Exclusive Interview with Nina Sharil Khan: “You’ve got to Just Langgar!”

Nina Sharil Khan is not your typical mentor, coach, or entrepreneur — and that’s exactly what makes her unforgettable. From championing brands to coaching individuals through their own transformations, her career is a masterclass in resilience, authenticity, and the power of “just langgar”.

Today, as Chief Marketing Officer at Infinite Headway, she leads the charge in empowering Southeast Asian businesses at a time when the dearth of trained marketing talent is reshaping the industry. Through innovative coaching, holistic leadership development, and energy-based healing, her programs are designed for sustainable success.

Prior to Infinite Headway, she was the Founder and Chief Unicorn Officer of PopCon, Southeast Asia’s premier Business Influencer School, where she played an instrumental role in transforming individuals and brands into digital thought leaders and industry authorities.

In this exclusive interview with MARKETING Magazine, Nina Sharil Khan opens up about her unique journey and the importance of mentorship in today’s fast-changing world.

With your role as a mentor being a constant aspect of your career, how has your perspective on the profession evolved over time?

My perspective on mentoring has definitely evolved, and let me tell you, it’s been a journey! When I first started, mentorship was all about the grind. Back then, it was about working hard, hustling, and overworking yourself. Mentors were the drill sergeants, and mentees were the soldiers. Tough love? Oh, we had loads of that!

I was in the “high standards or nothing” camp—my standards were so high I think I must’ve been the most constipated mentor around. I mean, looking back, I wouldn’t even want to be a mentee to me!

But here’s the twist—over time, I learned that mentorship isn’t just about pushing people to their limits. It’s about understanding, patience, and kindness. We’ve learned so much about the mind and how it works, and nowadays, it’s more about healing, wellness, and supporting people on their journey.

Thanks to some of the most amazing coaches and mentors I’ve been lucky enough to learn from, and my own study of healing & wellness, I’ve found a whole new approach. These days, I’m all about being fluid and working with my mentees, not against them.

It’s not about tough love—it’s about giving people the space to grow in their own way, at their own pace. The lessons will come when they’re meant to come and that’s when amazing, impactful transformation happens! It’s just so rewarding to see!

What role do you believe mentorship plays in personal and professional growth, and why is it crucial in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing work environment?

Mentorship plays a huge role—like, “biggest cheerleader at the front row” kind of role. It’s amazing to me that there are still people who don’t realize how important mentorship is at every stage of life. The world is changing so fast, and the learning doesn’t stop once you hit adulthood. In fact, the real learning just begins!

Think about it. When we’re babies, our parents are basically our 24/7 mentors, guiding us through every single milestone. But then, when we hit adulthood, society expects us to just know everything—spoiler alert, we don’t!

We’re always growing. In our 20s, we’re figuring out how to adult—buy our first car, start a career. In our 30s, we’re expanding, navigating new challenges, and so on, well into our 40s, 50s, and beyond. It’s a constant evolution.

Statistically, those with a solid support network of family, friends, and mentors thrive—and it’s proven that those with coaches and mentors do even better. We’re not taught how to excel at life; it’s something you need guidance on. Personal happiness and professional success are linked. If your personal life is in balance, your professional life flourishes, and vice versa.

So yeah – mentorship plays a huge huge crucial role especially in today’s fast paced world!

Nina Sharil Khan speaking at the Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad’s 5G Winners Circle event

How do you determine the right coaching approach for each individual or organization, and what factors influence your decision-making process?

It really depends on where they are in their journey and what level of buy-in they have. Some people are ready to hit the ground running, while others need a bit more hand-holding. I always assess where they’re at—mentally, emotionally, and even where their career or personal goals are. It’s like you can’t give a high-energy motivational speech to someone who’s just trying to find their footing.

The key is understanding them as a whole person, not just as a client or a mentee. What drives them? What do they need right now? And most importantly, are they open to the change? You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. So, I tailor my approach based on their readiness and the level of transformation they’re prepared for. It’s not a one-size-fits-all—you’ve got to read the room.

What are the most common barriers that individuals or leaders encounter when pursuing personal development?

The big ones are:

Closed mindsets: People who are just not open to new ideas or perspectives.
Ego: Leaders who think it’s all about everyone else except them.
Know-it-all syndrome: If someone thinks they have it all figured out, they’re not going to listen to any advice.

You can’t help someone who doesn’t want help. If they’re not open to learning, there’s nothing you can do. It’s like trying to force-feed someone who’s not hungry—just doesn’t work. Sometimes, you’ve got to respect that they’re not ready to change and it’s ok. The best you can do is be there when they are ready. Trust me, NOT easy!

Looking back on your mentorship experiences, what is one moment that has left a lasting impression on you?

There are so many moments that have stuck with me. But one that really stands out is when a mentee came back to me after months of struggling, almost ready to give up.

I remember the conversation so vividly. She was in tears, saying that she didn’t think she could make something of herself again—her career was over because she had just gotten retrenched. But after a few conversations, a lot of coaching, and her doing the inner work, she came back a year later, thriving in a senior role, and she was offered 3 more senior roles as her next career move, each even better than before!

She told me: “You believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself, and you took me from one goal to so many goals and achievements in life I never thought possible.” That moment hit me hard because, as mentors, we don’t always see the immediate impact. But knowing that I had helped shape her journey was incredibly rewarding.

Nina Sharil Khan hosting a panel for PopCon, Southeast Asia’s premier Business Influencer School.

You’ve worked in various industries over the years. What is one key lesson from your career that you still apply in your work today?

You’ve got to Just Langgar! Seriously. Sometimes, you just have to go for it—especially when it comes to creating content. When I first started out, I was a perfectionist, thinking I had to have everything perfect before posting anything. But I learned from Vikarworld, a YouTube influencer, that perfection is overrated. You can’t wait for it. You just need to start. Post what you have, learn as you go, and improve along the way.

Betul jugak, I thought to myself. I mean, I was just posting a video of some behind-the-scenes footage from a conference I attended on LinkedIn. It’s not like I was trying to create an Oscar-worthy film to compete with Steven Spielberg! But the perfection I had set for myself for this simple video was insane—and that’s when it hit me…

It’s like driving at night—you can only see the next 100 meters, but you keep moving forward. Before you know it, you’ve reached your destination 400 km away. That’s life! You won’t have all the answers, especially when industries, technology, and the world change so quickly. Just look at Nokia, Blockbuster, Kodak, and MySpace—they failed to adapt, and we all know how that ended.

So now, whenever I work on anything, I embrace the messy process. You’ll never have all the information, but you still move forward. This one piece of advice has stuck with me, and it’s helped me learn, grow, and thrive in whatever industry I’m in!

Nina Sharil Khan will be speaking at the Malaysian Marketing Conference Discovery Edition on May 9th. Learn more at https://marketingmagazine.com.my/cmo2025/

Presenting Sponsors are Ampersand Advisory, FCB SHOUT, GO Communications, GroupM, IPG Mediabrands and Moving Walls.