovation to get ahead in the global environment. They live and breathe design, and see the importance of promoting these values. And surely at the forefront of this is our very own master of creativity and innovation, Tan Sri Lim.

Making the impossible, possible

Since Limkokwing’s inception in 1991, the focus of the establishment has always been to produce local heroes for the country. Tan Sri Lim has for a long time now made it his mission to help create a generation of young people who are able to contribute to the development of their respective countries. Along the way, Limkokwing has stamped its mark on the global scene,  becoming internationally recognized as a creative university sought after by young people who are keen to earn themselves a reputable qualification.

While many are aware of Tan Sri Lim’s background in advertising, they may not know about his training in journalism. He began his career as a journalist, working his way up and learning the ropes in the days before he discovered his true calling.

As a journalist, he often felt dissatisfied with the restrictions and constraints he faced on the job. “Whenever I wanted to use my own words to describe someone or something, they (the editors) would tell me to just report it without using creativity!” Tan Sri Lim recalls, adding that he became bored of journalism before too long.

Still, there were days when Tan Sri Lim managed to enjoy some “creative fun” as a journalist, specifically the time when his series of caricatures and cartoon strips saw print in the papers. His ability to write and draw was rare, and set him apart from his contemporaries.

It was in the 70s that Tan Sri Lim decided to venture into the advertising industry, believing he could then demonstrate more of his creativity. Although he was only in his 20s then, he very quickly established a presence for himself. It wasn’t long before his excellent performance in the field earned him respect among his peers.

By the time he was 28, Tan Sri Lim was ready to take his creative career a notch higher. He was determined to be a leader in the advertising industry, and was keen to revolutionise the way things were done.  Without monetary assistance from any bank, he still managed to set up his own advertising agency, Wings Creative, with an initial staff of four.

At that time, the local advertising industry was dominated by foreign agencies but Tan Sri Lim’s agency was able to compete with the best of them, providing his clients a level of service that was on a par with his multinational rivals. Tan Sri Lim did what most people thought was impossible – he proved that the locals could do work as well as their foreign counterparts. Before long, his agency was recognized as a leader in the industry.

No obstacle insurmountable

There are those who believe people have to undergo special training before they can learn enough creativity to be useful. This belief does not sit well with Tan Sri Lim. The icon of creativity never attended university as a student or enroll in any school for creative training.  It is through unconventional ways that Tan Sri Lim learned all about creativity and innovation.

And certainly his ways have long since become well tried and truly tested – the Limkokwing campus in Cyberjaya itself is a testament to this. Looking at the unique campus environment, anyone would be able to see that his concept of “creative university” is not mere talk. After all, batch after batch of creative talents have been unleashed over the years.

And in the true tradition of an innovative university,  Limkokwing encourages its students to give free rein to their creative powers.  The university boldly moves away from conventional practices, urging its students to never limit themselves when it comes to creative potential.

Real world learning on campus means students are well-equipped and ever ready to enter the jobs market. The comprehensive training they have received gives them the competitive edge and the exposure to industry prepares them for whatever challenges the global environment presents them. Limkokwing students are highly marketable and employable. Or if they choose to be self-employed, they could set up their own studio or come up with their own business plan – whatever field it is they have in mind.

Limkokwing’s track record in this regard has made it a popular choice among students from every corner of the world. And now that it is a full-fledged international university, there is also a lot of cultural exchange taking place on campus, benefitting the students in more ways than one.

Tan Sri Lim is clearly not one who believes in textbook-learning. And he does not want his students to study merely for the sake of receiving a paper qualification. “I always tell my students to become their own ideal of a person, rather than become someone else’s ideal man or woman,” he says, adding that it is all part and parcel of self-empowerment.

And surely to gain confidence, one has to start with empowering oneself.

Using creativity to solve problems

Tan Sri Lim hopes his students learn to take things in their stride – and not be negative in their outlook in life. Whatever difficulties and obstacles they face, he says, they should learn to look beyond what’s facing them, and adopt a creative approach to solving problems.

Asked about the difficulties he himself must have encountered in the past, Tan Sri Lim says the word “difficulty” is not in his vocabulary.  But he acknowledges that every individual is different, hence managing people can present a big challenge in itself.

He defines creativity as “an innovative way to solve problems” and “one’s attitude and approach towards life.”

He says Malaysia is in dire need of creative and innovative brains – and that the present education system based on textbook-learning that spoon-feeds students, does not necessarily address this need.

Commenting on the recent statement by a professor on the issue of Chinese schools “producing copy talents” (students who can only copy and not create), Tan Sri Lim says, “The Chinese invented many innovative products – they have been innovators from time immemorial. Chinese antiques and works of art are popular the world over. If the Chinese were not creative, they wouldn’t have been able to achieve all these.”

Cooperating with national leaders

When you take something from society, you should rightly want to give back when you are able to. At least that is how it works with Tan Sri Lim. His wish to contribute to the nation doesn’t end with the establishment of his university. He also ensures his creative talents benefit the country in other ways – and towards this end, collaborates with government and industry to promote creativity and innovation. Among the national leaders Tan Sri Lim has worked with is former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In 1982, Tan Sri Lim contributed his skills in such government campaigns as Malaysia Boleh and the Look East Policy. The ideas he shared in these campaigns clearly appealed to many people in both government and industry, even in other Asian countries – and certainly helped lift the image of the nation in their eyes.

Tan Sri Lim was also the man behind the Tak Nak anti-smoking campaign – a project that managed to raise people’s awareness about the hazards of smoking. The results yielded by the campaign were great, considering the small amount of money spent to push it – especially if compared to the high cost spent by international tobacco companies.

There was also the Rakan Muda campaign that was meant to motivate young Malaysians into participating in community projects. The campaign was a success, providing opportunities to young people to be involved in creative recreational activities and other positive endeavours.

And when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was prime minister,  Tan Sri Lim demonstrated the work he had been doing to help the country’s small- and medium-size enterprises. Among others, he was noted for promoting the importance of packaging and design among those in the industry.

Certainly all these national efforts highlight Tan Sri Lim as one of the most successful ethnic Chinese in Malaysia; and one who has been able to cross racial barriers in keeping collaborations going among national leaders.

Hoping to spend more time with parents

Creativity clearly figures prominently in Tan Sri Lim’s life, and not surprisingly, creative works of every form are his greatest interest. He collects works of art from all over the world – and has an especially strong liking for those made of natural wood products.

He says, “When I’m gone, these works of art will still remain.”

Having worked hard to get to the peak, Tan Sri Lim doesn’t view life as a bed of roses. And if he had the chance to turn back the clock, he says, he would focus more on his parents. “I came from a poor family,  and so after having finished school, I was always busy trying to earn money. I didn’t have much time to spend with my parents. If I could turn back time, I would devote more hours in accompanying them. I am not deeply regretful here but I do really miss them.”

But his life is also marked with joyous occasions – and surely among them are the graduation ceremonies the university has witnessed over the years. “Whenever I see the happy faces of students and their parents on graduation day, I feel very happy.”

Tan Sri Lim ends this interview session by sharing a message of appreciation from an African student. The message reads: “Tan Sri,  the wisdom you display when you respond to questions is great. I don’t necessarily know how to express this but I am full of admiration for you. You are not doing all these for yourself. Like a soldier fighting for a better world, you have kindled hope among us.”

Tan Sri Lim has devoted himself to his students, and surely, his students are able to see his good intentions. Aptly, he sees success as something that “cannot be measured in monetary terms.” It is rather “what you can do for someone else,” he says.