by Dr Rahim Said
In every generation, a few extraordinary individuals rise above the odds, challenging conventions and redefining what is possible.
In Sabah, one such individual is Stella Ambrose — a woman whose story is not only about personal triumph, but also about hope, inspiration, and the promise of what women in this state, and indeed Malaysia, can achieve when given the chance.
The world of palm oil milling is not one where you would expect to find a young woman armed with little more than a diploma, steely resolve, and a refusal to quit.
Yet in 1994, Stella Ambrose did exactly that. She took her first steps into a male-dominated world as an assistant mill engineer, becoming Malaysia’s very first female in such a role.
Sceptics predicted she wouldn’t last a week. Even her peers and supervisors expected her to throw in the towel after two days. But Stella had other plans.
She stayed. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. And in those years, she carved out a space for herself not just in her company but in the industry.
Every obstacle was met with quiet determination. Every slight and dismissive remark was countered with hard work and excellence.
It wasn’t enough to just survive in the role — Stella wanted to lead. And she understood that leadership came not from titles but from knowledge, experience, and the courage to innovate.
She earned her first-grade steam engineer certificate, topped her diploma class in palm oil milling technology, and later completed her MBA from the International University of Malaya-Wales in 2023.
Today, she holds the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Sawit Kinabalu, a homegrown Sabah state government-linked company. But her success story isn’t just about climbing the corporate ladder — it’s about what she’s doing with that position of influence.
Under Stella’s leadership, Sawit Kinabalu is charting new paths. She’s driving the company into the future with projects like Kunak Lipids, Malaysia’s only dedicated tocotrienol producer using palm oil refinery by-products — turning what was once waste into a high-value health supplement.
She’s also leading property development ventures and pioneering plans for a Green Technology Park in Sabah, proving that industries rooted in tradition can also be leaders in sustainability.
Yet perhaps her greatest contribution is not in the boardroom but in the lives she’s touched along the way. Stella has become a mentor, a role model, and a symbol of what’s possible for Sabah’s women.
She speaks openly about the intimidation many young women feel when considering careers in male-dominated fields. “I want to inspire people, especially female engineers, and tell them that anything is possible if you put your heart into it,” she says. And she lives those words.
Her journey reminds us that breaking barriers isn’t just about individual success — it’s about paving roads for those who follow.
In February 2025, when Stella was named the recipient of the Successful Women Leadership Award by Mediatama Management, she humbly dedicated the honour to every woman who dared to dream and to every young girl watching, wondering if she too could lead.
And why shouldn’t she? Stella’s story teaches us that Sabah’s daughters are as capable, ambitious, and visionary as its sons. All they need is the chance — and leaders like Stella to show them the way.
As we celebrate her achievements, let us also recognise what her story means for Sabah’s future. It’s a future where gender is no longer a limitation but merely a detail.
A future where young girls look up and see leaders who look like them. And a future where no one will be surprised when the next Stella Ambrose rises to lead.
WE