Teoh Chun Ming

Candidate for District Director 102

Toastmasters member since: 2006

M.Sc. in Chemistry, 2004 (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)

Toastmasters offices held and terms of service:

• 2021-2022 District 102 Program Quality Director
• 2020-2021 District 102 Club Growth Director
• 2019-2020 District 102 Club Retention Chair
• 2017-2018 District 102 Awards Chair
• 2016-2017 District 102 Awards Chair
• 2015-2016 Division B Director
• 2012-2013 District 51 Secretary
• 2010-2011 Area B4 Governor
• 2009-2010 D’Utama Toastmasters Club President

Toastmasters honors and recognition:

• 2015-2016 Division Director of the Year (District 51)
• 2015-2016 President’s Distinguised Division (as Division Director)
• 2010-2011 Select Distinguished Area (as Area Governor)
• 2009-2010 President’s Distinguished Club (as President)

Relevant work experience and how it relates to Toastmasters and your role as a District leader:

I lead a team of sales partners in my company. So, my work involves people, challenges and striving our best to meet the sales budget every year. As a team leader, I encourage my team members to deliver their best and never give up easily when facing rejection and challenges. I find this very similar with Toastmasters. As a district leader, we have to encourage all district and club officers to deliver their best in achieving the Distinguished Club, Area and Division Program goals, and collectively we will achieve the Distinguished District Program goals.

What experience do you have in strategic planning?

As sales partners, my team and I are the frontliners of our company. We go out to the market and bring back the sales to the company. This entails strategic and thoughtful planning so that my team members and I are doing the right things to ensure that our company continue to thrive in business and remain profitable. This is similar in Toastmasters whereby all district and club officers have to strategically plan at the beginning of each term on how to achieve their respective Distinguished Club, Area, Division and District Program goals.

What experience do you have in the area of finance?

As sales partners, my team and I have to carefully plan the inventory, monitor the payment from customers and ensure that there is always a positive cash flow in the company. When there is a positive cash flow, the company will remain profitable and the business will be sustainable.

What experience do you have in developing procedures?

As a leader for the sales team, I help to develop the work procedures for the company. When proper work procedures are in place, my team members can work with minimal supervision and work efficiency will increase.

What lessons did you learn from previous leadership positions?

Teamwork. This is one of the greatest lessons that I learnt after serving various club and district roles over the years. No one is perfect. Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses. Some members are good in IT, poster design or accounting. Some members are passionate about Toastmasters, while some have their own reasons of joining Toastmasters and taking up leadership roles. Whether we’re club or district officers, we should set aside the differences and leverage on each other’s strengths and collectively achieve the common goals.

In your opinion, what are the District mission’s major objectives and how would you work to achieve them?

The District mission’s major objective is to expand the organisation so that more individuals could benefit from Toastmasters. In my humble opinion, to achieve this objective, we have to ensure that all the clubs conduct quality meetings and meet the members’ educational goals. Only when the members are learning and benefitting from Toastmasters, we can grow the organisation further.