Suziyana Chamari: The Blueprint for Dedication and Determination

With her strong work ethic and her achievements, Suziyana’s recognition as one of ASW’s 2022 Client Spotlight Awardees is truly well-deserved. Find out what motivates her to excel, her journey to motherhood, and the Malaysian dishes that she highly recommends!

1. Hi Suziyana, could you tell us a bit about yourself? Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?

Thank you for this opportunity. I appreciate it. I’ve been married since 2008 and a mother to a wonderful child. I work as an estimator for our client partner Safetyline Jalousie for nearly five years now. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Quantity Surveying and I have a Master’s Degree in Project Management. I love cooking, reading and sightseeing.

2. What was your career like before you joined ASW? How did you start at ASW?

I’ve been working in the construction industry since I graduated in 2005. During the first two years, I was involved in buildings and civil works. In 2007, I changed to oil and gas line until I decided to quit in 2016 to focus on my treatment to conceive a child.

The work was stressful and full of deadlines. It required me to work long hours. My husband and I were eager to grow our family. But given the circumstances, it affected our treatment schedules and results. After the first IVF treatment, I gave birth to my first child in 2017. When he was ten old months, I decided to go back to work and that was when my journey with ASW started.

3. Can you tell us more about your role here at ASW? What’s a regular day like for you?

As an estimator, my role is to provide accurate quotations and detailed cost estimates in a timely manner. Generally, a regular day for me starts with reviewing project specifications, plans, and contracts to determine project requirements.

I like to prioritise my tasks and make sure that I am focusing on the most urgent and important items first. Overall, my days are typically quite busy and require a lot of focus and attention to detail. But I find the work to be incredibly rewarding and I enjoy the opportunity to work on a variety of projects.

4. What do you enjoy most about your work as an estimator?

What I enjoy most about my job is the sense of satisfaction that comes from winning a project after all the hard work that goes into the bidding process. It is a great feeling to see our team’s efforts pay off, knowing that we have secured new business for the company.

5. What inspired you to pursue this career and what motivates you in this role?

Being able to contribute to the growth and success of the company is a big motivator for me, and it drives me to continue working hard and striving for success in my role as an estimator.

6. What are the challenges that you usually encounter in your line of work and how do you handle them?

One of the most common challenges is when there is not enough information provided to develop a comprehensive and accurate cost estimate. Another challenge is when I have to manage multiple quotes at the same time. To be successful in this role, I believe that strong analytical and critical thinking skills are essential, as well as excellent communication and collaboration abilities. Attention to detail, accuracy, and the ability to work well under pressure are also important qualities for an estimator.

7. Congratulations on your Client Spotlight Award last year! Can you share with us the feedback that you received from our client partner regarding your work performance?

Thank you very much for recognising my work and the Client Spotlight Award that I received last year. I am very proud of this achievement, and I am happy to share the positive feedback that I received from Safetyline Jalousie. They expressed that they were impressed with my attention to detail, my ability to communicate and respond quickly, and my overall dedication to the work.

8. You also joined the ASW Virtual Fun Run last year. What kilometre category did you participate in? Tell us more about your experience.

I chose to participate in the 25-kilometre category. It was a great experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The virtual aspect of the fun run was a bit different from traditional fun runs that I have participated in, but it was still a great way to challenge myself physically and connect with others who share similar interests. It was a personal challenge for me, and I was happy to complete it within my target time. Overall, it was a great way to stay active, challenge myself, and connect with others during a difficult time.

9. What do you consider your top 3 achievements (whether at ASW or in your personal life)?

Becoming a wife and mother. Becoming a career woman. Obtained a Master’s Degree in Project Management.

10. Is there a personal or professional goal that you’ve always wanted to accomplish?

To stay healthy and happy with my families and friends. During my studies, I wanted to become a registered surveyor but my path brought me here. There is nothing to regret as I feel every experience is worth it.

11. Name one thing/aspect from your country that you’re proud to share with everyone.

I am proud of the varieties of Malaysian dishes. I am grateful to come from a country that has a rich and diverse cultural heritage. We have a long history and many traditions that are unique to our country. Our cuisine is a blend of different flavours and spices that have been passed down through generations.

I would love to introduce people to some of our signature dishes, such as nasi lemak (fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf with anchovies sambal), nasi ayam (chicken rice), mee kari (curry noodles), kuih talam (traditional dessert) and much more.

12. Thanks for your time! Before we go, what inspirational message would you like to share with your fellow ASW colleagues?

Be strong, brave and confident in your ability. Believe and value yourself. Always be consistent with your principles and you will grow with every challenge.