SITizen Sheik Abdul Hafidz Bin Sheik A Hamid, valedictorian from the Class of 2014, is a shining example of how seizing opportunities and pushing beyond comfort zones can lead to a successful career and fulfilling life.

Anyone who first meets Sheik Abdul Hafidz would never imagine that he graduated from polytechnic with a ‘not too strong GPA’. However, instead of letting the past define him, Sheik seized the opportunity that came his way when he applied to read the Chemical Engineering degree jointly offered by SIT and Newcastle University, and he has not looked back since.

Sheik reminisces that his time at SIT was incredibly fulfilling as he took on leadership roles in student committees. As President of the Newcastle University Chemical Engineering Committee and Executive Committee member of the Newcastle University Student Committee, he took charge of the orientation event for his juniors, managing a committee of nine other members from different groups. The experience, while humbling, was fulfilling as he learned to harness the energy and opinions of his team and gain the support of the whole cohort to plan for events throughout the year.

He also recalls with much fondness the time spent mugging for exams and churning out assignments, hanging out with his friends and leaning on a support group which gave him the impetus to push himself; eventually earning the honour of valedictorian for his programme. In fact, he delivered his valedictory address twice – as valedictorian at the SIT Graduation Ceremony 2014 (the year it was gazetted as an autonomous university) and student orator at the graduation ceremony for Newcastle University.

Sheik delivering his valedictory address at the SIT Graduation Ceremony 2014. (Photo: Sheik Abdul Hafidz)

Opportunity Knocks, Time and Again

One would think that having already achieved so much during his time in SIT, Sheik would ‘settle down’ into his first job upon graduating. However, after one year in oil and gas company PEC Ltd, managing works for Shell in Pulau Bukom, Sheik decided to leave Singapore after a conversation with his senior, who inspired him to pursue his Masters at Imperial College. “That decision opened doors and laid the foundation for my career growth,” says Sheik.

Sheik and his senior Jian Ming catching up in London.  (Photo: Sheik Abdul Hafidz)

Living in London for a year meant being away from friends and family and managing life in an expensive city. So, when Novartis, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, put out a call for talent, Sheik recognised yet another opportunity had come his way. He applied to join its Global Talent Excellence Programme upon his return to Singapore after he had completed his Masters. Within 72 hours, he flew to Germany to attend the assessment and was hired the very next day.

Over the next 19 months, he lived in 3 different countries as part of Novartis’ Global Talent Excellence Programme. By then, Sheik had transitioned from being an engineer into a business development role, something which he admits he never imagined when he graduated from SIT. However, he credits his time in SIT for his ability to roll up his sleeves to get the job done. Instead of seeing his lack of business knowledge as a limitation, he turned it into an advantage by bringing his technical expertise into his new role.

He admits, “I never thought of going into a business development role. I was always intrigued by the multi-faceted marvel of engineering and thought that I would stay in this field for some time. However, the business development role seemed pretty interesting, and I thought it was a golden opportunity to push myself and upgrade myself in other areas of the industry.”

It Takes a Village... and a Supportive Spouse

At the end of 2018, Sheik returned to Singapore and made another life-changing decision – to marry his wife, a fellow Temasek Polytechnic (TP) alumnus. While they never spoke to each other during their time in TP, they had connected on social media after graduating from TP and, as he says, “The rest is history.” Sheik credits her as his “biggest supporter” who stood by him when he was pursuing his Masters and while in his global rotational programme with Novartis. “Till today, she’s been the backbone of my career journey, and I’m truly thankful to have her by my side.”

Sheik with his pillars of support – his wife and children. (Photo: Sheik Abdul Hafidz)

Since then, Sheik has become a proud father (his third child was born just last month) and actively volunteers in various organisations -- something which began before marriage. Today, he is an Operations Director and was an elected Treasurer for Mendaki Club, a youth-led organisation with a mission to uplift Malay/Muslim youths. He also gives back to his alma mater by joining SIT's mentorship programmes, where industry and alumni mentors return to share experiences with SITizens.

Sheik says, “Volunteering while raising kids has not been easy. But I try my best to adjust my way of contributing back to society, opting for online support as much as I can and supporting other volunteers to grow. Now my kids keep me the busiest, while I try to squeeze time for sports with friends and social time with family.”

Never Stop Learning

When asked what Novartis Singapore’s Director of Business Development, CDMO Asia, would say to his younger self, Sheik replies, “Believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who believe in you. Be kind to the world and its people, especially your family and friends. Hold on to your values and face your fears head-on. Success awaits you.”

Despite his busy schedule, Sheik still finds the time to indulge in his favourite sports – soccer, table tennis and tennis – and he recently picked up Muay Thai. But if you think these are all that keep Sheik occupied, juggling his roles as father, mentor, and director in an MNC, try engaging with him in Japanese or Arabic. “I just enjoy learning new things – like languages…” he says with a smile. 

Sharing the stage with a fellow alumnus at the SIT Graduation Dinner 2024.  (Photo: Sheik Abdul Hafidz)

Not one to shy away from any opportunity to share his experiences, Sheik makes time for the occasional SIT event to reconnect with fellow alumni, faculty and staff with whom he has kept in contact over the years. “I’ve stayed in touch with my classmates across different industries. Some of them even work in the same company and facility as me, so we regularly catch up. The shared experiences and friendships we built at SIT keep us connected.”