“The MBA from UNM sharpened more than just my skills. It sharpened my perspective on how to lead with both purpose and precision.”
DATO’ AKMAL ARIEF FAUZI
Group Deputy CEO, IJN Holdings and Deputy CEO, Institut Jantung Negara (IJN)
Master of Business Administration (Graduated in 2004)
Even the most experienced professionals need moments to pause, reflect and refine their craft. Dato’ Akmal Arief Mohd Fauzi describes this as ‘sharpening the knife’, a philosophy that guided his decision to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Nottingham 188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ Business School (NUBS) Malaysia after years in the corporate sector.
That choice would prove pivotal in shaping his leadership approach, transformative mindset and advancing the strategic direction of Institut Jantung Negara (IJN or National Heart Institute).
Currently the Group Deputy CEO of IJN Holdings and Deputy CEO of IJN, Dato’ Akmal plays a key role in steering one of Asia Pacific’s leading cardiovascular and cardiothoracic facility as well as Group operations. He also chairs the Board of Governors of IJN 188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ College and holds board positions within IJN Capital, IJN International and the IJN Foundation.
His career spans over three decades across strategic management, corporate planning, financial management, business development and operations including previous roles at the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC), and the Renong and UEM Group.
The decision to pursue an MBA came from a desire to complement real-world experience with structured learning. At the time, UNM’s campus was located at Jalan Conlay in Kuala Lumpur.
What appealed to him was not just the academic quality, but the unique opportunity to pursue part of the programme at the university’s UK campus. After one semester in Malaysia, he continued his studies in Nottingham, gaining international exposure and building cross-cultural perspectives that would later prove essential in leading diverse teams.
He recalls the excellent teaching faculty, helpful staff members, dynamic group projects, rigorous case studies and the mix of students from different professional and cultural backgrounds. “It wasn’t just about theory. It was about solving real business problems and learning how to think strategically,” he says.
Those lessons have found practical application in his leadership role. Since 2010, he has steered IJN to enhance its stature as a global centre of excellence, fulfilling its mission in healthcare services, training and education as well as research and development.
He has also helped guide IJN’s evolution beyond clinical care. Under his stewardship, the IJN 188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ College was elevated to address the shortage of trained healthcare professionals in the country.
The college, which began with diploma courses, recently received approval from the authorities to become a full university college, offering degree programmes in various disciplines.
Another notable feather to his cap was championing the sustainability agenda, where under his direct leadership, IJN became the first hospital in Malaysia to achieve milestones for efficient energy management and reduction of carbon emissions.
IJN has also expanded its income streams through its pharmaceutical retail arm and strengthened its focus on medical tourism, drawing international patients to its flagship facility in Kuala Lumpur.
Through it all, Dato’ Akmal Arief remains proud that IJN has maintained stable financial performance while enhancing its public value. “The MBA from UNM sharpened more than just my skills. It sharpened my perspective on how to lead with both purpose and precision,” he reflects.