On 7 February 2026, Molly Fong, Executive Director and the former Chief Executive Officer and Director of InNature Berhad, a regional franchisee of The Body Shop, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM).
Molly graduated from UNM in 2013, where she did her MBA with the Nottingham University Business School (NUBS). She was also awarded Malaysia Campus Alumnus of the year at the Alumni Laureate award ceremony in September 2013.
From the corridors of the MISC building in Jalan Conlay, way before the Semenyih campus’ time, Molly has graced UNM with her towering personality and myriads of achievements.
According to Dr Anita, a NUBS professor, you can hear Molly before you can see her. “With her dynamic, energetic personality and her hearty laughter, her openness and sharp intellect are evident from the start, bringing warmth, authenticity, and purpose to every interaction,” added Dr Anita during the graduation ceremony where this honorary doctorate was awarded by Professor Jane Norman, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Nottingham.
Beloved and appreciated throughout her kinship with the school, Molly becomes a part of the External Advisory Board of the Business School where she provides insights on future developments of NUBS’ programmes. Yet her contributions did not begin there—Molly had served as a member of the school’s Global MBA Advisory Board, shaping the Executive MBA programme which the university offers in its three campuses today.
Molly is no stranger to the Alumni Relations team. We can only imagine how demanding her career and schedule must be, and yet she continues to be supportive of the university’s endeavours. From alumni gatherings to university-led events, Molly has regularly joined us on different occasions, including sharing her expertise via guest lectures and serving on the assessment panel for the capstone MBA module and final projects.
As an accomplished business leader, Molly has over three decades of experience in the retail and beauty industry. This can be seen through her works at InNature Berhad, where The Body Shop brand had grown to be a market leader in the beauty industry and an award-winning retailer in Malaysia. Molly played a key role in its successful expansion across the country, Vietnam, and Cambodia, enabling InNature’s successful listing on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia in 2020.
Apart from the corporate front, Molly is also a passionate advocate for ethical business. She believes business can be a force for good and ensures that her initiatives taken towards positive social and environmental change remain a priority on the company’s agenda.
Molly has worked with NGOs such as Women’s Aid Malaysia and Sisters in Islam where she advocates for women’s rights issues, including violence against women. Molly also supports environmental conservation and wildlife preservation campaigns with the Malaysian Nature Society and Wildlife Conservation Society.
Her hard work proves to be fruitful every time—the sustainability initiatives Molly had taken resulted in InNature’s inclusion in the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index in 2022 and its distinction as Southeast Asia’s first B Corp-certified public-listed company the following year. This is an internationally recognised benchmark for high social and environmental standards, highlighting the company’s profound achievement.
The commitment Molly has to sustainability extends to the retail industry through her position as founder and Chair of the Sustainability Committee of the Malaysia Retailers Association. She hopes to promote sustainable retail practices through this initiative, as well as foster collective action to shape the national ESG narrative for the retail sector.
Now, she continues to advocate for responsible business education and women empowerment as a member of LeadWomen, championing gender-balanced leadership and greater representation of women in senior level management.
Not only is Molly Fong an esteemed alumnus of the university, repeatedly proving herself with each milestone she reaches, but Molly is also an inspiration to aspiring corporate leaders. From the corporate sector to sustainability to championing women empowerment, Molly is a true purpose-driven leader with a career that creates both sector-wide and societal impact.
Her genuine commitment to business integrity, ethical conduct, and sustainability is one of the various reasons why Molly Fong received the degree of Doctor of Laws before the graduating class of February 2026.
Congratulations, Molly Fong!
Posted on 27th February 2026