Welcome to the Glenfiddich Where Next Club, which aims to celebrate and support individuals who embody the Maverick spirit.
What is a Maverick? Mavericks defy convention, push boundaries, and chart their unique paths to success.
They are driven by the courage to embrace uncertainty, the creativity to innovate, and the resilience to rise above challenges.
They continuously strive for growth, breaking new ground in their personal and professional journeys while inspiring others to do the same.
And above all else, they are driven on by that one question that is always on their mind – “Where next?”
The Glenfiddich Where Next Club is a platform that celebrates and supports individuals who embody the Maverick spirit.
Through this campaign, Glenfiddich invites Malaysians to reflect on their own unique qualities, encouraging them to ask the question, “Where Next?” and to embrace the bold, the innovative, and the exceptional on their path to success.
This year, Glenfiddich is recognising three Malaysian Mavericks – violinist Josh Kua, interior designer Jessica Ting, and entrepreneur Robin Ang – who embody the Maverick spirit through their unique journeys.
We speak to three of these Mavericks to find out what makes them tick, and of course, where they are headed next.
Josh Kua, Musician
Never shy away from experimenting – that’s the mantra that violinist Josh Kua repeats to himself whenever he’s composing a track or gearing up for a performance.
Classically trained yet unafraid to improvise, Kua’s music is an expression without words. His music changes based on feelings and stories that inspire him to become the foundation of a new composition.
His approach mirrors the essence of the Glenfiddich 12-Year-Old, a whisky that embodies versatility and balance, much like an individual who seamlessly adapts to various roles and situations while maintaining a harmonious equilibrium.
Just as Kua continuously refines his craft, the Glenfiddich 12-Year-Old symbolises ambition, growth, and inclusivity, resonating with the multifaceted journey of this Maverick."
Lately, Kua has been ‘re-inspired’ by his memories of how he first started on his musical journey, and it has brought him the balance he needed to reinvent his music while also developing his own inner sense of wellness and peace.
“Wellness is so important and a great space to explore how I can reinvent my music whilst bringing more balance to my own artistic and personal life,” he said.
“With the commerciality of my career, it’s easy to forget why I started doing all of this, which was my innate need to express musically and to be in the flow state it induces – such a wonderful state of living!” he said.
“Ultimately, finding an activity that makes you feel alive is what will keep you going on that path. Balancing that with making a living for yourself is the best way to keep going and growing.”
To him, the ‘maverick spirit’ is also about balancing between exploring the unknown and welcoming risk.
“Embracing a lack of income and career stability is a necessity in the ongoing pursuit of what I do for a living,” he said.
“This constant risk allows me to expose myself to interesting and unexpected opportunities and situations that I would have never encountered working for a big corporation in a white collar job.”
His advice to someone who is also striving to be a Maverick is simple – play to your strengths. “Understand what makes you unique and find a way to capitalise on it,” he said.
“Sheer determination has also helped me achieve some pretty out-of-box things that may not have been in a conventional path for a musician.
“This is because I was always opportunistic, open to exploring and have always held an unwavering belief in the idea that I can and should have the best of what I’m looking for in life.”
Jessica Ting, director of Thy Studio
Jessica Ting has a personality that fills any space, a trait that somewhat aligns with her work as an interior designer.
Asking questions and digging deep is an essential part of her commitment to deliver the best for residential, commercial, and retail projects from concept to completion.
Having studied interior and product design in Florence, Italy, and spent time working in Britain, Ting brought home with her a certain mid-century and vintage influence on her design work. She also applies a rather unique, immersive approach to understanding design.
She is driven by the core values, identity, and strengths that have inspired her “to trust the process, follow my heart and take the necessary steps to achieve in my personal growth, dream career, and business, which is launching Thy Studio.”
Unsurprisingly, Innovation plays a huge part in Ting’s Maverick journey, symbolised by the Glenfiddich 15-Year-Old. A product of the never-emptied and unique solera vat, this best-selling expression is the culmination of curious minds and the pioneering spirit of the Glenfiddich family.
Ting’s innovative spirit is embodied by her continuous search for inspiration through her love for travel, films, fashion, meeting new people, and cherishing quiet, simple moments with her loved ones.
“It’s these little things that inspire me most, adding immense value to my life and shaping both my personal and career aspirations,” she said.
She adds that she rarely sticks to just one hobby, as she is always eager to try new things that can ignite her desire to learn more.
“These hobbies fuel my passion, sharpen my skills and knowledge, and keep my mind open. They push me to test my limits and step outside my comfort zone, which is what excites me the most.”
As someone who embodies the Maverick spirit, her advice to someone who is also striving on that path is to “believe in yourself and accept your imperfections”.
“It’s those imperfections that will shape you along the way,” she said. “Mistakes may feel daunting, but they’re the very experiences that will propel you to new heights and help you reach the sky.”
Robin Ang, Entrepreneur
Failure is entrepreneur Robin Ang’s best mentor. The co-founder of Finology, one of three startups he has co-founded, believes that multiple failures and plenty of hard work must come before any victory.
“Conditioning a good mentality and the ability to remain positive when dealing with setbacks is crucial,” he says.
As an entrepreneur, Ang aims to build businesses that will create a positive impact on people's lives, while holding true to his work philosophy of being innovative, inspiring creativity, and delivering non-compromising quality.
This Exceptional dedication to quality is what drives Ang’s Maverick spirit, a characteristic he shares with the Glenfiddich 18-Year-Old. This is an expression that is the embodiment of excellence, as every batch of the whisky is individually numbered and carefully watched over, the intense marrying period delivers extraordinary consistency and character.
For Ang, being a Maverick is to be someone who “dares to go against the grain”, and is “bold to be different”.
“In a way, my company Finology exemplifies this. We transform conventional finance processes, creating new user experiences, and increase efficiency,” he said. “Introducing change and innovation is never easy, I believe deep perseverance and a relentless positive attitude are important.”
“Entrepreneurship is nothing fancy. It is pure hard work fuelled by the value of what we create, and the satisfaction we see in customers’ faces. A career or product that gives me that satisfaction is what drives me most,” he said.
For him, the urge to do something greater and better has always been driving him forward.
“My parents used to tell people that I was the adventurous one when growing up. I even sold homemade Dragonball cards in school!” Ang recalled. “In a way, I’m still that persistent adventurous kid who likes to explore, travel, learn and play.”
Hence, his advice for potential Mavericks following his path is to break out of their comfort zones.
“Planning is essential, but overthinking can be a trap. It's about calculated risk, unwavering belief, and a dash of courage. Embrace the discomfort of action over the certainty of regret. Free yourself from the ‘what ifs’, and ask yourself... ‘where next?’”
For more information about the Glenfiddich Where Next Club and discover how you can unleash your own Maverick spirit, go here or follow @glenfiddichwhisky on Instagram.
