Interview with Malaysian Today during my last day. thank you all for believing, supporting and shaping me up to be what i am now .. purely youthful in heart.
"Great Things Are Only If You Try" By Yeevone Ong
Only turning 25 this year, Azrina ‘Nina’ Kamalia Azhar is in the prime of her career. Born on the April 29, the bubbly youth is on her way to a bigger stage in an international entertainment industry. And she gives all the credit to her time working with Malaysian Today for the past two years.
Nina had always been dedicated to the Public Relations. Her first job was no less than that. She was a PR Coordinator for Best Western Premiere Seri Pacific Hotel before moving on in a bank which she found was not her cup of tea. She received a supportive nudge from her General Manager then, suggesting that she moved on to bigger things in a different field. Thus began her hunt to her next move.
“I went on Job street and found Malaysian Today’s advertisement for a PR/Marcomm Executive and submitted my resume.” They called her up later and everything else was history
Nina was primarily in charge of media partnerships. She would meet up with media representatives and tie them up with the company, making sure all parties were happy with the trade – page (s) in Malaysian Today in exchange for sponsorships and support from media partners. That was no easy task. She had to improvise and negotiate the demands of the company’s policies and the media partners to meet the targets she had on the job while constantly juggling deadlines.
However, no struggle is uneventful. “I was a very shy person “, Nina said with the light-heartedness she exudes the moment we shook hands. She recalled her first few days with Malaysian Today, remembering how reserved and uncomfortable she was and how she had wanted to give up because she thought she could not blend in. but she weathered through the tough times and ended up loving her job to its core.
Nina gushed at how much she enjoyed her work. She appreciated how the company had given her the liberty to do whatever she thought was fit for the company. But most of all, she loved the perks that came with the job.
“I am going to miss getting to go for press conferences, events and concerts, which happens to be the best part of the job.” She said with a full grin. She had not only had the chance to meet but interview local and international artistes. Nothing better delights a music lover that the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.
And that is another thing that Nina prides herself with when it came to working in Malaysian Today. Most of the other publications tend to be more selective when sending their team members to cover certain events. Concerts and press conferences were almost always attended by writers only.
“Malaysian Today is cosy enough to let you dip your hands in every angle of the company. Nina said. She had had the opportunity to help with the editorial, sales, and design departments besides handling her work. “This way you get to build a fuller understanding of not only the company but the industry as a whole,” she added in respond to how she felt her time with Malaysian Today had prepared her for a climb up a taller ladder in a bigger company.
Nina was not born with the PR skills that she now have. It was through her courage to try and perseverance that she rose to excel in something that she was initially discouraged to try.
Her extraordinary character should truly be an inspiration especially to those who are just about to step out of the academic world. “You can’t be too choosy with your first jobs. Even if you don’t do well, you’re still young, you can move on.” Or it could end up to be one of the greatest experiences of your life, like how it did for Nina.
