Growing Through Change, Learning and Global Collaboration

From the beginning of my academic journey, Sunway played a defining role in shaping who I am today. I first studied at Sunway College, where I achieved outstanding results, before continuing my studies at Sunway University on a full scholarship. The university’s strong academic reputation, industry-aligned programmes and partnerships with global institutions such as Le Cordon Bleu made my decision clear. What stood out most was Sunway’s consistent commitment to quality education, innovation and real-world exposure.
 

As an international student, my experience went far beyond academics. The diversity and warmth of the Sunway community left a lasting impact on me. Being surrounded by people from different cultures in such a welcoming environment helped broaden my perspective and build meaningful connections. The lecturers were not only knowledgeable and supportive throughout my studies, but many also stayed in touch even after I graduated. That level of dedication made Sunway feel less like an institution and more like a community that genuinely cared about my growth. These experiences shaped my confidence and continue to influence how I approach my professional life today.
 

Graduating during the pandemic meant entering the job market at a time of great uncertainty. Securing opportunities in Malaysia was challenging, but giving up was never an option. I reached out to friends, lecturers and professional connections, submitted countless applications and persisted until I received the opportunity to begin my career at Agoda. I started as a Customer Experience Specialist, where I applied what I learned from my hospitality degree by understanding people, anticipating needs and delivering service with empathy. Working in operations grounded me and gave me a clear understanding of frontline realities, strengthening my resilience and appreciation for how businesses function day to day.
 

I later moved into the Learning and Development team, supporting global training programmes and new-hire processes. This role strengthened my coordination, facilitation and communication skills, while giving me valuable insight into how large organisations develop talent and support continuous learning. From there, I joined the Global Strategic Project & Partnership team, where I managed global project lifecycles, collaborated across regions, ran experiments and worked closely with senior stakeholders. This phase shaped my project management mindset and ability to solve operational challenges at scale.
 

My journey then led me to the Talent Development Project Specialist team, where I supported global rollouts, planned enablement programmes and developed communication strategies for major product and process launches. These experiences ultimately brought me to my current role as Change and Communication Lead. Today, I work closely with senior leaders, directors and managers to design transformation roadmaps, conduct impact and readiness assessments, and lead global communication strategies that help teams adopt new tools and behaviours.
 

Specialising in change and communications management felt like a natural progression. I have seen first-hand that even the best strategies only succeed when people understand, adopt and feel supported through change. Managing resistance, especially across regions and long-established ways of working, remains a key challenge, which I address through transparent communication, early engagement and empathy. Looking ahead to joining the Transformation Enablement Partners team this year, I remain committed to driving meaningful, people-centred transformation. My time at Sunway laid the foundation for the communication, adaptability and strategic thinking that continue to guide my journey today.

Livia Alfian
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in International Hospitality Management
2021