Independent consulting has no retirement age. That is one of the clearest lessons from Zalina's three-decade career in risk management and business continuity, which took her from a telecommunications company in Malaysia in 1995 to leading the risk division at Malaysia Airports, and eventually to running her own consultancy serving aviation, energy, oil and gas and infrastructure clients across the region.
In this session, Zalina shares the full arc of her journey, the traits she believes every independent consultant must develop, and the practical steps she recommends for anyone considering the move into independent work.
Watch the full recording here:
How Zalina's career progressed from practitioner to consultant, including the moment she decided not to retire and why she has never looked back
The five traits she considers non-negotiable for both practitioners and independent consultants: knowledge and expertise, interpersonal skills, resilience, passion and the ability to listen well
How she delivers credibility in a new industry quickly, through deep reading, site visits, constant communication and a willingness to learn before she advises
Her approach to business development without a sales background, including how to use LinkedIn, conferences and speaker slots to build visibility in your professional community
Why she recommends ISO and PECB certifications as the most direct path to building both confidence and credibility as a consultant in risk or business continuity
The honest trade-offs of independent consulting, including the importance of physical fitness, a pool of trusted associate consultants and staying mentally active well beyond conventional retirement age
This session is both a career story and a practical guide. Zalina is candid about what did not come easily and specific about what she would tell someone starting out today.