B2B Cambodia sat down to interview Neak Oknha Dr. Mengly J. Quach, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Mengly J. Quach (MJQ) Education Plc., a leading educational institution in Cambodia.
A survivor of the Cambodian genocide, Dr. Mengly and his family resettled in the United States where he was raised and educated, obtaining a Doctor of Medicine in General Medicine from Spartan Health Sciences University, as well as a Master's Degree in Public Health Practice at the University of Amherst.
He returned to Cambodia and started his company, MJQ Education Plc., in 2005, eventually becoming one of the most well-known educationists and business leaders in the country.
Challenges Faced When First Establishing His Business In Cambodia
When first returning to Cambodia from the United States, Dr. Mengly said that he faced many challenges, some of which he thinks will be hard for people currently doing business in Cambodia to believe as the country's regulatory landscape has changed so much.
Cambodia has changed drastically over the past 20 years. When I started this business, Cambodian laws, rules and regulations were way [backward]… and I remember the most difficult part for most people doing business was not doing business itself… Most of the problems that we faced, and most obstacles that led to many bankruptcies was the rules and regulation from the authorities.
He explained that two decades ago it was common for multiple authority figures, many of which he described as being fraudulent, to come and demand extra payments in a manner that was “more like the mafia”.
“We can't blame the government for this, because… we didn't know who's who, they would come for under-the-table money from different organisations and different ministries, [at least] claiming to be from different departments and ministries. So it was quite distressing and a lot of people went bankrupt because of this,” he said.
Further expanding on the more unruly business environment of that time, Dr. Mengly said his school would often be the target of attacks from competitors, with some even sending people at night to throw stones and damage the school property.
So many horrendous things happened at that time. Sometimes it's unbelievable. Twenty years ago, when you talked about this with people from other countries, it was a surprise and quite a shock to many people. The rules and regulations, the under-the-table demands for pay, this and that, if you were to discuss this now, people would be shocked and how, 'How could that be? It's impossible,' but it was possible at that time, and it's what a lot of people went through.
Going Further Into The Medical Field In Cambodia
Having an educational background in medicine, Dr. Mengly shared that he still sees patients twice a week to keep updated in the field, while also engaging in additional social and healthcare work in the community to keep his passion alive. While his main work today concerns education, he explained that he has always integrated healthcare services in some way into his business as well, mainly through the 13 student health centres established across his 20 campuses.
“There will be soon be 15 student health centres… which will oversee 21,000 students, plus staff and also family and parents from outside. We've been involved in healthcare from day one, and we plan to hopefully expand into medical centres. We are already in the process of designing a medical center, first at the Mao Tse Tuong (Boulevard) campus, and eventually we will venture into the sector fully," he shared.
Reflecting On Past Achievements And Future Goals
Dr. Mengly's foray into the educational field in Cambodia began with a two-building complex that had just five staff and catered to four students. Almost 20 years later, his educational empire now includes 29 school buildings, over 3,000 staff and over 21,000 students.
“This is a big accomplishment for me,” he reflected, adding that he is also proud that his company was able to list on the main board of the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX).
“At the same time, we have founded the Mengly J. Quach foundation that has helped people throughout Cambodia, more than half a million now. It's become known throughout Cambodian as one of the foundations that provides help during disasters, in healthcare, as a food bank, blood bank, and across different areas to make sure that people are receiving helped. We do what we can to contribute and be part of the government's support. I'm very proud of what we're doing so far, and what we're doing so far has been very successful,” he added.
For his future goals, Dr. Mengly said he wishes to continue expanding schools and to eventually also venture into higher education (particularly in universities that specialise in STEM subjects), as well as medical schools, international schools, special needs schools and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
There are a lot of schools that Cambodia still needs. There's a lack of special needs school in Cambodia and also TVET… We need skilled workers… and right now, there's not enough TVET schools that are available for students in all fields…
Dr. Mengly J. Quach's Advice For Young Cambodians
“I always tell young folk in Cambodia that whatever you do, do what you're good at and what you know of, and be focused, persistent and never give up,” shared Dr. Mengly when asked about the guiding principles that led him to where he is today.
Be honest and play fair game, that's what is most important. Always pay attention to what you do and make sure that you commit to it, that's the best way. It's very important that you do what you're good at and what you know of, otherwise you just waste a lot of energy, time and money.
He also highlighted the importance of not rushing into business and spending time to learn and hone one's craft.
“Find out your passion and explore it, gain experience and knowledge in your passion. If you're interested in computers, learn about computers, go to college, get your degree, and then start working to gain experience and work long enough to become an expert in the field, only then make a business out of it,” he said.
“Young kids in Cambodia, they feel that they need to become an entrepreneur at 19, 20, 25 and they start business, chip in money together, and eventually go bankrupt. Almost eight our of 10 are going bankrupt, and they waste a lot of money. It's a setback for these young people, so I keep telling them not to rush into business,” added Dr. Mengly.
You have a lot of time ahead of you. You have plenty of time to explore, to study, to learn, to enjoy and experience what is around you. Make sure you absorb as much as possible, learn as much as possible, and explore what is available around you before you set forth into business.