Nothing can stop you from achieving your goal if you work for it with all your heart. That’s the central message of “Unstoppable: The Woman Driven by Passion and Purpose”, the autobiography of Mdm Zaibun Siraj, 78.
“I wanted to offer people the convenience of listening to my life story while multitasking on chores, exercising, driving, or commuting. Many people are also now used to accessing content on their smartphones, and an audiobook is easy to access, without any additional devices,” said Mdm Zaibun.
Told using the vibrant language of enthusiasm, the memoir chronicles a life led with love, grit, and meaning.
Ms Aparna Prabhu, who reviewed the book on Amazon, noted that this compelling narrative portrayed “a holistic overview highlighting not only career success but also growth in emotional intelligence, relationships, and personal well-being”.
The book also spells out how an individual’s commitment can lead to meaningful change, affecting not only personal lives but an entire community.
“These are the kinds of memories that must be preserved – deeply personal, yet capturing a slice of Singapore’s history,” one reader noted.
Another shared: “It’s both your story and the story of Singapore. The things you’ve accomplished have reflected and even driven your country’s modernisation, particularly in advancing women’s rights.”
However, producing the audiobook proved more complex than expected.
“The first challenge was finding the right producer – someone experienced, patient, and committed to quality. I was fortunate to work with such a professional because recording an audiobook demands both time and attention to detail,” said Mdm Zaibun.
Mdm Zaibun opted not to use her own voice. From a selection of four voiceovers, she chose one that was clear, warm, and engaging so it would hold the listener’s interest.
The recording was generated using artificial intelligence (AI), which brought about its own set of problems.
Mdm Zaibun recalled: “AI struggles with correct pronunciation, especially for names of people and places. I had to review the narration, identify pronunciation errors, and work with the producer to make corrections. At times, we had to repeat the process several times since I had to listen to the text after every correction to ensure accuracy.”
The accidental autobiographer
While Mdm Zaibun has authored two self-help books and two works on teaching and learning methods, she had never planned to write an autobiography.
That changed in 2022, when the Oral History Unit of the National Archives of Singapore invited her to share her life story. “Their aim was to document events, people, and activities from the past so these memories would not be lost. To ensure I got the details right, I revisited past documents and records. I made notes,” she said.
This process inspired her to publish her story. “I wanted to share my life’s journey with the public to encourage others to get involved in community service and contribute meaningfully to society,” Mdm Zaibun added.
The resulting book is a rich narrative that spans her family background and pays tribute to the significant contributions of her parents. Her father, a respected educator, hailed from Chandawak in the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh and adopted the name Mohamed Siraj when he embraced Islam in 1943.
Her mother, Mdm Khatijun Nissa Siraj, was born here and was a leading social activist, having co-founded the non-profit organisations Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS) and Muslim Women’s Welfare Council. Her mother was also the first woman counsellor at the Syariah Court.
Both parents imbued their daughter with a strong sense of community responsibility, and it showed at every stage of her life.
Awarded a UNESCO fellowship in 1983, Mdm Zaibun also has degrees and diplomas in arts and education from universities in the UK, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Professionally, she served as director of several departments at a prominent polytechnic, and throughout her career, she championed numerous social causes.
She was a pioneering advocate for gender equality and co-founded the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), later serving as its President from 1996 to 1998. Her commitment to youth development saw her appointed as a National Youth Achievement Award Council member.
Even after retirement, Mdm Zaibun remained active as a corporate trainer, consultant, and motivational speaker. She has conducted talks and workshops on a wide range of inspirational topics, including education, leadership, self-esteem, women’s empowerment, parenting, humour therapy, and more.
Her sessions, infused with energy and insights, have been well-received by multinational corporations, educational institutions, professionals, and military trainers.
Unstoppable: The Woman Driven by Passion and Purpose is now available as an audiobook on the following platforms: Spotify, Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo, OverDrive, Storytel, and Bookmate.
