It started with a simple but urgent question:
"How can we help school leaders lead better?"
In 2017, we met a principal in rural Malaysia who had the heart, the vision — but no one to coach him through the complexity of leading a school. No system. No network. Just grit.That moment shaped our mission. That’s why we started PEMIMPIN.
Founded in 2017, we believed then—as we do now—that teachers are more than deliverers of content. They are the architects of school culture, drivers of learning, and the backbone of transformation.
Since then, we’ve supported tens of thousands of educators across Malaysia. From Orang Asli communities in the heart of the peninsula to urban schools in Klang Valley, we’ve built professional development that is practical, contextual, and grounded in research.
Our story is not about one person or one place. It’s about a shared belief—that when you build teachers, you grow leaders. And when you develop leaders, you shape the future of education.
Progress Journey
Ignite | 2018-2019
Founding Years
We began as Global School Leaders Malaysia — a small team with a bold mission: to improve education quality in public schools by supporting the people who matter most — teachers.
Building the Foundation
Our very first Fellowship Programme cohort (FPC1) launched by YB Datuk P. Kamalanathan, former Deputy Minister of Education. What began as a pilot became a spark. We saw the power of investing in school leaders on the frontlines.
Growth | 2020-2022
A New Identity
We rebranded as PEMIMPIN GSL and unveiled a new logo — a reflection of our growing impact and local roots.
Overcoming challenges
When the pandemic hit, we responded by launching the Middle Leaders Initiative to support school teams navigating the crisis. The initiative was officiated by Deputy Minister of Education, YB Mah Hang Soon.
Reaching Further
We expanded our Senior Leaders Initiative to include more diverse school communities — including Orang Asli schools through the ASLI programme.
Innovate | 2023-2024
Recognising Teachers Nationwide
We launched the Malaysia Teacher Prize to honour exceptional educators and organised the inaugural Malaysia Teacher Prize Summit — uniting teachers, partners, and policymakers to spotlight the profession.
Driving Innovation
We developed our first mobile app, LADAP Plus, to offer meaningful, on-demand professional development for teachers. This was a step forward in our commitment to instructional leadership and digital innovation.
Growth | 2020-2022
A New Chapter Begins
In 2025, we rebranded from PEMIMPIN GSL to simply PEMIMPIN. This shift marks more than just a new logo — it reflects a bolder, clearer vision of who we are today and the future we're building. It’s about staying rooted in our purpose while evolving with the needs of educators, schools, and the education system in Malaysia.
Sharpening Our Focus
With our new identity comes renewed clarity. Today, PEMIMPIN’s work is anchored in three strategic pillars that reflect the full spectrum of teacher leadership — from classrooms to national recognition.
We support teacher leaders through Educational Technology: a digital learning and community platform that enhances teacher competencies at scale. For middle and senior leaders, we offer structured leadership development programmes designed to support teachers at various stages of their leadership journey. At the system level, we recognise and celebrate outstanding educators through prestigious prize initiatives.
Our Core Values
We believe in the infinite potential of every individual, taking action to help them realise this potential.
We are committed to fairness and justice, ensuring equal opportunities for all.
We maintain an open-minded approach to learning, continuously analysing and revaluating information, while questioning our own experiences within a broad range of contextual issues.
We hold ourselves to very high standards of achievement and relentlessly raise the bar for ourselves, our teachers and our students.
We individually hold ourselves accountable for the outcomes we commit to, regardless of the circumstances we encounter.
We deeply comprehend the contributions of each team member towards our ultimate goal, fostering a collective responsibility for each other's well-being and personal development.