IT IS the Silicon Valley, known for its boom and bust cycle where Alice in Wonderland moments are aplenty for the newbies.
But for Haniza Zainal Abidin who moved to San Jose five years ago, it is a place she feels right at home.
In fact, she leads the Malaysian Professional And Business Association (MPBA), a 15-year-old organisation whose members lean on for professional and social support. It also promotes business opportunities in Malaysia.
Malaysians, according to Haniza, must really do more networking. “I have seen many opportunities squandered because people do not put themselves out there.”
Since most tech companies were moving parts of their operations to the Midwest due to the lower costs, she believes that Malaysians could also take advantage of such a trend.
“They should keep abreast with the economy through weblogs, newspapers and magazines.”
MPBA was more of a social group until Haniza took over as president last year. “My vision is to make it more business and professional-oriented.”
The association has been a helpline for Malaysians in the San Francisco Bay area, which stretches from San Francisco to San Jose.
(There are an estimated 5,000 Malaysians in North California, which include Sacramento and other areas outside of Silicon Valley.)
“There was a fresh Master's graduate in biotech from a local university here. She doesn’t know any other Malaysian in a similar field, so she volunteered to be our Biotech Special Interest Group (SIG) manager.”
“With MPBA behind her, she got connected with the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation and subsequently found other successful Malaysians in the industry. Subsequently, she organised the first Malaysian-centred biotech event in Silicon Valley.”
More promisingly, Haniza found that non-Malaysians were also attending MPBA events, as they wanted to see the opportunities available in Malaysia.
So far, the MPBA has about 100 members. About 90% of them are Malaysians while the rest are foreigners such as Singaporeans and Americans.
The MPBA is believed to be the only “professional” Malaysian organisation, as other groupings tend to focus mostly on social activities.
She is also intent on opening up chapters in other US cities. “I’ve got requests to have MPBA chapters in Arizona and South California,” said Haniza, 36.
Haniza, who has a business administration degree from Sacramento State University, was a general manager of a firm in Kuala Lumpur that deals in selling and servicing security digital recording systems until she married an American and moved to San Jose.
She found that Singaporeans are better known here compared to Malaysians.
“My wish is that people here will be more aware of our capabilities and opportunities. For our part, MPBA is promoting our events to the local public.
“I believe that Malaysia’s popularity will come in time especially when more and more Malaysians become successful in the Silicon Valley by heading their own companies or taking up top positions here.”
She admired a Singaporean programme that is collaboration between its government and the National University of Singapore.
“They send students who have entrepreneurial talent to come and intern with start-up companies in the Valley.
“The companies who take them in are now more aware of Singapore and its resources. I would love to have something like this happen with our top Malaysian universities.”
Almost all MPBA members are working professionals or business owners but some are homemakers, too.
“Some of them joined us for the social events but it’s becoming known to them that we can help them professionally too.”
She spoke of a food caterer, who had never met another Malaysian despite being here for five years.
“She is so happy to be part of the association, and made many friends and customers too!”
Haniza noted that many Malaysians here were in the food business.
“One of them has started to import Malaysian sauces and after being a sponsor of our event, she got a few orders from members who love her food.”
The MPBA, she said, was also the easiest link to the Malaysian government. “Right now, we are working with the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), Mida, Tourism Malaysia and the Consul General.
“Since we’re working and living here, we are the best connection for the Government to reach out to locals.”
