Journey from Teaching to Publishing

How does a passion for reading transform not just lives but careers, too? Join us in this episode of Rewrite The Rules as Nora Nazerene, the publisher of Penguin Random House Southeast Asia, takes us through her journey from being a teacher to steering one of the most prestigious publishing houses in the region. Nora shares the pivotal moments of her career, the challenges of balancing motherhood with professional life, and the joy of impacting the literary world. Tune in to hear her story of change, resilience, and the enduring power of books to shape our destinies!

Discussion Topics: Journey from Teaching to Publishing

• How Does a Teacher Become a Leading Publisher? Dive into Nora’s unique journey from her roots in teaching to becoming a key player in the publishing industry.
• Can Your First Job Predict Your Future? Nora reflects on her unexpected transition from education to publishing.
• Is It Possible to Turn Your Passion Into Your Profession? Explore Nora’s lifelong love for reading and how it seamlessly transitioned into a career of reading raw manuscripts and shaping the future of literature.
• What Challenges Do Women Face in Leadership Roles? Nora shares the hurdles she faced as a woman making her voice heard in the early days of her career.
• How Do You Balance Motherhood and Ambition? Delve into the personal story of Nora’s battle with mother’s guilt and the societal pressures of balancing a demanding career with being a present parent.
• Finding Your Voice: How to Speak Up and Make an Impact? Gain insights from Nora’s approach to speaking her mind in professional settings, emphasizing the importance of timing, wisdom, and impact in communication.
• The Leap of Faith: Changing Companies After a Decade – Witness Nora’s pivotal career decision to leave a long-term position for a new challenge at Penguin.
• What Advice Would You Give to Your Younger Self and Others? Advice to her younger self and to anyone at the crossroads of their career, highlighting the importance of kindness, self-forgiveness, and the pursuit of passion.
• Wrapping up

Our Guest: Nora Nazerene Abu Bakar

Nora Nazerene Abu Bakar is the executive editor at Penguin Random House SEA, responsible for discovering and publishing different voices across the region. With over 12 years of experience in the publishing industry, her network of relationships and keen knowledge of the region will be key in establishing a publishing presence for Penguin Random House SEA in the market.

Your Host: Ritu Gupta Mehrish

Ritu Gupta Mehrish is a speaker, executive coach and author, with 20 years of corporate experience working in companies such as P&G, GE Capital and GE spin-off Genpact. In her last role, Ritu ran a multimillion-dollar business vertical with 1000 people across eight countries and five continents. Throughout her extensive career, Ritu has had the opportunity to work, coach and converse with leaders across the globe from diverse industries. Her business and leadership experience has enabled her to bring in a pragmatic approach to leadership development. Her client list of Google, PayPal, Swiss Re, JP Morgan, Applied Materials, Intel, Knight Frank, Johnson & Johnson, AIA, Medtronic, Wharton Executive Education highlights the level of expertise she brings to the leadership topic.

Rajita Saxena is a leader and people manager with over 20 years of business experience in sales, sales support, strategic operations, and learning & development. She builds strong, high-performing teams and believes in being a Level 5 leader to unleash the potential and performance of teams. She thrives in an environment that provides an opportunity to problem solve or create impact, whether it is a situation that is full of change and ambiguity or one that requires creating a strategy.