Dr. Chong Yit Sean (Esther)

Dr. Chong Yit Sean (Esther) is an Associate Professor in Management Department at Monash University Malaysia and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). Prior to pursuing an academic career, Esther worked with Accenture in delivering business solutions for Shell Malaysia, RHB Bank, Hong Kong Exchange and Sakhalin Energy, Russia. She also served as a certified facilitator in the National Healthcare Group, Singapore delivering ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ (Stephen Covey) and workforce development programs to healthcare professionals in the public sector.

Esther’s broad research interests include service management, higher education, and career development. She seeks to remain curious as a researcher, and embarks on interdisciplinary projects and methodologies. Funded by Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia, she applied behavioural neuroscience approach and narrative enquiry in understanding career choice behaviour. Her work has been published in scholarly journals such as IEEE Access, Psychology & Marketing, Journal of Service Theory & Practice and Studies in Higher Education. She also received the Highly Commended Award by Journal of Service Management (Emerald Publishing Group), and Best Paper Awards in service research streams by Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) and Academy of Marketing. Additionally, Esther nurtures the next generation of scholars through research mentorship and former leadership roles as Honours Director/Deputy Director of Graduate Research.

As an educator who empowers learning as a vehicle for positive transformation, Esther deployed innovative learning and teaching approaches which led her to the Vice Chancellor Award (Monash Australia), Pro-Vice Chancellor Award (Monash Malaysia), Monash Dean’s Award (Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash Australia) and School of Business Outstanding Educator Award. Esther collaborates with Dialogue in the Dark and serves as a council member in the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) to advocate for the empowerment of the visually impaired community. Acknowledged with the School of Business Engagement and Impact Award, her recent work includes a published teaching case titled ‘Dialogue in the Dark Malaysia: Reimagining an Inclusive Society through Social Innovation,’ which explores the journey of a visually impaired social entrepreneur in creating transformative experiences that challenge societal perceptions, and advocate for greater inclusivity in the community.

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