Turning Sunshine into Savings: How A Leadapreneur Became A Sustainability Pioneer

In our "Stars of the Accelerator" series, we will explore the innovative projects and achievements of our Accelerator participants. 

Nadlatul Iylia Najihah Binti Mohd Rof

Corporate Strategy Executive, Nadlatul Iylia Najihah Binti Mohd Rof, considers herself fortunate to be part of Accelerator challenge because she believes that it will leave an exceptional impact on herself and her company. As a member of the company’s Environmental Services, Najihah’s vision is to bring game-changing green initiatives to the table.
Her motto is “To live is to learn and to learn is to live.”

Najihah saw an opportunity to be a pioneer in implementing renewable energy through the Accelerator program. Her innovative project is to reduce the conventional energy consumption by installing solar panels at the rooftop of the company’s building.

Harnessing solar energy is only one aspect of sustainable practices. Najihah foresees her project will be a stepping stone for other green initiatives, including but not limited to rainwater harvesting and certification of green building. This is yet to be explored by any other employees in the company, motivating Najihah to lead the charge.

Protecting the environment makes sense on an ethical level but it’s also a great business practice. Harnessing renewable energy saves costs and draws new business as the company is already certified as Energy Service Company (ESCO) by Energy Commission. Najihah hopes that this initiative will expand to the 83 company subsidiaries in the future! 

One of the challenges she faced was to get her direct supervisor on board. With determination and grit, Najihah managed to persuade her supervisor that she deserved a spot in the  Accelerator program.

Another challenge was that Najihah had no background in electrical engineering, a fundamental skill needed in designing a solution for solar panels.  Thankfully, she was able to learn from a few mentors in and outside the company who shared their wisdom with her and helped to network with subject matter experts in the field of sustainability.

Apart from sustainability, Najihah believes that a company should encourage emotional intelligence, teamwork and work-life balance in order to thrive.
Congratulations Najihah for becoming a Star of the Accelerator!
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