Ep 46: Azran Osman-Rani (CEO of Naluri Hidup; formerly CEO of AirAsia X & iFlix)

Azran Osman-Rani is one of Malaysia's most well-known CEOs &
entrepreneur and in this STIMY episode, we cover his colourful
& highly impressive career that has included being:


CEO and Co-Founder, Naluri Hidup (now)

CEO of iflix Malaysia. Dragon-Keeper of the Tao

CEO, AirAsia X Berhad

Senior Director, Business Development, Astro All Asia
Networks plc

Senior Vice President, Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange

Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company

Associate, Booz Allen & Hamilton 






But how did it all begin?





Childhood


Growing up with two professors for parents, Azran was always
encouraged to speak up and speak out. This began when he was just
4 years old, where he would participate in adult conversations
with his parents’ visiting guests that other professors.





Stanford University


Azran eventually went to Stanford University to pursue a degree
in electrical engineering although he did end up doing the barest
minimum amount of engineering classes required. Instead, he ended
up taking lessons in history, culture, psychology, economics,
ballroom dancing and even sailing! 





After completing his masters, Azran ended up becoming a
management consultant first at Booz Allen Hamilton, then
McKinsey. He eventually left for Bursa Malaysia, which set him on
his incredible path as an entrepreneur.





Highlights:


6:37: Studying at Stanford University before the dot com boom

8:01: Ultimate frisbee

13:45: Working at Booz Allen Hamilton

14:25: Bombing his client presentation & being warned he
would be kicked out if he repeated his performance

14:25: Moving to Korea for work

16:18: Earning the trust of his Korean clients

20:28: Working to turn the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange from a
nonprofit government linked organisation to a for-profit company
(Bursa Malaysia)

25:14: Phone call 1 that led him to Astro All Asia Networks

27:06: His big failure at Astro, where he had to shut down
their Indonesian business & letting go of 450 staff

28:42: Phone call 2 from Tony Fernandes that led to him
becoming CEO of AirAsia X

30:16: AirAsia X’s value proposition

31:27: Building a sustainable airline business model

36:47: Making the pitch of a lifetime to the European export
credit agency to save AirAsia X

39:34: Securing an upward flow of information

47:06: AirAsia X’s $15 million in-flight entertainment
mistake

50:47: Staying ahead of the competition

51:47: Becoming CEO of iFlix

54:13: Starting iFlix with a few people & laptops, but no
product!

56:14: How iFlix gained 1 million subscribers, 6 months after
its launch

1:00:03: Learning about Omada Health

1:01:41: Launching Naluri Hidup

1:02:59: Why Azran bet his kids’ education, life savings etc.
on Naluri Hidup

1:07:00: The importance of localisation

1:10:25: Educating the public about digital health

1:11:10: Why Azran is a YouTuber & active content creator

1:11:58: A life-changing car accident in May 2018

1:12:32: How Azran kept going & completed his Ironman 6
months after his brutal car accident!

1:15:31: Fundraising before & during COVID-19

1:17:05: Azran’s mirrors to deal with his confirmation bias






Show notes: www.sothisismywhy.com/46    





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