KUALA LUMPUR– Who would have guessed that a 25-year-old Malaysian would make a name for himself with American tech giants?

Syed Adam Emir Putra, now 25, has built an impressive resume with stints at Facebook (now Meta), Tesla Inc., and the live-streaming platform Twitch.

Speaking to MalayaDailyToday, Adam shared that despite his international success, his love for Malaysia remains strong. During Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to the U.S. this year, Adam had the opportunity to meet him, and the PM was thrilled to see a fellow Malaysian making waves abroad.

“I was raised to always love my homeland. No matter where I go, I will always strive to make my country proud. I started my journey in the U.S. by studying at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) from 2018 to 2022. Right after graduation, I landed a job,” Adam recounted.

At Tesla, Adam worked as a Product Designer, responsible for the online order process, including vehicle color customization. Though he has since moved on, the experience at Tesla was invaluable.

“Tesla’s culture is fast-paced. If you’re slow in your work or thinking, you’ll be left behind. This environment taught me a lot and helped me grow,” Adam noted.

Adam also had a stint at Facebook (Meta), where he handled creative tasks for Mark Zuckerberg’s team. Currently, he’s at Twitch, where his role involves constantly coming up with fresh ideas to keep the platform relevant for users.

In addition to his tech prowess, Adam has also represented Malaysia as a national fencer, achieving success at international levels including the Asian Games and SEA Games. He once faced a tough choice between a job offer from Tesla and a chance to compete in the Olympics.

“I was at a crossroads, but COVID-19 paused all international sports events, which led me to choose Tesla. However, my passion for fencing remains, and I’m ready to rejoin the national team if called upon,” he said. – MalayaDailyToday