What I remember most about Margaret Lim…

I consulted for her briefly when she started MediaBase and saw that she was no nominal media person; she had innate creativity.

I helped her craft the MSA Awards during its maiden year and was inspired by her hunger for setting standards of excellence.

Whenever Margaret thanked anyone, she had that sparkling smile that made you feel the whole world was equally grateful.

I learned the term “media specialist” from her, during the pathfinding days of media independents and networked media shops.

Margaret defined a lot of the learnings in our business and did the same for many who are now the leaders of the industry.

Anyone conversing with her, will notice that her constant nodding and darting eyes signalled the coming of an amazing discovery.

At the same time, you could feel that Margaret knew something great was going to happen anyway. So we just went with the flow.

Whenever I met her it was not just a meeting; it was an encounter. Which brings me to my soup story…

One day, I was scheduled to meet her around noon at her office when she was the Executive Chairman of Dentsu Aegis Network Malaysia.

I arrived and parked in her personal VVIP parking space, after her driver Steven had reparked her car somewhere else.

That was my first visit to HP Towers and it appeared Margaret wasn’t letting me waste time looking for parking.

Feeling on top of the world, I rocked into her office ushered in by her Executive PA Nelly.

I had entered the inner sanctum and sat in the calm.

I saw a pot of soup on her glass top working table and I guessed that was her lunch.

Shortly after, Margaret burst into the room with her usual world-changing pace.

She announced that the main item on the agenda was Soup, and I was sharing it with her.

Made by her maid who had specific instructions on how to prepare it, I tried to avoid her invitation but Margaret would have none of that.

Nelly instantly whisked in two bowls into the room and we both relished the soup together.

After that I actually forgot what the meeting was all about, and it didn’t really matter.

I already had the privilege of enjoying her hospitality at a level that was truly rare.

Thank you Margaret, for the soup of kindness and love.

Rest in Peace.

Margaret Lim, the true “Dame of Malaysian Media”, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2024.