Nurhayati Subakat is a Minang girl who was born in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra, on July 27, 1950. Today, she is widely known as a successful entrepreneur who managed to establish as well as the President Commissioner of PT Paragon Technology and Innovation which manages the Wardah brand and a number of other popular cosmetic brands. About 30% of the cosmetics market in Indonesia is pioneered by her halal cosmetics company, making it the largest national cosmetics company in the country.
This successful girl from the Minangkabau ethnic group was born to a couple named Abdul Muin Saidi and Nurjannah. She is the fourth of eight children. She spent her childhood and teenage years in Padang Panjang. After completing elementary school, she continued her education at Diniyyah Putri, one of the Islamic boarding schools in Padang Panjang. However, when she was approaching her final year at the pesantren, her father passed away, forcing her to help her mother with her trade while going to school. Until 1967 he continued his education at SMA Negeri 1 Padang.
After graduating from high school, he was accepted at the Department of Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology with a major in Pharmacy. At her graduation in 1975, she became the best graduate of the Bachelor of Pharmacy program and a year later became the best graduate of the pharmacist profession at ITB and received the Kalbe Farma Award.
Nurhayati Subakat started her career as a pharmacist at M. Djamil Central General Hospital (RSUP), Padang. She married Sukabat Hadi who is of Javanese descent (Kebumen) in 1978. Three children were born to him, Harman Subakat, Salman Subakat, and Sari Chairunnisa. He worked as a pharmacist in Bandung before moving to Jakarta. The next five years he worked at Wella Company as a quality control staff.
In 1985, she founded PT Pusaka Tradisi Ibu, a small company that produced hair care products. However, the business experienced a major challenge when a fire destroyed almost all of the company's assets. Despite this, Nurhayati did not give up. She was determined to get back on her feet and started focusing on cosmetic products that catered to the needs of the Muslimah market in Indonesia. This is how the Wardah cosmetics brand was born.
Wardah is one of the first cosmetic brands in Indonesia to focus on halal products. Nurhayati saw great potential in this market, given that the majority of Indonesia's population is Muslim. By offering cosmetic products that comply with halal principles, Wardah managed to attract the attention of many Muslimah consumers who previously had difficulty finding beauty products that were in line with their beliefs.
Under Nurhayati's leadership, Wardah grew rapidly. The company is not only known for its halal products, but also for its innovation and quality. Wardah positions itself as a cosmetics brand that is modern and in line with global trends, while still maintaining local identity and values. This approach makes Wardah able to compete with international cosmetic brands.
In addition to Wardah, Nurhayati also launched other cosmetic brands, such as Emina which is targeted at teenagers, and Make Over which focuses on the premium segment. With an extensive brand portfolio, PT Paragon Technology and Innovation is one of the biggest players in Indonesia's cosmetics industry.
For her dedication and achievements, Nurhayati has received numerous awards, both at national and international levels. She is often cited as one of the most influential women in Indonesia, especially in the business category. Her success shows that with perseverance, innovation, and strong values, a Minang woman can achieve success in the global arena.
Nurhayati Subakat is not only an inspiration for female entrepreneurs in Indonesia, but also for all young people who want to pursue their dreams and face challenges with an unyielding spirit.
