Bank Rakyat School of Business, Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship

Ahmad Zulhilmi is a proud graduate of UNIRAZAK’s Bachelor of Business Administration (Financial Technology) programme — a journey that shaped his character, confidence, and leadership. He now serves as a Senior Executive in Culture & Engagement at Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet), the organisation behind Malaysia’s digital payment ecosystem. In this role, Zulhilmi leads meaningful employee experience initiatives, from onboarding programmes to culture-building efforts such as Project OPTIMIS and the People Pulse platform. His work reflects the values he carried as a Razakian — empathy, resilience, and a genuine passion for helping people grow.

Honestly, it felt surreal – almost unbelievable. I was proud, grateful, and humbled all at once because this award represents more than just my own effort, but everything that my parents, lecturers, mentors, and friends poured into me. When my parents said, “Tahniah, Imi,” it meant more than any trophy and reminded me of why I kept pushing forward.

They’ve always been my biggest motivation – their steady support and belief in me became my strength on the hardest days. As the oldest son, I’ve always felt the responsibility to set a good example, not through perfection but through sincerity and persistence. Knowing they were always behind me kept me focused, grounded, and determined to keep going.

Switching from engineering to a business programme was one of my biggest challenges – everything felt new, especially subjects like accounting. I pushed through by asking questions, seeking guidance from my lecturers, and putting in the extra effort until things finally made sense. Stepping into leadership brought its own lessons as I learned to navigate different personalities with patience and calmness, supported by my lecturers, mentors, and the university counsellor.

Staying focused came from discipline and knowing my priorities – if I didn’t understand something, I asked, even if I was the only one raising my hand. Helping my friends study kept me motivated because teaching made learning more meaningful. These simple habits – asking, learning, helping, and refocusing – kept me consistent and helped me break through every challenge along the way.

UNIRAZAK was where my leadership and confidence truly began. I’m grateful for the Razakian Buddies club, which taught me to lead with empathy and clarity, and for lecturers who believed in me, guided me, and pushed me to grow. The Student Experience Department (SXD) also shaped my soft skills from the ground up, trusting me with responsibilities I never imagined carrying and giving me the space to try, fail, and rise again.

I am sincerely grateful to Madam Farah, Madam Latifah, and Madam Khalidah, whose unwavering support has been a true pillar of strength throughout my journey. I am equally thankful to the SXD team — Sir Safwan, Ms Nadia, Ms Sabiha, Sir Syafiq, Sir Mukmin, and Sir Aiman — for challenging me, supporting me, and trusting me to lead. Their guidance and belief have played a significant role in shaping who I am today. 

My long-term goal is to become a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). This award is more than just recognition — it’s a reminder that I’m moving in the right direction.

It motivates me to keep learning, keep helping others, and keep building environments where people feel valued, respected, and empowered.

To me, Breaking Through means choosing to move forward, even when the path feels uncertain. It is about gently pushing past fear, doubt, and that small voice that questions your worth. My journey at UNIRAZAK was not the fastest nor the easiest, but I kept going — one step at a time.

I continued learning, helping others, and showing up, even on the difficult days. Breaking Through isn’t about perfection; it is about resilience, sincerity, and the courage to rise again. It is believed that every challenge is meant to guide and shape us, not hold us back. And today, I stand here simply because I chose to keep moving forward.

Be kind, and be helpful. Share what you know — knowledge only grows when you give it away. Don’t compare your journey with anyone else’s; move at your own pace and trust your process.

Respect everyone you meet, stay humble, and stay curious. And most importantly, don’t give up on yourself. Your breakthrough will come, as long as you keep moving forward.