RCCA Hajah Idahwati & Hasnan Bin Haji Jalil
Title: The Strength Behind My Story
Leaders: RCCA Hajah Idahwati @ 'Irdina Nur'aidah Hj Idris & Hasnan Bin Haji Jalil
Background: Former Lecturer / Mechanical Engineer
Content
For 21 years, Idahwati dedicated her life to education as a lecturer at the University of Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) in Brunei. To the outside world, she had a stable career and a husband who was a mechanical engineer. But behind the scenes, as a mother of eight children, she knew that relying on a fixed salary alone was not enough to secure her family's future and dreams.
Persevering for Sustenance from the Fingertips
Driven by the desire to provide the best for her children, Idahwati was a relentless worker. For over a decade, she juggled her full-time lecturing job with various side businesses, selling food and Muslimah Long Dresses, and even working as a personal shopper for luxury goods.
"I realized that if the salary is only dependent on salary, it is not enough." — Idahwati
But she wasn't walking this path alone. Beside her was Hasnan, her silent strength. Whether it was the late nights spent packing orders or being the steady voice of encouragement when doubt crept in, he was her backbone since Day 1.
However, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic brought her traditional businesses to a halt. Logistics failed, customers disappeared, and her personal-shopper business suffered severe losses.
The Turning Point
Despite initial hesitation during the pandemic, Idahwati joined BE International in May 2020, inspired by her upline, RCCA DK Yati. Her success was instantaneous: she became an Ambassador in just six days and a DCA within nine months. When her first month's bonus reached 85% of the salary she had spent 21 years building as a lecturer, she realized the platform's potential and committed fully to the business.
Overcoming the "Salesman" Trap
Despite her early financial success, Idahwati faced a significant internal challenge. For the first two years, she operated with a "seller mindset," focusing only on sales rather than building a network. When the world opened up and people returned to offices, her sales momentum slowed, and she lost team members.
She realized she had to evolve. With the guidance of her mentors and the BE education system, she shifted her focus from selling products to building people.
A New Mission: Empowering Others
On February 1, 2024, Idahwati retired from her 21-year academic career to pursue BE International full-time.
She draws a powerful parallel between her two careers. As a university lecturer, she could educate students, but she couldn't guarantee them jobs. Through BE, she can offer both education and a platform for financial survival. She proudly shares the story of a former student, Haziqah, who struggled with low wages after graduation but found financial stability and the ability to repay her parents through Idahwati's mentorship in BE.
The Future
Today, Idahwati travels the world not just with her husband, but with a busload of achievers from her own network. Her journey proves that background and education are not the determinants of success; intention and tenacity are.
"Advice to New Entrepreneurs: When our intentions are right, God willing, our goal will be right. BE consistent, the blessed sustenance never goes to the wrong address." — Idahwati