Meet the

Mentors

Personal Profile

Profile Picture

Rizan Latif

Last Active: 2025-08-02 10:28:22

Industry Background:

Entrepreneurship

Area(s) of Mentorship:

My mentorship is focused on providing practical, actionable guidance grounded in over 20 years of building teams, managing operations, and driving strategic growth. I can assist entrepreneurs in the following key areas: 1. Business Strategy & Planning - Developing a comprehensive business plan and a robust go-to-market strategy. - Guidance on full Profit & Loss (P&L) management, from initial budgeting to achieving sustained profitability. - Navigating stakeholder and government relations to support business growth and compliance. 2. Operations & Project Management - Implementing internationally recognized management systems (ISO 9001 for Quality, ISO 14001 for Environment) to build a foundation for operational excellence. - Applying effective project management frameworks (PRINCE2®) to ensure services and products are delivered on time and within budget. - Structuring and managing complex technical and commercial negotiations. 3. Team Building & Leadership - Strategies for recruiting, training, and mentoring a specialized, high-performing team. - Developing leadership skills to foster a positive and effective work culture. - Guidance on creating a "center of excellence" within your business to drive innovation and market leadership.

About

My career has been a "parallel journey" defined by two core passions: driving strategic growth in the corporate world and applying that same expertise to build a stronger, more resilient Brunei. With over 20 years as an Environmental Engineer and business leader in the demanding global energy sector , I have always believed that professional skills find their highest purpose in service to the community.

As a business leader, I have a proven track record of building and scaling operations from the ground up. While at Bureau Veritas, I was tasked with creating a new Technical HSE service line. I developed the complete business plan and go-to-market strategy , recruited and mentored the team , and grew the department into a primary, highly profitable revenue center for the company. This experience, from concept to P&L management, gave me a firsthand understanding of the entrepreneurial challenges in building something valuable and sustainable.

Today, my focus is on channeling this experience into national development. In 2024, I was elected as the Deputy President for Economy for the Federation of Brunei Malay Entrepreneurs (PPPMB) , a role that allows me to champion a more robust and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem. My mandate is to advocate for pro-business policies and spearhead initiatives that equip our local entrepreneurs with the modern tools they need to thrive.

This dual commitment to corporate excellence and community service has been recognized with the Meritorious Service Medal (P.I.K.B.) from H.M. The Sultan of Brunei and the Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. As a mentor, I aim to share the practical lessons from both these worlds to help the next generation of Brunei's business leaders build their own success stories.

Experience(s)

Company Logo

BUREAU VERITAS (B) SDN BHD, BRUNEI | 2012 – 2023. Business Development Director (2021 – 2023); Country Chief Executive (2020 – 2021); Head of Technical HSE / Business Development Manager (2012 – 2020)

Company Logo

P-EWI SDN BHD, BRUNEI | 2006 – 2012. General Manager / Senior Environmental & Process Safety Consultant

Company Logo

SCHLUMBERGER, REYNOSA, MEXICO | 2004 – 2005. Wireline Field Engineer

Company Logo

MASHHOR GENERAL CONTRACTOR / MASHHOR WASTE MANAGEMENT | 2002 – 2003. Quality System Coordinator / Management Executive