Introductory slide for the Escape the Pandemic Value Campaign
Motivation gets you started; Determination keeps you going. For the team at Infinitium, this holds true in meeting client’s needs regardless of the obstacles present. Infintium’s CEO, Ho Ching Wee puts it in context: “When you measure excellence and success, you only see the end when the finish line is crossed. Yet, behind the win or the solution, there is hard work that is sometimes unseen.”

Many factors come together to ensure delivery on the job. However, the grit factor is like a muscle that needs to be exercised and pushed beyond its initial limitations. With this in mind, the Value Champion, Kee Nai Kuang and his organising team designed the Determination Value Campaign to reflect truths on Determination at work. “Desired results don’t come easy, so don’t give up. That’s what we wanted our participants to capture,” said Kee.   


Kee and the organising team from Malaysia
The planning team themselves understand this well, after their journey of pivoting from their original plans of a physical Escape Room and then following through with an online mission game of Escape the Pandemic. The theme revolves around the experience concept of sending the participants as researchers on a space mission to develop a cure for the pandemic - amidst less-than-ideal conditions. 


Space Sudoku Challenge
Stakes were high as the 18 participating teams needed to grow their “research funds” and gather enough formula to find the cure. All teams started out with seed funds that can be gained or lost at each round, depending on the “cost” attached to each component of the games. Each were crafted to challenge the teams on problem-solving and team collaboration with increased intensity as the rounds progressed, including Space Sudoku and 100-Piece Puzzle Race.  


100-Piece Puzzle Race Challenge
For knowledge-based challenges, Quick-fire Infinitium Trivia had participants take on multiple choice and non-multiple choice questions under tight-time constrain, requiring verbal answers on the spot. Topics ranged from department-specific to regional teams, intentionally meant to cover areas that not all employees may be aware of, or that require more effort to find out. Part of the objective was for participants to discover or refresh their memories of Infinitium’s legacy and past initiatives – including previous Value Campaigns. 


Quick-fire Infinitium Trivia Challenge
The winning team, Pandemic Terminator, fittingly achieved their first win in the Determination Campaign after numerous times of participating in previous Value Campaigns. While they may not have a perfect past record, they agreed that Determination brings a sweet victory at the end of it all. Yong Chen from the team shared, “Taking our team as an example, we don’t necessarily succeed in one shot. Determination is important because persistence in keeping our eyes on the prize pays off.” 

With a good number of developers in the team, they offered a perspective on managing situations in their day-to-day tasks. Jian Hao explained, “To me, resourcefulness is a practical expression of determination, because it is part of being driven to resolve an issue.” Adding on, Kah Peng said, “Dealing with problems effectively include getting help or advice from more experienced colleagues to achieve our set objectives.” 


Pandemic Terminator, the winning team
Nieng Mee from the runner-up team Power Rangers echoed that thought, “Coming from my experience as Infinitium’s first data analyst, I built up perseverance by working with other departments such as the support team and developers. It wasn’t the easiest getting advice from them due to the more technical nature of their roles, however having clear goals and direction helped me greatly.”

Once the goal has been set, staying power is required to remain on-course. “Keep moving until you get to the solution,” said her teammate Loo, a seasoned project manager. “Even if it sometimes requires short 10-minute breaks in between,” quipped team leader Jia Wei, a developer. “Being determined to discover the solution can be taken in bite-sizes. And before you know it, something just clicks, and you have your answer.”


Power Rangers the runner-up team
Some say that being determined is taking your chances at every opportunity, rather than leaving your opportunities up to chance. For Ching Wee, the stepping-stone to success is in the determination to turn every obstacle into an opportunity to excel. While technical proficiency is important in the payments industry, it is persistence undergirded by purpose that will go the distance to deliver. “If you are passionate and convinced of the industry’s great impact on people and other industries, the satisfaction fuels you for the long run.”