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HomeFeaturesPassion at WorkHe’s Helped 30% of Fortune 500s, But Says Leadership Starts with Quiet...

He’s Helped 30% of Fortune 500s, But Says Leadership Starts with Quiet Confidence

Michael Teoh Su Lim has worked with Fortune 500 firms across 40+ countries — but for him, the real reward is watching someone step into their potential.

As the founder of Thriving Talents, Michael has spent over a decade training young professionals, building emotional intelligence into leadership pipelines, and turning quiet interns into confident innovators. His approach to talent isn’t just about retention — it’s about reinvention.

In this feature, Michael shares what makes a “thriving talent,” how Gen Z is reshaping the future of work, and why his personal story as an introvert is now powering a movement in leadership training.

Purpose-Driven from Day One

Q: You’ve helped Fortune 500 companies in 40+ countries build resilient workforces. What continues to drive your personal mission to unlock the potential of young professionals?

A: What drives me hasn’t changed since the very beginning. It’s that moment when someone realises they can do more than they ever believed possible.

I started Thriving Talents in 2012 because I kept meeting brilliant young professionals with no roadmap — people full of passion, but lacking a platform. Since then, we’ve had the privilege to serve 30% of Fortune 500 companies across 42 countries, and yet the mission remains deeply personal: to help people see themselves as possibilities, not just positions.

What keeps me going is seeing transformation in real time — the quiet intern who becomes a team leader, the shy graduate who now leads regional sales, or the so-called “introvert” who discovers their empathy is a leadership superpower. Each of them reminds me why I do this: to build a generation that believes their talent deserves the world.

The Thriving Talents team — the driving force behind leadership programs impacting 30% of Fortune 500 companies.

Thriving Isn’t Just Performance — It’s Purpose

Q: You often say your work is about creating “Thriving Talents.” What does that look like beyond performance metrics, especially when building Gen Y and Millennial leadership?

A: A thriving talent isn’t just someone who hits targets — it’s someone who’s alive with purpose.

Yes, performance metrics matter. But in the long run, culture sustains what KPIs can’t. Thriving looks like:

  • Curiosity that never stops learning
  • Courage that dares to speak up
  • Compassion that bridges generations

For Gen Y and Millennials, leadership isn’t about hierarchy anymore. It’s about human chemistry. In our RISE and ELEVATE programs — especially in banks and insurers — we’re not just teaching sales. We’re building resilience, emotional intelligence, and the confidence to lead from within.

I often remind my clients: Your next CEO might not be the loudest voice in the room. It could be the quiet thinker who leads with empathy and authenticity.

Beyond the Awards — A Moment of Real Impact

Q: You’ve had global recognition, met world leaders, and even had President Obama visit your session. Looking back, what moment truly affirmed that you were doing the work you were meant to do?

A: Meeting President Obama during his visit to Malaysia was surreal. He attended our leadership and coding workshop, hosted by Microsoft at the time. But the moment that hit me hardest came afterward.

A young Malaysian boy approached me and said, “Teacher Michael, because of your session, I finally believe I can speak up and share my ideas with confidence.”

That hit me harder than any award.

Yes, I’ve shared global stages with leaders like Sir Richard Branson and Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, and I’m grateful for awards like:

  • Best Management Training Provider 2024 (HR Vendor of the Year)
  • Best Sales Training Provider for SMEs 2023

But the truest affirmation? It’s watching someone grow into their greatness because of something we sparked. That’s when I know — this is exactly why I was put here.

Michael Teoh meets President Obama during a leadership workshop in Malaysia — a moment that reinforced his mission to empower young voices.

What Gen Z Really Wants (Hint: It’s Not Just Money)

Q: With AI, hybrid work, and shifting values — what do companies misunderstand most about what today’s younger workforce actually wants from their employers?

A: Too many organisations still assume young people leave for better pay or titles. But that’s not it.

What Gen Z and Millennials really want is meaning.

They’re not allergic to hard work — they’re allergic to work that feels meaningless. They want to feel seen, trusted, and part of something bigger than a performance review.

One big mistake? Treating engagement like a campaign, not a conversation. In hybrid environments, culture isn’t something you launch — it’s something you live.

That’s why we use tools like:

  • SnapRunner – our virtual treasure hunt app for hybrid team-building
  • The Mind Reader – our AI-powered sales profiling tool from Singapore
  • FLAME framework – a model that helps teams rediscover shared purpose

When leaders ask, “How can we make them proud to belong?” instead of “How do we make them stay?” — that’s when real loyalty begins.

Michael mentoring youth on meaningful networking — turning connection into a leadership mindset.

You Don’t Have to Be Loud to Be Legendary

Q: What’s one belief or mindset shift you hope every young professional takes away from your sessions — something that can shape not just their career, but their life?

A: I hope they leave believing this: You don’t have to be loud to be legendary.

I was introverted. I was bullied. I once thought leadership was only for the outspoken. But now I know — it’s about impact, not volume.

That’s why I’m launching my new book: I Am Introvert: Quiet Strategies to Grow Powerful Relationships

I want people to realise that influence comes from:

  • Authenticity
  • Empathy
  • Consistent contribution

The mindset shift I teach is this:

“Stop chasing validation — start creating value.
Don’t wait for opportunity — create it.
Passion without persistence is just noise. But persistence turns passion into purpose.”

Milestones That Reflect a Mission Evolving

Q: Are there one or two achievements or aspects of your journey that you feel best reflect your current mission and impact?

A: I think we all reach a point where success isn’t just about what we’ve built — but about the kind of future we want to shape next.

For me, two milestones really represent that shift.

First, at Thriving Talents, we’re now investing heavily in business simulations and experiential learning — tools like Blueprint and SnapRunner that immerse leaders into real-world, fast-paced Gen Z scenarios. These simulations aren’t just for fun; they’re designed to build empathy, teamwork, and generational understanding inside organisations.

After training leaders from over 30% of Fortune 500 companies, I’ve seen how crucial this is: companies that don’t learn how to connect across generations will struggle — not just to retain talent, but to stay relevant.

Second, on a more personal level, I’m building Mind Reader AI — a tool that helps professionals decode personalities and connect more deeply. It uses storytelling archetypes like the Wizard, Healer, Knight, and Explorer to spark more human conversations — especially in high-performance, fast-moving environments.

This ties closely with my upcoming book, I Am Introvert, which is probably my most personal work yet. It reflects my own journey — from being the quiet kid in the back of the room, to now helping others find their voice, their value, and their leadership style.

These two paths — the organisational and the personal — are really one and the same. I’m still doing what I’ve always done: helping people see that their talent matters, their voice matters, and their future is worth leading.

Thriving Talents recognized as Malaysia’s Role Model Enterprise of the Year — a testament to sustained impact and inclusive leadership.

Passion, Transformed into Purpose

Michael Teoh Su Lim doesn’t just teach leadership — he lives it through stories, systems, and small moments that spark transformation.

For him, passion at work isn’t about what you do — it’s about who you become while doing it. And whether it’s through immersive learning, AI tools, or a single workshop with a student who finds their voice, his mission remains the same:

“I’ve never wanted to create followers — I’ve always wanted to build founders. People who take ownership of their growth, and light up others along the way.”

Read the Chinese article here.

Hilmi Hanifah
Hilmi Hanifah
Hilmi Hanifah is the editor at New in Asia, where stories meet purpose. With a knack for turning complex ideas into clear, compelling content, Hilmi helps businesses across Asia share their innovations and achievements, and gain the spotlight they deserve on the global stage.
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