Mother of four leads Shell operations in 20 countries

When Ms Nordarlina Md Sibi accepted a job offer from the multinational energy company Shell in 2004, she was already seven months pregnant.

She admitted that she feared the offer would be withdrawn once her prospective employer learned of her pregnancy.

Her fears, however, proved unfounded.

Not only did the company honour its offer, it also assured her that it would find a way for her to begin her career while embracing her new role as a mother.

More than two decades later, the mother of four is now Vice President and General Manager for Southeast Asia Lubricants, leading the company's lubricants business across 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

After completing her Master's degree in Automotive Engineering at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, Nordarlina Mohd Sibi joined Shell in 2004 as a fresh graduate.

At the time, she already had one child and was seven months pregnant.

Her mother feared that the company would withdraw its job offer once it learnt of her pregnancy.

"I called Shell and told them about my situation. They said, 'That's alright. We'll find a way.' That was more than 20 years ago, so I never expected them to be so open-minded and understanding," said Ms Nordarlina, now 49.

For Ms Nordarlina, that experience marked a defining moment in her career.

The support she received not only enabled her to begin her career with confidence as a young mother, but also reinforced her belief that women should never have to choose between family and career.

The experience also reshaped the way she viewed success.

Although she now holds a senior leadership position in a global corporation, she said that her childhood ambition was never to become an engineer, doctor or lawyer like many of her peers.

Instead, she had only one dream — to become a mother.

What seemed like a simple aspiration eventually led her to shoulder two of life's greatest responsibilities: raising four children while leading hundreds of employees.

"Many people dreamed of becoming doctors or lawyers. Ever since I was young, I only wanted to be a mother. I've always loved children, and I thought that if possible, I wanted to be an educated mother," she said with a laugh during a recent interview with Berita Minggu.

Her aptitude for mathematics and science led her to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, before continuing with a Master's degree in Automotive Engineering at the University of Sheffield.

Ms Nordarlina grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and became a Singapore citizen in 2021.

She met her husband, Mr Izham Sidek, now 54 and a Singaporean, while they were both studying at the University of Warwick.

Despite her rise through the corporate ranks, Ms Nordarlina said the greatest challenge she has faced has not been running a business, but balancing work and family life.

"I've learnt one important lesson: I will never be a perfect mother. If I miss a parent-teacher meeting or one of my children's performances because of work, I've learnt to forgive myself. What's important is that I always do my best," she said.

She is also candid in acknowledging that her husband's support has been one of the biggest factors behind her success.

Mr Izham, a teacher by profession, took sabbatical leave twice when the family had to relocate overseas because of Ms Nordarlina's work commitments.

He also turned down promotion opportunities so that he could devote more time to the family.

"I always joke that the secret to my success is marrying the right person. We've always made decisions as a team. When one of us needs to move faster in our career, the other makes sure the family continues to thrive," said Ms Nordarlina.

The family lived in London from 2018 to 2021 because of her work commitments.

For her, raising a family has never been a solo effort.

Besides her husband, she relied on her parents, in-laws, neighbours, domestic helper and community support such as after-school care programmes.

"People often think we have to do everything on our own. But the truth is, it really does take a village to raise a child,” she said.

After more than two decades with Shell, Ms Nordarlina now leads the company's lubricants business across 20 countries and oversees about 400 employees.

She is currently based in Singapore.

"These days, I feel like I'm the 'mother' of about 400 people," she said with a smile.

She believes the responsibilities of a leader are not so different from those of a mother.

"You want to see people become the best versions of themselves. You guide them, give them room to learn, make mistakes and grow,” shared Ms Nordarlina.

The same philosophy shapes the way she raises her children.

Rather than placing excessive emphasis on academic achievement, she prioritises character, curiosity and independence.

"If they forget to do their homework, I let them face the consequences. I want them to learn that every decision has consequences. I don't want to raise children who are afraid of making mistakes. I want them to learn to take responsibility,” she added.

Reflecting on her career journey, Ms Nordarlina said that if she could speak to her younger self, she would offer three pieces of advice.

First, always stay curious before trying to impress others.

"We often feel we need to know everything so that people will think we're capable. In reality, it's better to ask questions and keep learning,” advised Ms Nordarlina.

Second, never be afraid to admit when you do not know something.

"Saying 'I don't know' isn't a weakness. To me, it's a strength, because that's where learning begins,” she explained.

Her final piece of advice is to invest in building relationships, as one day, your network will become the place you turn to for advice, support and new opportunities.

After more than two decades of building her career while raising four children, Ms Nordarlina believes that both roles ultimately share the same purpose.

"When I look back, perhaps I never really had two different jobs. Whether as the mother of four children or the leader of hundreds of employees, my purpose has always been the same — to help people become the best versions of themselves,” she said.

Source: Berita Harian © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

This article, Mother of four leads Shell operations in 20 countries, 26 July 2026, is translated by EDB. SPH disclaims all liability for any errors or inaccuracies contained in this translation.