Page 27 - From Zero To Hero

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As expected, the project was deemed a
tremendous success, surpassing all expec-
tations. It was this success that made the
Group a specialist in this particular area
of expertise.
Eversendai didnot stop there– in2009,
the group expanded business operations
even further to India and took on the
daunting project of erecting the North
Chennai power plant project, along with
Phase 1 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji In-
ternational Airport – South West Pier in
Mumbai.
Consistency and perseverance were
the two key ingredients for Eversendai’s
growth and establishment. Three years
later, theGroupwas finally converted into
a public limited company and carries its
current name, Eversendai Corporation
Berhad.
Last year, Eversendai hit itsRM1billion
turnover mark. Having achieved such a
significant milestone, the Group is now
workinghardtoachieveRM2billionwithin
the next five years (2017).
Understanding the importance of
creativity and diversification in business
today, Eversendai is now venturing into
newcomponents relating to the company’s
core business. Some areas that will be
explored include fabrication, oil and gas,
petrochemicalsandexecutionof composite
structures for high-rise towers.
Todate, Eversendai has completedover
150 projects in 10 countries.
Malaysia’S Man of Steel -
Dato’ AK Nathan
The name Eversendai (named after the
Japanese city of Sendai), means ‘for
a thousand generations’. Eversendai’s
foundation is built with strong emphasis
on excellent work ethics and culture.
Many Japanese work processes were
introduced at Eversendai, specifically in
areas related to safety, ownership, work
and responsibility.
“Whatever I learned, I put intopractice.
There isonephrase that I always remember
: whatever themind of aman can conceive
and believe, it can achieve,” said Nathan,
citing Napoleon Hill’s Law of Success.
A humble and soft-spoken man by
nature, this simple man built his steel
foundationout of sheer perseverance, zeal
and persistence.
“It’s all about hard work, persistence
and a drive to challenge yourself,” explains
the man of steel himself. Hailing from
an average middle-class family, this shy
Kepong boy left the country to further
his studies in Chennai, India during his
early adulthood. When the family was
hit by a sudden financial crisis, he had no
choice but to opt out of his pre-university
studies. He started working in a printing
press company in India to ease the family
burden.
He returned to Malaysia from Chen-
nai with hopes of starting his own
printing company a year later, but
instead began working as an insurance
agent with AIA.
The short stint here gave him many
practical experiences in life. His tryst with
the steel industryhappenedbychance, and
in 1983Nathanwas awarded the contract
of constructing steel structures for the
Proton Factory in ShahAlam, Selangor by
the Nippon Steel Corporation.
A year later, Eversendai was incorpo-
rated, and the rest they say, is history.
Despite building such a huge construc-
tion empire, Nathan still derives inspira-
tion froma jobwell done and continues to
look forward to new ventures.
“It all boils down to the person you
are within. Education sets the stage for
success, but without the right attitude,
success can never be within arm’s reach,”
he says gently.
He firmly believes that character and
inner strength are vital pieces in the puz-
zle of success. Volatile business markets
taught him early in life that without the
right ingredients of values and sacrifice,
you can never truly taste victory.
“Anyone can build a business, but
building it the right way, with the right
values, procedures and methods is the
biggest challenge of all. Build a business
thatwill last for generations, andaddvalue
to it by incorporating the right practices
and principles.”
Man of Steel ... Chairman and GroupManaging
Director, Dato’ AKNathan