25/4 - With Madam Farah Anwar Pandith

I am seen here with Madam Farah Anwar Pandith.

Ms Pandith as she is more popularly known is the Special Representative to Muslim Communities for the US.

She was appointed in 2009 by the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Refer to wiki on here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farah_Pandith.

I have met Ms Pandith in KL late last year - apparently she saw a feature of me in a Malaysian newspaper on her flight to KL. She took the page with her, got to the Embassy and told them "find him". 

Withing 30 minutes I was tracked and was "summoned" for a meeting with "our important guest from the US", said the Embassy staff.

I was on leave, driving in town in jeans and a casual shirt, unshaven for a few days and it was raining cats and dogs. There was no way I was going to go home to change, shave or freshen up. 

I decided to turn up at the meeting as I was - Ms Pandith and the Embassy people were the gracious hosts. Ms Pandith, had on the table the newspaper article.

We had an intense discussion and she was really a lovely person to talk to - sharp, articulate and no-nonsense. She followed-up briskly with meetings and points after that. There were others at the meeting too.

Follow- through and follow-up ! A trait I know many of our entrepreneurs don't possess or lazy to put to use.

I think by just following-up with people we have met we achieve a great deal, build credibility and forge real relationships.

Ms Pandith is the embodiment of that and I learned a great deal from her.

Oh yes, Ms Pandith mentioned back in November when we met she wanted to introduce me to someone. Now this is April and I am sure she has a lot on her mind but NO - she remembered and made sure I got introduced to that person.

Now, that is something I guess some of our VIPs and even us can emulate?