When Sharyl Shabri left university in 2022 with a degree in international business, he wasn’t excited. He wasn’t even sure if business was the right field for him; he had only ended up there after his hopes of becoming a teacher fell through.

Today, he represents Google through the global outsourcing firm Concentrix, working in a role that allows him to use his voice, intuition, and empathy to drive real-world impact, but that sense of purpose didn’t come easy.

Born as Sharyl but widely known by his work alias, Shay, he spent the past few years moving across industries, roles, and even identities, trying to find where he fits in a fast-moving world. From failed teaching dreams to working in PR, crypto, mental health tech, and finally sales, Shay’s journey is one that’s covered in detours and rejection, but also one that forced him to adapt and, ultimately, grow.

From Teaching Aspirations to a Degree He Never Wanted

After SPM, Shay set his sights on becoming a teacher. He had always excelled in language and communication, so he enrolled in a foundation programme in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language), hoping to build a career in education.

But things didn’t go as planned. To enter the public teaching system, Shay had to pass an eligibility test. Unfortunately, he didn’t. That single outcome derailed the path he thought he was meant for. “It was really disheartening,” he recalled.

With few options left, he submitted applications through UPU and was offered a spot in UiTM’s international business programme. He accepted it not out of interest, but because he didn’t want to lose time or add financial pressure on his family.

Adapting to the course was tough. Subjects like accounting and economics didn’t come naturally to him, and he often felt out of place. Still, he pushed through. Over time, the knowledge began to stick. It wasn’t what he wanted to study, but it became the foundation for his career in ways he didn’t expect.

Finding His Footing Post-Graduation

After graduating with a degree in International Business, Shay didn’t have a clear plan. What he did have, however, was a sense of urgency. “I thought I was free,” he said, “but I graduated during COVID. Times were tough. I had to step up.”

As the eldest son in his family, there was pressure to contribute. With no clear direction, Shay started reaching out to friends, asking if they knew of any employment opportunities. One of those conversations led to an internship at the Energy Commission of Malaysia. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was his first real glimpse into working life.

“I thought I’d just be doing data entry. But I had to solve problems, understand clients, figure out the ins and outs of the organisation.” It was a jolt of reality, and it pushed him to learn quickly.

From there, Shay moved into a string of roles that had him bouncing across industries. A stint at a PR company in Singapore saw him handling high-profile beauty brands. Later, he joined a local agency managing clients like Foodpanda and Chef Wan. The work was fast-paced, but the environment was toxic. One manager in particular made his life miserable. “She screamed at me every day, called me stupid. Seven months of that, I finally quit.”

It wasn’t a brave leap. He left without another job lined up, without savings, and without a plan. But he knew staying wouldn’t be healthy, so he left.

From Chaos to Clarity

After walking away from the agency job, Shay found himself back at square one: jobless, broke, and behind on rent. At one point, he went days without eating. “I was scared,” he admitted. “I had no safety net.” The fear wasn’t just financial. It was the creeping uncertainty of not knowing where he belonged or what was next.

Eventually, through his network of contacts, he managed to secure a role at a Singapore-based cryptocurrency company called Medicaidx. It wasn’t something he had planned for, but it was a lifeline. “One of my old colleagues put in a word for me,” he says. Working remotely for the first time, he was thrown into the world of NFTs, which until then had been a complete mystery. “I had to learn everything from scratch again.” The job involved campaign management, marketing, and community outreach. It was fast-paced but manageable. For a while, it gave him breathing room. But the stability didn’t last. When the NFT bubble burst, the company folded, and Shay was laid off.

It was another blow in a long stretch of instability. But this time, the fallout brought something useful with it: clarity. “That’s when I realised I didn’t want to just be in the background anymore. I wanted to be on the frontlines, talking to people. That’s where my strengths were.” What started as yet another setback quietly became a turning point.

Finding Ground at Naluri

Shay didn’t expect much from his next freelance role. It was meant to be temporary, just a way to stay afloat. However, Naluri, a digital health startup focused on mental wellness, unexpectedly evolved into something more. The role, which focused on mental health tech and patient communication, turned out to be an unexpected lifeline. He studied the product, learned on the go, and discovered that helping people came naturally to him. “It wasn’t scary. It was growth,” he reflected.

As time passed, he became one of the top performers. He was promoted to Customer Support Specialist and eventually took on the role of Quality Assurance Engineer, despite having no prior background in tech. “I learned everything from scratch,” he said. The experience, along with the support of his team, helped rebuild both his confidence and his work ethic.

Eventually, the company faced funding issues and could no longer offer him a full-time position. Shay returned to freelance work, but he knew it was time to move forward. He continued helping out on nights and weekends, but his focus had shifted. He was ready to aim higher.

Building a Life, One Call at a Time

Shay’s next move was a job at Marcus Evans Group, where he worked as an Account Executive, handling clients from the Australian and New Zealand markets. Unlike his earlier roles, this was full-fledged sales: cold calling, pitching, negotiating, and learning to navigate rejection.

He found it electrifying.

While most of his peers were nervous before calls, Shay found himself energised. “It felt like this was it,” he said. “This was the lightbulb moment. I loved the challenge, the structure, the rewards. If I worked harder, I earned more.” He appreciated the clear metrics of success and the direct correlation between effort and outcome. For someone who had bounced around jobs and industries, it was the first time everything seemed to align.

He stayed with Marcus Evans long enough to build a solid foundation. He learned how to ask the right questions, read a client’s tone, and negotiate strategically. Just as importantly, he saw the job not as manipulation or persuasion, but as service. “I don’t sell products, I sell solutions. I try to understand your pain point and fix it. If I can’t help you, I won’t force it.”

A Salesman at Google (Sort Of)

Today, Shay is a Sales Development Representative for Google, though technically employed under Concentrix, a global business outsourcing firm that manages Google’s sales support. His role is inbound-focused: he responds to leads who have already expressed interest in Google’s products and services.

It’s a stark contrast from cold calling. “Now, people come to me,” he explains. “They’re already curious, and it’s my job to guide them to the right solution.” Whether it’s helping businesses choose the right ad tools or troubleshooting service packages, Shay’s job is to bridge gaps with empathy and clarity.

Working in tech has come with its perks, including global exposure, a fast-paced environment, and the prestige of handling one of the world’s most recognisable brands. But Shay’s takeaway is more personal. “I’ve learned how to speak without filler words. How to listen before I talk. And how to stay resilient.”

He recalled making up to 200 calls a day during his early sales days. Ninety percent of them ended in rejection. “Can you keep going after hearing 190 nos in a row?” he asks. “That’s what resilience looks like. That’s what this job taught me.”

A Life Reimagined

Even with everything Shay has endured, he doesn't consider himself a success story just yet. Life is more stable now, but the journey is far from over. What has changed is how he carries it. The uncertainty that once haunted him has given way to a sense of direction.

Working at Concentrix wasn’t part of the plan when he set out to become a teacher. He never imagined himself in tech or sales, much less supporting one of the world’s biggest companies. But in this role, he’s found something that feels right. It’s not about prestige. It’s about showing up with purpose, using his voice to help others find solutions, and finally feeling aligned with the work in front of him.

His dream remains simple: a small home, a close family, and the freedom to build something of his own. Not to impress anyone, but to live on his own terms.

“I just kept going,” he said. “Even when I had nothing, I kept moving forward. And every time I did, something opened up. That’s how I survived. That’s how I got here.”