She Didn’t Choose Between Career, Family, and Education — She Chose Growth
Where It All Began
At IIUM Graduate School of Management, we celebrate alumni who redefine what it means to grow both professionally and personally.
For Dr. Norulaiza binti Mohamad Daud, the best student of MBA Class of 2016, her journey was a testament to resilience and balance. While pursuing her MBA at IIUM Graduate School of Management, she continued to excel in her career successfully delivering key projects and earning a well-deserved promotion.
At the same time, she remained devoted to her role at home as a wife and mother to her two boys. Rather than holding her back, these responsibilities became her driving force.
Her MBA journey pushed her to rise to every challenge, proving that growth is always possible even when life demands so much from you. Below is the thought shared by her on our MBA programme.
1. Where were you in your career before joining GSM, and where are you now?
I was with PETRONAS during my MBA journey from May 2014 to December 2015 and proudly celebrated my convocation in November 2016. In November 2022, after more than 25 years of service in the banking and oil and gas industry with organisations such as Arab Malaysian Bank, BP Malaysia, Boustead Petroleum Marketing, Shell Malaysia Trading, and PETRONAS, I made the difficult yet intentional decision to leave PETRONAS and take early retirement at the age of 47. This transition gave me the space to fully commit to completing my DBA Programme with UWTSD, UK ; a decision that marked a new chapter of growth, purpose, and self‑reinvention. It also allowed me to inspire my sons to strive for their dreams and to keep learning, growing, and adding value to themselves. Learning demands courage, dedication and the willingness to step into the unknown. As my eldest pursues his engineering studies in the United States, and my youngest prepares to begin his journey in Japan, I hope they carry this lesson with them that growth never stops, and those who are brave will always find new paths to rise.
2.What part of the GSM experience had the biggest impact on you?
The opportunity to ‘unlearn and relearn’ has refined the way I view the world, bringing greater structure and a more holistic appreciation to my thinking. With almost 17 years of industry experience behind me at the time I started the MBA programme, stepping back into university life while working full time has been quite challenging, yet it was one of the most rewarding decisions I have ever made. That journey was especially meaningful when I was honoured with the ‘Best Student for the MBA Programme’ award in 2016, a recognition that reaffirmed the value of pushing beyond my comfort zone and investing in my own growth.
3. How did GSM shape your values, mindset, or leadership style?
The programme has been thoughtfully designed to strengthen not only the technical components of the course, but also the essential soft skills that shape effective leaders from managing project teams and delivering impactful presentations to writing strong business reports and building meaningful connections with local and international students from diverse cultures and backgrounds. This holistic blend of learning enriched me both professionally and personally, and its impact was evident when I was promoted in 2016 from Principal to Custodian (General Manager), a milestone that affirmed the value of continuous growth and development.
4. Why would you recommend this programme to working professionals?
This programme will certainly add value to both personal and professional growth. Its blend of technical learning, leadership development, communication skills, and cross‑cultural collaboration has the ability to transform the way you think and lead. I definitely encourage professionals to take this step, it is never too late to unlearn, relearn, and elevate yourself to the next stage of your journey.
