Interview with GCI Alumni: Safrul from Malaysia
In this GCI Alumni Interview Series, we feature past participants of the Global Consumer Intelligence (GCI) program and share their experiences, learning journeys, and career growth after joining GCI.
This article features Muhammad Safrul Rosli, a student at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) from Malaysia. Through this interview, Safrul shares what motivated him to join GCI, the skills and knowledge gained through the program, and how the experience has contributed to Safrul’s academic and professional journey.
Q1: Please introduce yourself
(In English)
I am a Malaysian undergraduate student at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Artificial Intelligence. While I am currently not affiliated to any company, I have recently started my journey as an early-stage startup founder.
(In Malay)
Saya merupakan seorang pelajar prasiswazah dari Malaysia yang sedang melanjutkan pengajian di Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) dalam Ijazah Sarjana Muda Kecerdasan Buatan (Artificial Intelligence). Buat masa ini, saya tidak bernaung di bawah mana-mana syarikat, namun saya baru sahaja memulakan perjalanan sebagai pengasas startup yang masih berada di peringkat awal.
Q2: What motivated you to join GCI?
(In English)
I have always wanted to build a startup, and more importantly, to build one that succeeds. Seeing that GCI offered both data science knowledge, which closely aligns with my field, and also business education, I believed that joining GCI would bring me closer to achieving my dream – which it did!
(In Malay)
Saya bercita-cita untuk membina sebuah startup, dan yang lebih penting, membina startup yang benar-benar berjaya. Apabila saya melihat bahawa GCI menawarkan ilmu sains data yang sangat berkait rapat dengan bidang pengajian saya, di samping pengetahuan dalam bidang perniagaan, saya percaya bahawa menyertai GCI akan membawa saya lebih dekat kepada impian tersebut — dan ternyata, ia benar-benar berjaya merealisasikannya.
Q3: What skills, knowledge, or experiences did you gain through GCI?
(In English)
I learned three things: 1. technical skills, 2. exposure to startup and 3. the importance of professionalism.
1) GCI helped me learn how to apply data science/AI to solve actual problems with actual practicality. Rather than packaging AI as the solution, GCI taught me to see AI as one tool within a broader problem-solving process. Sometimes the best solution does not even require AI.
2) During the guest lectures, GCI introduced me to founders and professionals working in startups. I was given the opportunity to learn what they did, how they carried themselves, and what obstacles they went through. Expanding on this, I was fortunately selected as the outstanding student, so I was given the opportunity to visit a bunch of startups under Matsuo. It went beyond simply hearing about startups, and actually experiencing their working environment.
3) The professionalism that the GCI team has shown is exceptional. From this, I have learned how far professionalism could actually impact your stakeholders (where in their case, I am the stakeholder). Feeling the effect firsthand, the professionalism showed definitely influenced my high regards of GCI. Experiencing this showed me how professionalism can positively influence the people you work with and support.
(In Malay)
Saya belajar tiga perkara: 1. kemahiran teknikal, 2. pendedahan kepada syarikat pemula dan 3. kepentingan profesionalisme.
1) GCI membantu saya mempelajari cara mengaplikasikan sains data/AI untuk menyelesaikan masalah sebenar dengan praktikaliti yang sebenar. Daripada menjadikan AI sebagai solusi mutlak, GCI mengajar saya untuk melihat AI sebagai satu alat dalam proses penyelesaian masalah yang lebih luas. Kadangkala, penyelesaian terbaik tidak memerlukan AI pun.
2) Melalui sesi perkongsian bersama jemputan, GCI memperkenalkan saya kepada para pengasas startup dan profesional yang bekerja dalam industri tersebut. Saya berpeluang mempelajari apa yang mereka lakukan, cara mereka berfikir dan bekerja, serta cabaran yang mereka hadapi. Selain itu, saya juga bertuah kerana dipilih sebagai pelajar cemerlang, yang membolehkan saya melawat beberapa startup di bawah Matsuo Institute. Pengalaman ini melangkaui sekadar mendengar perkongsian, kerana saya dapat melihat sendiri suasana dan budaya kerja dalam sesebuah startup.
3) Profesionalisme yang ditunjukkan oleh pasukan GCI sememangnya luar biasa. Melalui pengalaman ini, saya menyedari betapa besarnya pengaruh profesionalisme terhadap pihak berkepentingan (stakeholders), dan dalam konteks ini, saya sendiri merupakan salah seorang daripadanya. Mengalami sendiri layanan tersebut telah meningkatkan rasa hormat dan penghargaan saya terhadap GCI. Ia juga mengajar saya bagaimana profesionalisme mampu memberikan impak yang positif kepada individu yang kita berkhidmat atau bekerjasama dengannya.
Q4: How has GCI helped you in your academic or professional journey?
(In English)
Whether it's academic or professional journey, GCI has helped me become more thorough, structured, and intentional in everything I do. Moreover, GCI has given me the motivation I need, to pursue that dream with confidence (creating a successful startup). As of late, I have created a startup called UniNet. And I genuinely believed that I would not have reached this stage this soon without the guidance and encouragement I received from the GCI.
(In Malay)
Sama ada dari sudut akademik mahupun profesional, GCI telah membantu saya menjadi seorang yang lebih teliti, tersusun dan mempunyai tujuan yang jelas dalam setiap perkara yang saya lakukan. Selain itu, GCI turut memberikan saya motivasi untuk terus mengejar impian saya dengan lebih yakin, iaitu membina sebuah startup yang berjaya. Baru-baru ini, saya telah memulakan startup saya sendiri yang dikenali sebagai UniNet. Saya benar-benar percaya bahawa saya tidak akan sampai ke tahap ini, secepat ini, tanpa bimbingan serta dorongan yang saya terima daripada GCI.
Q5: What was the most memorable part of your GCI experience?
(In English)
My most memorable part of my GCI experience is the people. From the founders to the Matsuo team members and my fellow GCI peers, they were all very supportive. The founders helped me answer my unanswered questions, the team members provided the healthiest environment you could possibly get to nurture your own talent, meanwhile the peers gave me the right sense of competitiveness while also being open enough to exchange findings/knowledge.
(In Malay)
Bahagian yang paling bermakna sepanjang pengalaman saya ialah insan-insan yang saya temui. Bermula daripada para pengasas, ahli pasukan Matsuo, sehinggalah rakan-rakan peserta GCI, semuanya sangat menyokong. Para pengasas membantu menjawab persoalan-persoalan yang selama ini bermain di fikiran saya. Ahli pasukan pula menyediakan persekitaran yang sangat positif untuk saya mengembangkan potensi diri. Pada masa yang sama, rakan-rakan GCI mewujudkan persaingan yang sihat sambil sentiasa terbuka untuk berkongsi idea, penemuan dan ilmu pengetahuan antara satu sama lain.
Q6: What would you say to someone considering applying to GCI?
(In English)
Do it, I truly recommend GCI, especially to computer science students. This has been a one-of-a-kind experience that I could not imagine getting elsewhere. Use this opportunity not only strengthen your technical skills, but also gain valuable exposure to startup culture, innovation, and the mindset needed to turn technical knowledge into real-world impact.
(In Malay)
Mohonlah. Saya benar-benar mengesyorkan GCI, terutamanya kepada pelajar dalam bidang sains komputer. Pengalaman ini sangat unik dan saya tidak dapat membayangkan memperoleh pengalaman yang sama di tempat lain. Gunakan peluang ini bukan sahaja untuk memperkukuhkan pengetahuan teknikal, malah untuk mempelajari budaya, pemikiran dan ekosistem yang mengelilingi dunia teknologi. Semua ini akan membantu anda memahami bagaimana pengetahuan teknikal boleh diterjemahkan kepada impak sebenar dalam dunia nyata.
Thank you, Safrul, for sharing your GCI experience with us!
Through the GCI Alumni Interview Series, we hope to highlight the diverse stories of our alumni and show how GCI supports students and professionals in developing practical AI, data science, and business skills for the future.
Do Minh Ngoc, Vietnam
Talitha Celin Widjaja, Indonesia
Rachata Kithatthaporn, Thailand
Rufaro Mugabe, Zimbabwe
Tanatswa Prince Hofisi, Zimbabwe
For those interested in joining GCI, please visit the official GCI program page for more information.
Thank you, Safrul, for sharing your GCI experience with us!
Through the GCI Alumni Interview Series, we hope to highlight the diverse stories of our alumni and show how GCI supports students and professionals in developing practical AI, data science, and business skills for the future.