Ep 30: Fatin Arifin: From Introvert to Influencer, Championing Brunei's Development and Youth Empowerment

Fatin Arifin is an advocate for entrepreneurship and youth development and has made a significant impact both locally and regionally as a catalyst for development. She has founded and co-founded various initiatives, including the Brunei Chevening Youth Forum (BCYF) in 2015, the Chevening Youth Forum – Southeast Asia in 2017, and for-purpose enterprises like the Young Professionals Network. Through these platforms, she has engaged with over 10,000 young individuals, providing invaluable opportunities for personal and skills development.

In 2021, during Brunei's ASEAN Chairmanship, Fatin served as the Chairperson of the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC), founded the ASEAN Young Women Entrepreneurs Club (AYWEC), and convened the 6th ASEAN Young Entrepreneur Carnival virtually.

Alongside her full-time role as part of the leadership team at Ghanim (Brunei Halal Foods), Fatin continues to contribute significantly to community endeavors as the President of YEAB (Youth Entrepreneurship Association Brunei), YPN (Young Professionals Network) and Chevening Alumni Brunei.

Fatin holds an MSc in Emerging Economies and International Development from King's College London, where she was a Chevening Scholar in 2014. Her exceptional achievements have been recognized through prestigious awards such as the Meritorious Youth Service Award 2015, the Excellent Youth Award 2017, and the ASEAN Youth Award 2016. She is an Alumni of Global Shapers for the Bandar Seri Begawan hub and was also a finalist in the Women of the Future Award - Community Spirit & Public Service category in 2020.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Finding community and like-minded people.
• Growth only occurs in uncomfortable situations.
• Giving, whether we realize it or not, brings happiness.
• Wearing a hijab allows others to see us for our intellect.
• To navigate cultures, it's important to embrace discomfort.
• Sometimes, when we have it good, we become complacent.
• Introversion and extroversion are where you gain your energy from.
• It is helpful to understand the intentions behind people's comments.
• Traveling builds self-confidence and provides a euphoric experience.
• Volunteering shows us our true capabilities and helps us discover a lot.
• Experiencing other cultures increases our appreciation for our own culture.
• Giving advice becomes challenging when we lack a comprehensive understanding of the situation.

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