During the event, we were fortunate to hear from YBrs. Encik Rosnan Nordin, Deputy Director General from the National Department of Culture and Arts about his experience as the art director for many momentous national events. For many years, he was the man behind the curation of our National Day Celebrations, but this year posed a different challenge for him as a person in a wheelchair. Yet, he managed to lead a contingent of 20,000 people, and still made his way end-to-end across Dataran Putrajaya to ensure that the event ran with military precision. It was clear that very little could hold him back from his commitment, passion, creativity and his goal to preserve our poetic culture for the future generations.

Now, how does PETRONAS play its role in developing leaders who can lead inclusively? First, we need to understand that PETRONAS is continuously evolving to reach our new goals of MFT 50.30.0. This means that we need new DNA, fresh ideas and varied expertise, which comes from a bigger pool of talent. In order to achieve our DEI aspirations, PETRONAS established a bespoke working D&I Committee in 2019 that was tasked to monitor measurable targets in 4 key areas of D&I; gender, culture, age, and nationalities.

Representing the D&I committee, Puan Zatul Iffah Malik, Talent Development Specialist from PLC explained that PETRONAS aims to create a working culture where employees feel like they belong. It can start with the little things, like tailoring our signature yellow coverall for women and eventually lead to the implementation of policies and systems like paid parental leave, Flexible Working Arrangement (FWA), and enhanced mental health coverage that make employees feel supported in their role. It is an ongoing learning process to attract a diverse talent pool that can help us progress together.

Cik Marina Md. Taib, Vice President of Treasury, PETRONAS in her quiet yet powerful demeanor, encapsulated the day’s spirit, “We’re here, not as genders, but as believers in a mutual passion: inclusivity.” And wasn’t that the truth? Her words served as a call to action, emphasising not only personal growth but also the urgency of nurturing an inclusive leadership environment.

As the day concluded, participants departed with more than just notes. They carried with them actionable strategies, an invigorated network, and a rejuvenated sense of purpose for their roles. “How Women Rise” wasn’t merely a day of lectures; it was a shared journey. It celebrated determination, charted a course for growth in inclusivity, and heralded a shift in leadership thought. The day’s message was crystal clear: “Together, we rise.”

In two riveting sessions that stretched across the day, Prof. Siegel navigated us through the intricacies of blending the physical and digital in leading organisations and underscored the significance of System Leadership. 

During the morning session with 37 of our senior leaders, Prof. Siegel introduced the “Brain and Brawns” framework, a powerful tool to evaluate and enhance our core capabilities. Through two compelling case studies, he highlighted the need for businesses to strike a perfect balance between intellectual capabilities and operational strength. The key to success, according to him, lies in the seamless integration of these two facets, a blueprint for the winning companies of tomorrow.

That was what happened at PETRONAS Leadership Centre when it hosted its first-ever Future Energy Leaders (FEL) programme from 23 to 25 June 2023. Through the exchange of knowledge, insights and innovations by energy industry leaders and sustainability experts, FEL, a subset and prequel of the Energy Asia 2023 conference, aimed to create awareness about the current energy transition and Asia’s Sustainable agenda, all in the hope to inspire the next generation of leaders.