International Women’s Day 2025 - Nurbaiti Baharuddin

Name: Nurbaiti Baharuddin
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
Role: Business Development Manager 
Time at Expro: 8 years plus 

International Women's Day (IWD) allows us to celebrate the achievements of women and promote gender equality. This year's theme, "Accelerate Action," encourages us to take meaningful steps towards equality. 

At Expro, we believe in fostering environments where women are not just included but are actively supported to grow within the business. This year, we have asked some of our female colleagues across the world to share their thoughts on accelerating action, their role models, valuable career advice, and more.  

See what Nurbaiti had to say below.

Who is your female role model or someone you admire & why?
Tuanku Zara Salim, the Queen of Perak. She has a degree in chemical engineering. 

What I admire about Tuanku Zara is how she balances her professional education with her royal duties, fashion influence, and advocacy work. She is involved in numerous charitable causes, particularly those that support children and education, which reflects her values of giving back to the community and using her platform for positive change. Her role as a queen doesn't just revolve around titles but also focuses on leadership and making a real impact on her people and beyond. 

Tuanku Zara’s ability to blend technical expertise with creativity, leadership, and compassion is inspiring. She shows that you can be multifaceted—excel in a technical field, be a source of inspiration, and have a positive impact in many areas.

Tell us about a valuable piece of career advice you have been given?
"Don't be afraid to fail but always learn from your mistakes." This advice has been crucial, especially in the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of oil and gas industry. In this industry, risks are inherent, and projects don't always go as planned. What matters most is the ability to pivot, learn, and grow from those experiences.

This year’s IWD theme is Accelerate Action, what does that mean to you?
For me, especially in business development, it’s about creating and fostering environments where women are not just included but are actively supported to rise in leadership roles. It’s about breaking down barriers, whether those are unconscious biases, unequal opportunities, or even the societal expectations that limit women’s participation at all levels of decision-making.

If you could live a day in the life of a famous female, who would it be and why?
If I could experience a day in the life of Victoria Beckham, it would be incredibly fascinating to step into her world as a renowned fashion designer and entrepreneur. Her day would likely involve a mix of high-profile meetings where she reviews her fashion collections, works closely with her design team, and oversees the development of new pieces for her eponymous brand. 

Victoria Beckham is known for her meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality, so being part of her creative process would be a fantastic opportunity to learn from one of the most influential figures in the fashion industry. Her work doesn’t just end with designing; she is also actively involved in business strategy, brand collaborations, and marketing. 

Beyond her work, her day might include attending exclusive fashion events, visiting top-tier ateliers, or interacting with influencers and media in the industry. It would also be inspiring to see how she balances her career with her role as a mother, managing a business while maintaining a refined and sophisticated personal style.