News March 3, 2025

Strategic inclusion: Cultivating relationships that really count

International Women’s Day recognizes and celebrates the contribution of women to the workforce.
A key piece of advice for younger women is to believe in yourself.
A diverse workforce helps create different perspectives and opportunities.

News

3 min read

• March 3, 2025

The face of energy is changing as more women enter the industry. It’s inspiring to see the sector support greater diversity and inclusion as we work together to fuel a better future.

This International Women’s Day, we shine the spotlight on some of the women of ExxonMobil making an impact in Asia and gain an insight into why they joined the energy industry, the biggest challenges they’ve faced and how they’re working to create a more diverse and inclusive sector.

Meet one of our Malaysian leaders below, President and Chairman of ExxonMobil Business Support Centre Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Intanwati, who is helping to fuel growth of businesses globally. In addition to helming the Kuala Lumpur Global Business Center, she is also Manager for Strategic Ecosystems, Architecture & Services, and Projects for the IT business capability group managing upstream and low carbon solutions portfolios globally.

MALAYSIA – Intanwati Abu Bakar

Intanwati Abu Bakar

Q: What attracted you to work in this industry?

The sheer notion of working in an industry-leading, global and multi-national company was what excited me the most.

Q: What’s been your biggest career challenge to date and what did it teach you?

In 2018, I was put in charge of ExxonMobil IT’s Data Center and within three years, we managed to reduce the annual costs of maintaining the systems by about three quarters. The role taught me the strength that comes from having a diverse team and the importance of being inclusive and empowering all ranks of the organization to deliver what they know best.

Q: What are your tips on juggling work and personal life?

It’s important to take time out for ourselves. The ability to rest, maintain good health, and self-reflect are all key factors to building a better tomorrow. So go ahead and ask for help if you need to and stop to smell the roses.

Q: What advice do you have for the younger generation of female STEM superstars?

Build a strong foundation in technical skills by actively seeking opportunities to embrace technological advancement. But don’t underestimate the importance of developing and leveraging relationships. The relationships you build now are the ones that last a lifetime.

Q: Building on International Women’s Day’s theme, #AccelerateAction, what actions have you taken, or would recommend, to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce?

Be deliberate in building diverse and inclusive teams – no matter how big or small the team is, what they’re intended to deliver, or where the team is based. We can all make a difference.