Andrew Heng FCPA and Anoopal Kaur CPA: Calm within the storm
At a glance
Andrew Heng FCPA
Group managing partner, Baker Tilly Malaysia
Anoopal started with us straight from university. She learned very quickly and rose through the ranks. She was very reserved at first, but was really committed to developing her communication skills. She was one of the first of her peers to be promoted to partner.
She is currently the youngest female liquidator in Malaysia, which is a great achievement for her and the firm.
I think we are quite alike. We are both relaxed and easy-going people, and we work well together. My style of leadership is quite flat. I think leaders work well when they are guides in the background, and that is how I have worked with Anoopal.
I support her and encourage her to do what she needs to do, but to come to me if she needs any help. I want to give her room to learn and explore.
Insolvency is very demanding in terms of dealing with creditors. You can get angry creditors or purchasers calling to complain every other day.
With Anoopal, I know I can leave her to deal with the clients and her files, and if there are any issues that she needs help with, she will come to me for advice. I have confidence in her, because she is so good with people and in dealing with problems.
One of her greatest strengths is how nurturing she is with her own staff. They also appreciate her leadership style, which she has taken to the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation’s Malaysia Network.
This is a network that I encouraged her to join, and she is now one of the leaders there as well, not just for Malaysia, but also for Asia-Pacific.
What would you change about Anoopal?
I always encourage her to be involved in presentations and put herself out there. I think Anoopal has the potential to market herself a bit more and go out there and represent Baker Tilly. She can do it!
Anoopal Kaur CPA
Partner, corporate recovery and restructuring, Baker Tilly Malaysia
I’ve worked with Andrew from the very beginning of my career, joining as a shy and reserved graduate.
When I was 18, I moved to the city for university and then I joined Baker Tilly while I was still in my final year. I got the call for an interview while I was sitting my final paper.
It was the first job I got – and I am still here 13 years later!
I think part of the reason I am still here is the culture. When I started, most of the staff were young, including Andrew, who was already a partner, so it was a very fun place, and it was really exciting – and everyone was studying at the same time and doing the CPA qualification.
Andrew has really encouraged me every step of the way. He is such a relaxed and calm person, who will take the time to help with any advice.
It makes it a great place to work, and now that I am managing people myself, I have taken some of his leadership traits to provide the same support to my staff.
No problem is too big for Andrew – he always has time to listen. I remember once, when I was fairly new, I made an error, and I knew I had to fix it.
The first thing I did was to go and see Andrew and explain the situation, half expecting to get an earful. He just stopped what he was doing and listened to me, and then calmly helped me sort it out.
Now that I have progressed through the ranks and am a partner, I really want to be able to demonstrate that same attitude. Andrew has taught me so many skills and was a big factor in my decision to qualify to be a liquidator.
I have the honour of being the youngest female liquidator in Malaysia, which is something I am proud of, but wouldn’t have done without his support.
He also encouraged me to join the International Women’s Insolvency Network. He has always been this person in the background, saying: “Hey, just go and do this. You can do it, you know, just go ahead and do it.”
What would you change about Andrew?
I’ve never thought there was anything particularly he should change about himself, except that he may give too much of himself to others – he could maybe take some more time off!
