"I ran one of the BIGGEST INSURANCE FIRMS during COVID" | Apa Cerita? Wan Saifulrizal | Episode 73

"I ran one of the BIGGEST INSURANCE FIRMS during COVID" | Apa Cerita? Wan Saifulrizal | Episode 73

From Apa Cerita? by Asyraf Khalid dan Ishraq Kamarudin

March 18, 2026 · 1h 29m

About this episode

The episode features Wan Saifulrizal Wan Ismail discussing his experiences as a CEO during the COVID pandemic and insights on leadership and personal growth.

In this episode of Apa Cerita?, we sit down with Wan Saifulrizal Wan Ismail. While many know him as the former CEO of Prudential BSN Takaful—one of Malaysia’s largest takaful operators—we wanted to go deeper.Who was the boy at KTJ before the boardroom? How does an Actuary handle the weight of a national crisis? And what is the "lonely side" of leadership that no one talks about?From his upbringing and his time at Bank Negara to leading a giant corporation through a global pandemic, Encik Wan shares raw insights on career, identity, and why he might be happier today than ever before.You’ll hear:▶️The KTJ Days: Growing up in the 80s and the fear of first-time independence.▶️The Actuarial Mindset: Studying in London and the "culture shock" that reshaped his perspective.▶️Pressure at Bank Negara: Dealing with imposter syndrome as a young professional.▶️Leading through Crisis: The heavy decisions made during 2021 that kept him awake at night.▶️Life After the CEO Office: The "loneliest" part of the job and finding out who "Wan Saifulrizal" is today.Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. New conversations…

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