An ancient Asian Buddhist belief is that change is inevitable. In other words, we have to accommodate the fact that environments and businesses are continuously changing.
A certainty is that Asia is changing and growing at an impressive pace. In only a few decades, the industry will feed more than five billion mouths every day.
Many opportunities present themselves in the Asia-Pacific region, where the middle class is expanding and spending more money on protein and other food necessities.
In many aspects, this is the Asian century, full steam ahead in becoming the economic powerhouse it once was in the 1700s.
Nomilk2day embraces those changes by harmonising the most vital element in a company: people. The right people to steer the companies in the right direction. The mission is to turn good companies into great companies.
We call it connecting ambitions by aligning your goals and your story. That goes for companies and employees. Working on a long term relationship is what is most important not only in Asia, yet more and more in Europe, too.
From a growing desire from our customer base, we’ve decided to connect ambitions on the Asian continent. With a local presence, we can be of even more service to our customers, who are active on the continent. This way, we can harness its full potential.
Thankfully, the Asia-Pacific region welcomes companies with open arms.
I find this an electrifying time, right at the start of the Asian century. The many different Asian cultures make it a dynamic place to work in, and it is a privilege to be a part of their sustained growth model.
FROM THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS A BARISTA IN KOREA TO BECOMING THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF ONE OF PHILIPPINES’ MOST BELOVED DINING INSTITUTIONS, KAY LEE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF A WOMAN THAT HAS CULTIVATED SUCCESS BEYOND BORDERS. CURRENTLY WORKING IN MANILA FOR MAX’S GROUP INC., KAY IS AIMING TO BRING THE FILIPINO-STYLE CASUAL DINING EXPERIENCE THE WORLD OVER. The story of how Max’s Restaurant became one of Philippines most iconic dining destinations is a tale of modesty leading to success. It began after World War II, when a Stanford-educated teacher Maximo Gimenez started to host American troops in his home in Quezon City. Max had the advantage of speaking fluent English across various topics, which the Americans appreciated, along with his hospitality. These casual gatherings, often over a few drinks, also came with fried chicken made by his niece Ruby. Over time, the troops insisted to pay for their drinks and meal, which eventually inspired Max to open a café, that was named Max’s Restaurant.
‘What started as a humble café is now the biggest casual dining group of companies in the Philippines.’ Aside from Max’s Restaurant, Max’s Group Inc. also operates Yellow Cab Pizza, Pancake House, Sizzlin’ Steak and Teriyaki Boy among other eateries. Though most of the business is done in the Philippines, the company is also present in United States, Canada, the Middle East and selected Asia-Pacific regions. ‘I handle these brands’ global operations based on a franchise model, where we work with partners in developing and delivering much-loved Filipino cuisine to an international audience.’
listen first, understand and then they decide, rather than just jump to action. These things can make female leaders sometimes better than men I feel.’
Currently Max’s group inc. Operates in Asia, Middle East, United States and Canada. Are you planning to expand to Europe? ‘Europe has been on our radar for quite some time, especially Italy and United Kingdom, where there is a big Filipino community. We would like to expand our businesses to these two countries, with our flagship Max’s Restaurant brand first. But as our business model is master franchise, we are diligently working to find a partner who can bring and expand the brand there with us. We are still searching for the right partner and as soon we find one, we would definitely bring Max’s Restaurant to Europe.’
Is it true that in the Philippines, it is more likely that your boss will be a woman, rather than a man? ‘Yes, absolutely. In the Philippines you see more women in the work force than men. I was very surprised when I first joined Max’s Group Inc. and discovered that there are a lot of women in leadership roles. That was a sign for me that I could grow within the company. Currently, in our company core management team of 19 people, 10 of them are women. But honestly, that’s not the case only in our company. I see a lot of women in high positions in other companies in the Philippines, it is commonplace here to give leading roles to women, as well as hiring from the LGBT community. That’s something very rare to see in other Asian countries, especially Northern part of Asia like Korea, Japan or China.’
As a woman leader, is it important to have more ladies in positions of power? ‘As Obama once said, “The world would be a better place if run by women” and I couldn’t agree more. There’s a fundamental difference between men and women in terms of how they process things. Women are naturally better listeners than men, and when you become a leader, what you hear is more important than what you say. You have to understand your team and the best way to do it is to just listen. Also, it’s proven that women are better in reading nonverbal language to interpret a person or situation effectively. They
Have you experienced any resistance when you are leading men? ‘Luckily, I haven’t experienced any obvious resistance. When I was working in Korea, I had male team members reporting to me, but they were usually younger in age and seniority. In the Philippines though, it seems age is not as important as it is in Korea. I have male team members who are actually older than me and working with them is perfectly fine. But I think I’m not acting like their boss either, I try to be equal because we all are individual contributors to the same goal. I’m leading a small team and we all work together. I work with them, rather than ask them to work for me.’
Would you have achieved the same level of career success if you would have stayed in Korea? ‘I think eventually I would have, but it would have probably taken more time. Like I said, Philippines is more open to giving a chance regardless of gender, age and seniority. In Korea that’s not always the case, even though it’s changing nowadays. But definitely women in the Philippines could reach higher positions much faster than in Korea.’
You climbed the corporate ladder in a very impressive way, starting as a barista at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and becoming a highprofile manager at the global company. How was that journey? ‘Honestly, I didn’t plan for any of this, certainly not to become a COO. I was initially aiming to do a master’s degree in the US, and I had some downtime. So as a coffee lover, I applied for a job as a barista at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf as I wanted to learn how to make good coffee. As a growing company in Korea at the time, they then offered me a role to train new baristas at the HQ office, which I accepted to save more money before I furthered my studies. But then I was continually offered new roles in The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, like in marketing and customer relations, I eventually decided to stay on and work in Korea. Some time later, I got an offer from another company to work on a project to bring Krispy Kreme to Korea. I joined the team, but then after few years and opening more than 50 of Krispy Kreme stores, I wanted to challenge myself again, because staying at one company for a long time was not my desire at the time. When the opportunity to work with Max’s Group Inc. came along, I didn’t hesitate to join them. I knew how they treat their employees from my days with Krispy Kreme Asia Pacific, and I knew that was the place for me to move my career forward.’
What is your advice to all the aspiring and future female leaders? ‘There are some strict social norms for ladies that society expects them to follow. At certain age you should get married, and then followed by having children. Then the focus switches to parenting, which usually means the women have to give up or scale back their careers. Naturally, these expectations put a lot of pressure on women, creating self-doubt and insecurities at critical points of their career. It’s important that women don’t draw the line between what they can and cannot do before trying it. Don’t doubt yourself too much, don’t ask yourself too many questions and if you get a good job opportunity that you desire, then you have to grab it.’
You moved from your native country South Korea to the Philippines. How would you compare living in Seoul and living in Manila? ‘I always wanted to live and work abroad and to travel a lot. That’s why it was never a hard decision for me to move to another country. Also, the fact that Philippines is only 4 hours away from Korea made the decision to move easier. Once I moved, I experienced so many differences compare to Korea. In Korea, everything can be done with just a click, everything can be delivered on time, internet is the fastest. While in Manila it takes ages to just download one episode on your computer. But then, people in the Philippines are just much happier than the Koreans. They are less stressed and smile more, in fact when I think about it now, Korean people actually don’t smile much. And that’s something that makes me really happy, to see people smiling everywhere I go. Another thing is transportation, in Manila there is no public transportation, you need to have a car and traffic is so bad. While Korea has one of the best transportation systems in the world. Despite the differences, I like both places equally. When I’m in Manila I miss Seoul, when I’m in Seoul I miss Manila.’
We know that family relations in Asia are more important than let’s say in Europe. How did your family react to your move to another country? ‘When I first told my family about my plans to move to the Philippines, they were not so thrilled about that idea at all. There is often news on television that Korean people get robbed or shot in the Philippines, so they were worried about my safety. But at the end of the day, my parents always listen to me and respect my decisions. When I went to the Philippines to find an apartment and organise everything for my big move, my Mum came along. Visiting Manila and meeting the people definitely made my Mum more comfortable with my decision. And now both of my parents love to visit me in Manila and spend time here.’
You are a very busy lady, so when you have some time off, how do you spend it? ‘I like reading books. I have a huge library and a good book is something that can always make me happy. I also enjoy cycling on weekends and of course café hopping, thanks to my love of drinking coffee. Unfortunately, there are not many good coffee shops in Manila, but I did find some nice ones that I regularly go to.’
What are some of your business goals? ‘At the moment, our company has 62 stores worldwide and we would like to increase that number to 100 by 2024. Also, one of our long-term goals is to make a footprint in the global food industry. Filipino cuisine is not as known as for example Vietnamese or Thai, so we’re trying to bring traditional Filipino food closer to our non-Filipino customers.’
And your personal goals? ‘To stay healthy and contented, while travelling more for leisure. I travel a lot for work, so in the future I would like to visit some places that are on my bucket list and just enjoy the experience, like Egypt or wineries in California and France. I have an agreement with my sister that for her 50th birthday we will go to Peru. That’s a big adventure and I exercise a lot so that I can be fully ready to climb Machu Picchu.’
WITH MORE THAN FOUR YEARS’ EXPERIENCE AT EXECUTIVE LEVEL IN ASIA, HANS BORSBOOM KNOWS ALL ABOUT LIVING AND WORKING IN THE FAR EAST. ‘IT MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE CRAZY, BUT I ENJOY STEPPING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE. THAT’S WHEN I LEARN THE MOST.”
Hans was still fairly young when he realized that he would ultimately like to work abroad for an extended period of time. ‘The traineeship in South Africa was definitely the major highlight while studying for my degree in food technology. It was untrodden ground; I quickly learned to become self-reliant and to cope with a different system, culture and language. Luckily, my wife shared my drive for an international adventure. When our children were five and seven years old, I told my employer – FrieslandCampina – that I was open to doing an overseas assignment.” Not long afterwards, he was heading to China for a two-year project.
What did you do in China? ‘I ran a big factory in northern China that produces the basic powder and finished formulas for infant nutrition and creamers for the B2B market. It was close to the borders with Mongolia and North Korea. Temperatures can range from minus 30 in the winter to 40 degrees in the summer. It was ‘hardship assignment’ in the true sense – and not only because of the remote location, but also because of the assignment itself. Many processes still had to be implemented, and the employees were unfamiliar with how things work within a multinational, plus all the communication was done through an interpreter. However, one good thing about Chinese people is that they are quick to adapt. And we also had a very good raw material supply – a continuous flow of high-quality milk.”
How did an average day look for you? ‘During the week I lived on site in the factory dormitory, in a two-star room. When you’re the ‘big boss’, and especially in the beginning when you don’t speak the language very well, you’re alone a lot of the time. It was a unique period in which I read a lot – there’s no access to YouTube – and ran two laps around the site first thing every morning. I spent the weekends with the rest of my family in Shanghai, which is a great city – a really cosmopolitan environment.”
After returning to the Netherlands briefly, you’ve been in Indonesia since February 2020. What do you do nowadays? ‘Whereas in China I was in charge of just the factory, in Indonesia I’m responsible for the entire endto-end organization – the business, sales, plan and deliver as well as the factory. That’s the great thing about this assignment. The strong sense of community on Java plays a key role. We call it our ‘PT Kievit family’ and we look out for one another. As a company, we take our corporate social responsibility seriously – not only towards our own employees, but also the wider community. I communicate clearly and
‘YOU
openly, talk to everyone and walk around the factory. They’re not used to that from other directors. They also really appreciate the fact that I’m making an effort to learn the language.”
Your family have accompanied you for both assignments, and your children were pretty young the first time around. How did you approach that? ‘Our children were six and eight at the time, so we told them lots of things about China and treated it as an adventure for us all. Together with a teacher of Chinese culture, we cooked Chinese food and learned some words and local customs. During a previsit, my wife and I visited the new school and told our children all about it afterwards. That helped to spark their enthusiasm, but of course they were also sad to leave their school friends behind.”
cultures and situations has broadened their horizons compared to if we’d stayed in the Netherlands. When I saw how easily my son spoke English during an activity at school recently, it made me really proud. That would never have been possible at his age in the Netherlands. Being able to get by in a foreign language boosts their confidence, and that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.”
And they are older this time around… ‘That’s right, and so they were also more strongly attached to the Netherlands, having lived there for two years in between. Our daughter, who was 11 when we left for the second time, was excited by the idea of an Indonesian adventure, but our son – who was nine – wasn’t so keen initially. But he changed his mind after two days and decided that he was willing to give it a go. We’d been there on holiday previously, and we read a lot about the country, the culture and the food. It’s a shame that the children have only had home schooling because of COVID-19, so they haven’t been able to get to know their new classmates properly. That makes it extra challenging. But luckily there’s plenty to do here: football, tennis, wakeboarding, surfing… so that makes up for a lot.”
What have been the benefits for them? ‘Living in a different country makes children worldly-wise. Being exposed to different
For your work, you have to fly to Central Java and you’re away from home for almost a week each time. What does your wife think about that? ‘The reason we live on Bali is because there are no international schools on Central Java. Besides that, Bali is smaller and less crowded. My wife is the one who holds our family together and keeps everything running smoothly. She does an amazing job. She also helps out a lot at school, plus she’s lending a hand with a friend’s small business, which helps to support the local community. It’s really nice to be able to give something back.”
And what do you enjoy about this assignment? ‘Personally, I view every assignment as a new chapter in my life. And every time you turn a page, you discover a new version of yourself. You keep learning new things about yourself and developing new and unexpected skills. I can now speak a little Chinese and Indonesian, or ‘Bahasa’ as it’s called. It’s fantastic when you can make yourself understood using just a few words. Another thing I’ve learned is not to worry so much. Everything works out in the end.”
You’re living and working in a very different culture. Did it take you long to adjust? ‘For me, that’s what makes it so much fun. You have to try your hardest in awkward and unpredictable circumstances. It might sound a little crazy, but I enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone. That’s when I learn the most, and then I try to create as much structure as possible. That sounds like a contradiction. But the more unpredictable and more chaotic it is, the better, because that makes it an even bigger challenge to take the business to the next level. At the same time, I’m also conscious that my Dutch frame of reference isn’t always the most appropriate one. You’ll learn the most if you bear that in mind.”
‘LIVING
What about your social life? Have you made friends with any locals, or mainly with expats? ‘We have a very fulfilling social life. Here on Bali we have a lot of contact with the locals. We enjoy dining out at local restaurants and trying all kinds of unique and surprising food. Besides that, we’ve got to know a lot of expats who work in the hotel industry. We exchange details of our experiences and challenges, and we give each other tips. That’s how you learn from one another.”
What are the keys to success as an expat? ‘You need to be adventurous and have an open approach to others. You also need to be naturally entrepreneurial and proactive, otherwise you’ll hate it. In South Africa, I learned that you have to take the initiative if you want to get to know people. If you wait for people to approach you, nothing will happen. Over time, my wife and children have learned to do that more too.”
What are your plans for the future? ‘To stay abroad for as long as possible – and preferably in Asia, because this part of the world has a special place in my heart.”
If someone is wondering about whether to become an expat, what would be your advice? ‘If you ever get the chance to move abroad for work, seize it with both hands! There are lots of people who say that they fancy the idea, but when push comes to shove they decide against it. Everyone has their own reasons, of course. All I would say is that you should live the life you want to lead. If you’re happy in your home country, that’s fine. But it’s a shame not to work abroad if that’s what you want... It’s better to regret what you have done than what you haven’t!”
‘THE MORE UNPREDICTABLE AND MORE CHAOTIC IT IS, THE BETTER’
LIVING IN CHINA, ESPECIALLY IN SHANGHAI WHERE A STRICT COVID LOCKDOWN IS UNDERWAY, IS INDEED A CHALLENGE FOR TORBEN GOSVIG MADSEN. DESPITE THE TOUGH TIMES, TORBEN WHO IS ORIGINALLY FROM DENMARK ENJOYS LIVING IN CHINA WITH HIS WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN, WHERE HE WORKS FOR A LEADING ANIMAL NUTRITION COMPANY BASED IN GERMANY.
For the most part, the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe is considered to be over, but for Torben the reality in Shanghai is very much different. ‘It’s challenging to live here at the moment. Everything is closed and no one knows how long this lockdown will last. We can only go for a walk within our gated community, and nowhere else.’ Speaking from his house in Shanghai, Torben shares his thoughts on living and working in Asia for close to 15 years. Before moving to Shanghai, Torben was based in Beijing and before that lived in Singapore. ‘Although more polished and very easy-going, Singapore can get a bit boring. Shanghai is chaotic in a way that I like, it’s a place full of diversity and vibrancy.’
What is it like working for Evonik in China? ‘My company works very closely with livestock producers in China, it is very much a collaboration to find the best customised solutions. Products aside, we also offer consulting or implementation services. Together with producers, we test products and methods to find what works best, and in the most optimized manner.’
What are some common diseases in animals and how can they be prevented? ‘There are lots of viruses out there, like African swine fever or bird flu and many more that cause various diseases in animals. These types of diseases can only be prevented with a vaccine and a high level of biosecurity in the farms. But there are also some bacterial infections like salmonella or clostridia that can be prevented by simply enriching animals’ diets with probiotics or antibiotic treatment. In the past, producers used antibiotics to prevent animal diseases, but nowadays both producers and consumers are concerned as frequent usage of antibiotics creates highly resistant bacteria, reducing the effectiveness of some antibiotics. That’s why a much better solution is to use probiotics, and that’s something Evonik is focused on, providing a wide range of probiotics that can prevent diseases altogether.’
What are some challenges in feeding the animals? ‘The challenge is to know exactly what the animals need, depending on the conditions that they are raised. Farmers also must be aware of the quality of raw materials they are buying. Next, the whole process of producing, storing and preservation can also be an issue, especially in tropical climates where mould can be a big problem. Then the feeding procedure itself is important, as you can waste a lot of feed if it’s not correctly stored and fed to the animals. Finally, in this part of the globe it’s very hot and sometimes you need to adjust feeding, so that the animals don’t get heat stress.
’How does the feeding affect animal production? ‘It all boils down to knowing the need of the animal. If you feed them too little of one or two nutrients, then of course they don’t grow as fast. If you give them food with some substances that can affect the guts, the animals feel uncomfortable and again don’t grow fast enough, which is also an animal welfare issue. You can also feed them too much of something that they don’t need and that’s considered extra food that they now have to get rid of. Feeding also depends on the animal’s growth stage, for example young bird needs different nutrients compared to the older birds, this is same with pigs. There are a lot of feeding aspects that can impact the performance of the animals, so it’s about knowing what they need and providing them the nutrition according to their specific requirements.’
What are some new products or technologies coming from Evonik? ‘Surely, we are moving in the direction of digitalisation. It’s relatively new method where we offer different digital solutions, like farm monitoring technologies. Our customers are building large farms all over the world, but there is a lack of skilled employees to work on these farms, because it’s not seen as the most attractive job. As such, farmers need more digital solutions to be able to monitor what is going on at the farm. With the right equipment, farmers can get early warnings so they can react and fix certain issues. Other than that, we also have a lot of digital analytical tools. These tools can help farmers to analyse incoming raw materials, so they know exactly what is inside and make necessary adjustments with supplements to meet the needs of the animals. Most of these digital solutions are actually not new business for us, we have been involved in it for quite a long time, but the key is to constantly come up with some new ideas, improvements and enhancements.’
Does Evonik create innovations also here in China? ‘We are actually constantly innovating new solutions here in Asia. Things are simply moving faster here. In many parts of Asia, you don’t plan for the next ten years, you simply try things and then you fix them along the way. This is instead of testing something over and over until you get the perfect product or method before rolling out. Here, people don’t waste their time, they are willing to try something new as soon as possible, then along the way develop it further until it becomes absolutely perfect.’
Can you describe the sales process in China? What are some cultural differences compared to Europe? ‘You need to understand your customers and the best way to do it is to build a relationship based on trust. The customer always comes first. That’s the key. Trust is important between business partners and it’s especially important in China. Here, it’s more about the people than the brands. For example, in the rest of the world, if you have the right brand, you don’t need to worry much about selling the products, because people trust that brand. In China they trust the people, not the brand. And of course, every business here involves a lot of dinners, eating and drinking. That’s very important and you don’t see that much elsewhere. Coming from the West, that was a new way of doing business for me, but I adapted quickly and I actually like it. It’s also interesting to mention, you don’t have a lot of long-term contracts here, but rather short terms contracts. And one more thing worth mentioning, people here like to engage in business negotiations. There are negotiations going on constantly, that’s something that I had to get used to.’
You have lived in Asia for almost fifteen years. What are some things you wished you knew before moving to this part of the world? ‘First off is that the organisational hierarchy is important here is Asia. The boss is above everyone else, and you don’t question most of their decisions. I had to teach my team how to be critical of me as their boss and ask me questions, and not just say ‘Yes’. You do get affected by their constant agreeability, they think you are the best and that you know everything. I try to encourage my team to constantly challenge me, and we created an environment where we work together on problems and solutions. It took some time, but now we are really working as a team, and not in the typical boss-employee model. Another thing is the language, this is really a big barrier. I must admit, I’m still not very good in Mandarin. Also, a lot of people in Europe think that everything is cheap in Asia, but that’s absolutely not true. For example, branded things are here more expensive, including food products that are considered western like butter or milk.’
How does your wife Mette find China? ‘My wife Mette loves living in China. She enjoys the cultural diversity here. Of course, there are some things that she needed time to accept, like not working. Here, the typical family unit consists of one person working, and the other taking care of the house and kids, regardless of gender. In our case, my wife is the one staying at home and for a Danish lady, previously used to having her own job, that was something difficult to accept. But then, there are some positive aspects here. She really appreciated the ability of being able to spend more time with the kids, especially when they were younger. Also, she could go for a holiday to Europe and spend several weeks there together with our kids, which would have been impossible to do if you have a regular job. We moved a lot around and she is the one always creating all our social networks. She is also doing a lot of voluntarily work and that is something she enjoys doing.’
What about your children? Do Elvira, Leonora and Carl like living in China? ‘Definitely! Denmark is not home for them, China is. Denmark is only a holiday place, where they go once a year. Even then they usually can’t wait for holiday to be over so they can rush back home, to China. They have even expressed fear of having to eventually move to Denmark. Living there and being surrounded by only Danish people somewhat frightens them, as they are used to having friends from all over the world. They also feel Denmark is too boring compared to Shanghai. And I have to be honest, Shanghai is a city full of life with a lot of happenings everywhere, yet very safe for youngsters to go out, safer in fact compared to many European cities.’
‘THE CHALLENGE IS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE ANIMALS NEED, DEPENDING ON THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY ARE RAISED’
After six years of growth in Europe, Nomilk2day is taking its next step into the wider world, spurred on by a number of existing agrifood customers who are also active in Asia. Managing Director Jaap ten Have provides an insight into his activities for Nomilk2day Asia from his base in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).
Besides having a strong drive to find successful matches between candidates and employers, headhunting firm Nomilk2day also has ambitious goals of its own. Nomilk2day has achieved rapid growth over the past five years, and opened a new office in Eindhoven just last year. Now, in 2022, the company is spreading its wings even further afield – to Kuala Lumpur, to be precise. Dutchman Jaap ten Have has been working in agribusiness in Asia for eight years, most recently in a business development role. Before moving to Asia, he owned a recruitment agency in the Netherlands.
Can you tell us more about the expansion plans? ‘Nomilk2day Asia is a further extension of the activities of Nomilk2day Headhunters specifically here in AsiaPacific, which is a massive region. In just a couple of decades from now, five billion mouths will need feeding here and there will be many more people in the middle class. Much of their extra wealth will be spent on food: our customer segment. Asia is a real growth region with huge potential. As a result, many of our European
JAAP HAVE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NOMILK2DAY ASIAcustomers are already active in Asia. They regularly ask us whether we can support their local subsidiaries with our recruitment services – and now we can.’
What’s happening in Asia, business-wise? ‘Asia has had a huge growth spurt in the past 20 years. Education has improved considerably and there have been some changes in the way of thinking. As a result, there is a lot of talent here and businesses are growing. There are lots of big and also innovative companies here in Asia with European ambitions. For example, Singapore is well known for its alternative meat industry and vertical farming, while there are numerous food companies in Indonesia. Executive search covers all of those areas and more.’
Is Nomilk2day’s concept the same in Asia as in Europe? ‘The Nomilk2day approach is successful, so we don’t see any reason to make drastic changes. But we’ve tweaked it slightly, of course, because it won’t work if we simply copy/paste the European concept. Most importantly, we’re adapting our approach to the local culture, preferences and communication style.’
What’s your goal with Nomilk2day Asia? ‘We definitely want to make a splash – not necessarily in terms of our size, but as a company that really brings something new. Five years from now, I hope that we
will be the leading headhunter in Asia for agrifood and the food industry. I also hope to have a team of people around me including a number of consultants to help me with our market development activities, as well as various people supporting us in the office. So yes, it’s an ambitious growth plan but I also believe it’s doable. By the way, I’m not on my own until then. I currently receive day-to-day operational and search support from the team in the Netherlands.’
You sound pretty confident. What makes you so sure that this venture will be a success? ‘There are two reasons. Firstly, I know that international corporates based in the Netherlands are enthusiastic about us also being able to help them recruit competent professionals here in Asia. That is mutually beneficial and will also expand our network. Besides that, my market analysis has revealed that – as a specialist – Nomilk2day has a unique competitive position in Asia.’
One aspect of your work as a headhunter is supporting expats. What are your key takeaways for people who are considering this step for the first time? ‘When supporting expats, my main priority is to ensure that the candidates know where they stand and to manage the expectations. Needless to say, I also explain the best way to prepare for certain things. I often encounter instances of miscommunication due to cultural differences; people sometimes don’t understand one another properly, but prefer not to admit it. There are ways to get around that, such as repeating what the other person has said during a conversation to check that you understood it correctly. In fact, asking lots of questions and listening carefully is always a must.’
Do you have any tips in terms of living in Asia? ‘If expats have children, I always advise them to start by finding a good school and then to look for accommodation nearby. You don’t want to have to battle the traffic for an hour every day on the way to school. It comes in handy to know these kinds of things beforehand. And once you’re settled, my advice is to integrate and participate in the community as quickly as possible.’
Participation sounds like good advice, but how do you do that in an unfamiliar culture? ‘The most important thing is to be open to new contacts and experiences. In my first year in Malaysia I hung out a lot with the Malaysian owner and his friends – mainly because I didn’t know anyone else and didn’t come across many other internationals, but it was my best move ever! Thanks to playing sports, eating, drinking beer and partying together with them, I quickly learned a lot: the language, what you should and shouldn’t say, and seemingly small but very significant details. For example, when you’ve finished eating food made from a banana leaf, it’s very important how you fold the leaf. If you do it wrong, you’re actually signalling that you didn’t like it or that you’re going to a funeral. That can attract some pretty strange looks! Those kinds of things gave me a head start and helped me to adjust fairly quickly.’
You’ve been living in Asia for quite a while now. Do you feel at home? ‘I initially intended to stay for just a year, but that was eight years ago and I don’t have any plans to leave. I live with my Malaysian wife in a suburb of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, and a I speak a little Chinese, Malay and a few other languages. Because I don’t spend all my time in the expat bubble, I know how the locals interact. I really love it here... the culture, the people, the food, the weather, the travelling. It’s all fantastic.’
And what about your social life? How do you spend your free time? ‘I do a lot of sport. In fact, I’ve just got back from the driving range. Besides golf, I enjoy playing tennis, swimming, cycling, running, occasionally going to the gym, and I like playing football and go-karting with friends. My group of friends includes both locals and internationals: Spanish, Germans, Dutch, Malaysians and Japanese. It’s a really fun mix of different cultures!’
Does the idea of living and working in Asia for an extended period of time appeal to you? If so, send us your details so we can consider you for future opportunities or apply for one of the current vacancies on nomilk2day.asia
‘HANGING
WAS MY BEST MOVE EVER’
The header is the text directly below your name. In search results, it is visible together with your name. Use words that you want to be found with, and use words that allow you to distinguish yourself. Are you, for example, looking for a job? Then the headline is the best place to mention this.
The info-field is probably the most crucial element on LinkedIn. In this summary, you introduce yourself, highlight your performance, mention what drives you, your area of expertise and where you can add value. Besides your work interests, you may also describe your other interests. Do not make it too long (maximum 1,500 characters), and divide the text into paragraphs.
Highlight your current and past experience under ‘experience’. For each job (or internship), describe what the company does, what your role was like, what key projects you led, and what goals you achieved. And remember; without the right keywords, you are not easy to find. With bullets points, you ensure an easily scannable page. Just like your resume, put it in chronological order; with the most recent at the top. Do you (at some point) already have several years of work experience? Then you can remove your internships.
List all courses you have completed, with the most recent programme at the top. Name your minor(s) to distinguish yourself. Did you graduate with good grades? Add it there. Any details such as graduating with distinction, or the title of your graduation research can be filled-in in the description. Stay as specific as possible.
This is the place for all the certificates you have obtained for courses and training. In this way, you show that you continue to develop. Don’t have much work experience yet? Then at least show that you have the accurate knowledge and skills at your disposal.
Do you tutor children? Do you organize a charity every year, or are you on the board of your children’s school? This gives a fantastic overview of you as a person and says something about your (additional) skills.
Have you written an article, or have you been interviewed? Mention this under Publications. Is there a patent in your name? Have you won an award or a prize? Please indicate it here.
A few good recommendations from former colleagues or clients you’ve worked with can make all the difference. Especially if you are looking for work. It is not crazy at all to ask for a recommendation.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is easy to find by personalizing your URL. LinkedIn gives your profile a number sequence by default, but you are easier to find if your name is here. You can easily adjust this yourself.
If you want to be more visible as a job seeker, use the ‘open to work’ badge. With that option, a green border appears around your profile picture so that it is immediately visible that you are open to work.
CARMELO FERLITO - DIRECTOR PETERSIME SOUTHEAST ASIA
‘ECONOMICS IS NOT A SET OF TOOLS, BUT A WAY OF THINKING’
THE ESPRESSO WAS POTENT, AND SO WAS DR. CARMELO FERLITO’S THOUGHTS AS WE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND ECONOMICS IN ASIA. BORN IN ITALY AND FINDING LOVE IN INDONESIA, CARMELO NOW RESIDES IN MALAYSIA WHERE HE LEADS AN INNOVATIVE GLOBAL COMPANY WHILE HELMING A LOCAL ECONOMICS THINK TANK.
One would think that as the Southeast Asia director of one of the world’s leading manufacturers of poultry hatcheries and incubators, Carmelo would be hard pressed to find time for anything else. ‘I am a manager by trade, and an economist by passion.” True enough, his expertise in agriculture and in-depth knowledge on economics enable Carmelo to have distinct views on the markets, sustainable food production, younger talents and advancement of agriculture. ‘The think tank is a small organisation I created together with my friends. We focus on education with classes on theoretical economics, which includes how a market works. Involvement in Malaysian policy debates and promoting market solutions to policy problems often earns us good local media coverage.”
From your experience, what would be some challenges about market education in Asia? ‘The main challenge is the lack of humanistic education, particularly history. Therefore, economics is considered like a technical discipline, like it’s a set of tools similar to the ones an engineer uses to fix things. That’s wrong, as economics is a way of thinking. Students are very good at all the graphs of supply and demand, but they are not able to understand the historical conditions of time and place. You can’t speak about Adam Smith to people who have no idea of what the industrial revolution was and why the industrial revolution took place in 18th century England, rather than some other place. Students lack the knowledge in history, which is a global problem. I’m a strong advocate of educational reforms, and that we should start from a young age to inculcate students to have a humanistic approach to science. We have generations of young people, very well trained, just like engineers, they’re good in mathematics and physics, but that’s how they look at economics too. For them it’s just a matter of applied formulas. That’s very dangerous, because we are raising generations who think that the problem can be fixed with formulas. No. That doesn’t happen. A true awareness of the complexities surrounding a problem can be developed only by properly studying humanities.’
What is the best way to attract people to agriculture? ‘We must make people understand that a career in agriculture is dignified job, and that there is a high demand for professionals. Agriculture doesn’t necessarily mean you go to the field and spread seeds under the sun. We need to show people that agriculture is something important and meaningful. It doesn’t only mean you get dirty in the field. Nowadays agriculture is more industrial, and it requires technical knowledge, such as in biology and science. Good way to educate people would be to introduce professional high schools with programs for accountants, biologist and junior level engineers in agriculture. The next step would be college, with a focus on specific high-level skills.’
One of the biggest problems is how to attract young people to farming. Is agriculture reserved for the older population? ‘We should bring agriculture closer to students by organising field visits and talks with entrepreneurs that are active in farming. The best approach is to get students involved directly in the agricultural sector, make them see and feel what real farming is about. Otherwise, we get a huge amount of frustrated people coming of college thinking only about jobs in accounting companies, and not understanding the importance of production. It must be made clear and apparent that there are good jobs and career opportunities in productive activities, too.’
As a director of petersime southeast asia, global manufacturer of hatcheries and incubators, what are some new trends in poultry industry? ‘Some coming trends for poultry are less invasive innovations, as well as antibiotic
free production. But these trends will take time, as there needs to be a balance between animal welfare and human health. For example, by keeping the chicken antibiotic free, we must make sure that the people in close contact don’t get sick. You can’t just go all-in. A balanced trade-off analysis is always necessary, some matters cannot be solved in an ideological way.’
Could you tell us more about in-ovo sexing technology? Will this new method catch on in Asia? ‘This is a new chick sexing method performed while chicks are still in-ovo, or inside the egg. It was introduced because of the concern with male chicken culling, in the case of laying-hen production. Introduced 3 years ago, it is primarily to avoid culling male chickens at birth because they cannot produce eggs, and genetically unsuited to become meat. The method here is to get them selected and killed before they hatch, which is a far more humane approach. I’m not sure if in-ovo sexing will gain any attraction in Asia, where at the moment, the main concern is still to produce enough quantity at a reasonable price. But the technology is finding research interest in Holland and Germany in particular.’
The poultry sector is one of the fastest growing agricultural sub-sector, especially in developing countries like Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia. Which asian country is the most advanced in the poultry industry? ‘Thailand is by far the most advanced country in chicken farming, followed by Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar. Thailand adopted technologies earlier than its neighbouring countries and there are few producers there involved in high level farming with excellent growth prospects. Chicken production is among biggest agricultural sector in Malaysia too, and there are a few farms in Malaysia that are highly automated and self-sufficient. The best technologies from around the world are easily embraced in Malaysia. Pakistan surprisingly deserves a special mention, where poultry entrepreneurs are often those who possess the relevant technical knowledge for farming, as opposed to an investor approach that more commonly prevails in Southeast Asia.’
Which global agricultural trends will shape the economy in asian countries in near future? ‘First thing that will come here in terms of poultry production will be cage free production. There’s still a way to go, but it’s already becoming popular in Europe, and will be soon common in the United States as well. Poultry producers in Asia will enable at least a part of their production to be cage free. This is to satisfy the demand of the growing number of environmentally concerned individuals, although the superiority of cage-free techniques in terms of animal welfare us still up for debate. Second thing is definitely plant-based food.’
Let’s talk more about plant-based food. It looks like a lot of global food companies are expanding their businesses into the plant-based segment. How will that trend impact the meat industry? And how can the meat producers compete with more sustainable and environmentally friendly plant-based products? ‘The plant-based industry has a future for two reasons, one is the growing number of vegetarians and secondly is the presence of Hinduism and Buddhism in Asia. Being vegetarian is believed to be a healthier lifestyle compared to a meat diet. I generally believe in balance and that we need to eat a little bit of everything. As such, traditional meat producers need to convince people with scientific proof that their product is not being harmful but is equally healthy with high regard to hygiene and health standards. Personally, I feel that a good piece of meat is healthier than non-meat products that has been processed in such a way to taste like meat. In the end, if you choose to be a vegetarian – which is a perfectly legitimate choice – you should not primarily to look for ‘alternative” meat experiences.’
It seems that more and more consumers are switching to organic meat, vegetables and fruits. What is your opinion about organic products? ‘People often think that if something is organic, it’s good. Just like back in the old days, when we were buying fresh meat, vegetables and diary products from our neighbours in a semi-barter economy. But that’s not what’s happening with organic products. We are often still purchasing organic from big agriculture players, who are just producing the same product in a different way. I believe customers’ perception at this regard matters a lot; certain high-end customers are looking for a certain type of experience in terms of personal believes, although scientifically there may not be a huge difference between organic and
non-organic products. It is important to address that these choices are at the prerogative of wealthier consumers, as organic or ‘animal-friendly” methods of production increase costs. In addition, organic producers recognise that their potential customers are ready to pay a higher premium for their preferences. Often, perception of reality matters more than reality itself.’
You were born in Verona, the Italian city of love, but you found your true love all the way in Indonesia. How did that happen? ‘I was working for an Italian company and travelled frequently to Asia for business. Then in Indonesia, I met my future wife Meilina. We couldn’t think about a future in Italy, because of the low wages and limited social mobility, along with the fact that it is also very difficult for foreigners because of the language barrier. But then, after few months, a job opportunity in Malaysia popped-up, I applied and got the job. We both moved to Malaysia, got married and we started our journey together here.’
So you are from Italy, your wife from Indonesia and you live in Malaysia. Where does your son say he’s from? ‘My son Elio is born in Malaysia and tends to see himself as a Malaysian, although he holds both the Italian and Indonesian passports. At 7 years old, this is the only home he has ever known, and now beginning to understand that there are different people from different countries. He is exposed to much more than I or his Mum were when we were growing up respectively in Italy and Indonesia. I think this experience will make him rich and more understanding of differences but could possibly also affect his sense of belonging. I hope he can go on to take this as an opportunity to become stronger and find his own identity. Nevertheless, he is very conscious of his Italian roots and if you ask me, he is hundred percent Italian when it comes to food. He doesn’t like rice, but he could eat pizza or pasta three times a day. Sometimes he even sips the balance in my cup of espresso. He is a proper Italian.’
Besides Director at Petersime Southeast Asia, Carmelo Ferlito is also Economist and CEO of the Center for Market Education.
BALANCING THE DEMANDS OF A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND THE NEEDS OF HER FAMILY – WHILE LIVING ABROAD – IS SOMETHING EMILIE ROST VAN TONNIGEN HAS LEARNED TO DO EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. THIS CHARMING DUTCH MOTHEROF-TWO HAS FOUND HER HOME IN SINGAPORE WHERE SHE CURRENTLY WORKS AS AN AGRICULTURAL ADVISOR AT THE EMBASSY OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS.
Emilie was pursuing a career in marketing when an opportunity to venture into the field of sustainability arose. It was a big career switch yet in-line with her passion for sustainability, which also involved moving halfway across the world to Singapore. That was 5 years ago. Emilie has since graduated from the National University of Singapore with a master’s degree in Environmental Management and became a mother to two children. She is currently representing Dutch interests in agriculture, nature, food safety and security. ‘In addition to regular agricultural trade, there is a particular focus on bringing Dutch horticulture solutions and alternative proteins products and technology to Singapore.’
What is the sustainable food challenge that you’re working on?
‘The challenge right now is to increase the local food production in Singapore from less than 10% currently to 30% by 2030. The Singaporean Government calls this the 30-by-30 strategy, and my role is to complement this effort by bringing Dutch food technology and expertise to Singapore. This will ensure Singapore not only achieves greater stability in its national food security, but also enables a drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as transport throughout the value chain is significantly reduced.’
What kind of dutch technologies are implemented in Singapore?
‘One showcase example is the vertical farm of Urban Farming Partners, which consists of a group of experts who all installed their own proven Dutch technology. The farm uses the floating water system of Dry Hydroponics, which basically grows crops on water instead of soil. Other technologies include Priva, which is a climate and water control system, as well as Signify that uses LED lightning for daylight-free growing. The farm is completely aligned with Singapore’s 30-by-30 strategy as it delivers fresh local produce within a 28-day growth cycle. We’re obviously very proud to be able to contribute to the national food strategy with these amazing Dutch technologies.’
How accurate is the quote: ‘The Netherlands feeds the world”?
‘The Netherlands is the world’s number two agricultural exporter, second only to the USA, which has 270 times more landmass. As such, the Netherlands plays a vital role in the global food transformation programme to increase food production for a growing world population. What we’re seeing now in Singapore is a shift in interest from traditional import of products to import of Dutch technology and know-how in horticulture, which enhances local food production. This trend is accelerated by global disruptions in supply chains caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the current war in Ukraine, which shows that international food systems are incredibly vulnerable. Such disruptions underline the criticality for countries to become more food independent, to which Singapore is no exception.’
Nowadays, we often see eco-friendly fruits and vegetables, packed in plastic packaging in supermarkets. These two don’t seem to go together. Can something be changed here? ‘The irony is that plastic drastically improves shelf life of fresh products, and by keeping the food fresh, it significantly reduces food waste. Plastic packaging is proven to be successful because of its extreme durability. And while this is a fantastic feature for food conservation, waste packaging has been piling up because of limited opportunities for proper disposal and recycling of plastics. This is of course a global issue and what needs to change is a drastic reduction of food packaging and an increase in facilities for recycling and waste recovery. This boils down to the 3R principle of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Another thing that needs to change is consumers’ perception, so if we wish to reduce our plastic packaging then we should accept that food can’t always look as perfect as how it is displayed in the average supermarket.’
You’re also working on the global transition from animal-based proteins to alternative proteins? In 2020, Singapore became the first country in the world to approve the consumption of cultured meat. The cultured chicken of Eat Just has been available in a few restaurants in
Singapore ever since. The Netherlands has more than 50 initiatives for startups, government programs and research organisations contributing to the global protein transition. At the Dutch Embassy, we’re supporting these initiatives in their journey to bringing their products or research to Singapore. For example, there are two major upcoming food events this year in Singapore, both with an extensive focus on novel foods. So, we’re actively looking for opportunities for Dutch organizations at these events.’
Agriculture is considered a male industry. Do you agree? ‘I’ve never considered it a male industry. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, on average women represent 43 per cent of the world’s agricultural labour force with a vast majority being smallholder farmers. So the idea that the food and agricultural business is not a women’s industry is, in my opinion, a misconception. Moreover, the food industry is changing. Many ladies are attracted to the industry because of sustainability reasons, just like me. I believe that the current global push for a more sustainable food system will attract more women to the sector.’
How did you realize agriculture was something you would want to build your career in? ‘Agriculture was not an interest I had in mind when I started my career. Prior to moving to Singapore, I predominantly worked in marketing and process improvement related projects in the private sector. Yet I always had this desire to work on sustainability, which is my passion. Our move to Singapore provided an opportunity to pursue that desire. I took my time to explore the field of sustainable development and I did multiple work assignments in addition to studying for a master’s degree in Environmental Management. Through these experiences, I was able to narrow my interest down from the broad sense of sustainability to sustainable land management with a particular interest in agriculture, which also fits well with my
personal lifestyle choice of an eco-conscious diet. So over the years, my career path developed rather organically towards my current job. Although recently, someone joked that it must have been in my blood all along as I was born in the Dutch Eastland, an agricultural region focused on horticulture.’
Living in Singapore or living in the Netherlands? ‘Living in Asia is such an adventure, and it has allowed me to achieve many of my personal goals simultaneously. Frankly, I don’t know how I could have achieved that while living in the Netherlands. Singapore is a great place for families with lots of facilities for young children, including dedicated childcare at home by an excellent domestic helper. That’s something that makes life much easier here. Furthermore, I enjoy the tropical climate that provides so many opportunities for outdoor activities. We love to bike or hike and explore the Botanic Gardens or the nearby rainforest. We enjoy our lifestyle here and we feel at home in Singapore. But the Netherlands will always be home to me, so it’s delightfully convenient to have a job that allows me to touch base with my home country on a daily basis.’
NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND FUTURE EXPATS BETTER THAN AN EXPAT THEMSELVES! AFTER LIVING IN VARIOUS EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AS WELL AS SPENDING THREE YEARS IN THE USA, LIS BRIËT, HER HUSBAND AND THREE CHILDREN MOVED TO KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, IN 2021. LIS IS NOW PUTTING HER EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE AS AN INTERNATIONAL HEADHUNTER TO GOOD USE AT NOMILK2DAY ASIA TO BRING CANDIDATES AND COMPANIES TOGETHER.
Dutch-born Lis Briët never imagined she would end up living and working in so many different countries and even on different continents, but she is pleased she did: ‘I am very grateful for the richness of experience and extensive network I now have.’
As a headhunter, you are also involved in recruiting expats, so I guess your own expat experience must come in handy? ‘Definitely, because in my work I can draw on my own experiences. I am familiar with different cultures and I know how much impact a job abroad can have on yourself and your family members. It’s not an easy path or an easy way of life, but for me it has always been a very special path. Everyone makes different choices and has different preferences or expectations. I keep that in mind and I certainly don’t expect everyone to be hungry for the chance of an expat experience. But if that is your ambition, I’ll do my best to help you find one.’
How do you personally deal with emigrating? Do you have to keep reinventing yourself? ‘I like to compare it to sailing, which is something I really enjoy. You know where you’re heading and you’re familiar with your boat. You and your boat are one, and the sails are your skills, as it were. The dynamics of a new situation are like the wind and the water, which are unpredictable and never the same. You have to use your boat and your skills to determine how to make the best use of the wind to reach your destination. This is how it feels to me when we’re starting over again anywhere in the world. You are still the same person, with your own qualities, traits and character. So the best thing to do is to utilize your strengths and qualities to adapt to the new situation. Raise or lower the sails a little, as necessary! Another thing that helps me is staying alert to what’s going on around me. Remain curious, keep asking questions, keep exploring and remain open to others. It’s your journey and you’re at the helm. When you’re out on the water, doing nothing is not an option.’
That almost sounds like a life lesson! ‘It is, but I like the fact that it also applies in my work. Here, too, it’s also important to be curious about others and to discover their strengths and motivation in order to point them in the right direction or connect them with the right contacts. I find it very rewarding to help people achieve happiness or realize their goal.’
Let’s go back to the early days for a moment. You started in recruitment immediately after graduating, didn’t you? ‘That’s right. I’ve always been fascinated by the importance of people doing work that suits them; it’s part of a rewarding life for everyone. After starting at an employment agency in Amsterdam, I gradually progressed in the recruitment world. When my partner got the chance to move to Brussels for his work, I soon arranged a transfer for myself too. After four years in Belgium, we returned to the Netherlands for two years, then moved to Scotland for two years followed by three years in the USA, and now we and our three sons are living in Malaysia.’
How do you like Malaysia? ‘It’s a fantastic country with very kind people. Everyone makes time for each other and exudes peace, which makes them seem friendly. In my experience, Malaysians are open people, which can lead to some interesting conversations if you adopt an open approach too and immerse yourself in the other person. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. How do you want me to do this or that? What is your take on things? I also regularly check that people don’t mind my Dutch directness. Furthermore, the natural surroundings here are stunning, so we love going hiking. Due to the numerous ethnic groups here there’s always some kind of festivity, because they make a point of celebrating special occasions – and that in turn stimulates me to learn about them. Culture, cuisine and nature are the key to getting to know a country properly.’
What have you learned from living and working in all these different places? ‘Above all, it takes resilience to successfully make a fresh start not once but several times. I think that’s what has made me so good at building things up. Whether it’s a new home or a new business venture, I enjoy small successes that take you closer to a bigger goal. You sometimes have to force yourself to do things when your brain is asking ‘Do I have to?’. Yes, you do have to, otherwise you won’t make any progress. That’s how you learn to live in the here and now.’
And you’re now working at Nomilk2day... why did you choose this role? ‘Because Nomilk2day is building up a new market for itself. My colleague Jaap and I have similar views on many topics and I believe that we can work together well to build a high-quality business, establish a good name in the market and further grow this office. That’s why I’m keen to embark on this exciting adventure. In this role, all the pieces of the puzzle in my life fit together.’
Such as? ‘Such as the insights I’ve gained into various businesses, how to manage a company well, how to form teams and how to initiate change; I’ve had so much input into the possibilities relating to all these issues. And I don’t mean just the businesswise pieces of the puzzle, because I have personally experienced – several times – what a transition entails for yourself, your partner and your children. You have to decide where to live, find an international school, find a sports club, build a social life, etc. So in that context I can add value by helping candidates to make their own carefully considered decisions.’
Which key opportunities do you see in Asia? ‘The Asian food industry is growing rapidly. There are millions of mouths to feed and average salaries are rising, so people have more money to spend. This calls for higher volumes and different methods of food production. Sustainability and innovation will become more important. It’s extremely interesting to be part of the growth of the food industry by making the right matches. My job as a headhunter is to uncover each candidate’s motivation for wanting to live in Asia.’
So is that your ambition? ‘My aim is to get to know as many people as possible and to make a valuable contribution by putting the right candidate in the right place. And to help companies and candidates to achieve their ambitions… because doing what you enjoy is the key to happiness.’
Does the idea of living and working in Asia for an extended period of time appeal to you? If so, send us your details so we can consider you for future opportunities or apply for one of the current vacancies on nomilk2day.asia
‘YOU
TO BECOME AND STAY AS THE TOP 3 PERFORMER IN YOUR INDUSTRY OR MARKET WITH CONSISTENT PROFIT OVER 15 PERCENT OF SALES, OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE IS ESSENTIAL. SUPPLY CHAIN PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR, ERIK BROUWER, GIVES YOU FIVE TIPS HOW TO ACHIEVE OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND INCREASE YOUR BUSINESS IN ASIA.
While most food processing companies are indeed striving for operational excellence, not many can successfully implement the plans and processes to make excellence sustainable. ‘The key to operational excellence is the mindset to do better every day’, says Erik Brouwer. He was the Supply Chain Professional of the Year when he moved to Asia in 2015 due to his believe in operational excellence. We asked Erik what is needed to take your supply chain from good to great.
#1. Balance all five components ‘It’s important to create a new behaviour and change the mindset in the whole organization, from shopfloor to top management. The companies who want to achieve operational excellence need to make sure they have safe operations, high quality, best service and excellent cost, but they also need to take care of the environment and have sustainability measures in place. I strongly believe that companies who balance all five components well and at the same time, have the biggest chance to succeed in business and achieve the best results for shareholders and stakeholders.’
#2. Motivation is key ‘Asia is still rapidly developing economically, especially the food industry and it’s exciting to see more local companies, next to big conglomerates. They are willing to go ahead, they are willing to go fast, they are willing to change or do things in a new way. What to achieve? Food processing companies who implement an operational excellence strategy will increase their business expeditiously. For example, in a market like Southeast Asia, achieving flat cost price develops as a result of operational excellence combined with sales growth at 5 to 10 percent, will catapult profitability to at least 15 percent of sales.’
#3. Mix the best of both worlds ‘Asia has all the right ingredients to achieve operational excellence thanks to the perfect mix of developed western best practises and the Asian can-do mentality. This powerful combination got me and my team the Best Operation Award in Asia, when I was the Operations Director for Perfetti van Melle, Vietnam, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of confectionary in the world.’
#4. Walking the talk is essential ‘My job in Vietnam was a business turnaround. The company at the time was finding it difficult to achieve operational excellence. This was due to issues such as high attrition, low service and high rejects. My team and I completely turned that around within three years and went on to attain the title of the Best Performing Operations Organization in Asia. When it comes to operational excellence, walking the talk is essential. Great leaders don’t just sit in their offices, waiting for goals to be achieved. It’s crucial to be very authentic and trusting for your people.’
#5. Build a strong team ‘As a leader you realise you don’t know everything, that’s why it’s necessary to build a team that has all the qualities needed to reach the biggest goals. Attaining operational excellence is a journey, one that must start with establishing the right team with the right mix of skills, capabilities, personalities and background. The office space is nothing but a command centre, to get the real work done. I often go to the shop floor and talk to people. Be it to compliment the workers or to troubleshoot an issue, one should go-to-ground to gain and build trust. A good foundation makes everything possible, including achieving goals, targets and improved performance. My expertise and added value are helping to make this transformation for your team and operations, delivering substantial results in the three key areas of People, Planet and Profit.’
ONE PERFECT MATCH CAN BE THE CATALYST FOR ORGANISATION WIDE IMPACT. WE BELIEVE THAT ‘CONNECTING AMBITIONS’ IS THE MOST POWERFUL FACTOR FOR SUCCESS. DRIVEN BY SHARED AMBITIONS, WE CONNECT ORGANISATIONS AND PROFESSIONALS IN AGRIBUSINESS, FOOD AND INDUSTRY. OUR AIM IS TO HELP PROGRESS CAREERS AND PROMOTE BUSINESS SUCCESS.
NOMILK2DAY IS DECISIVE AND NOT AFRAID TO MAKE CHOICES IN COOPERATION WITH CANDIDATES AND CLIENTS. WE DELIVER ADDED VALUE BY CREATING UNEXPECTED AND SURPRISING MATCHES. WE TAKE OUR WORK SERIOUSLY WITH IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS AND A TAILOR-MADE APPROACH, RESULTING IN MATCHES THAT ARE IDEAL AND IMPACTFUL.
SUSTAINABLE AND INNOVATIVE FROM OUR WELL-ESTABLISHED OFFICES IN NETHERLANDS, EUROPE TO OUR ASIAN PRESENCE IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, NOMILK2DAY HEADHUNTERS COMBINE THE EXPERTISE OF CONSULTANTS, MARKETERS, CREATORS AND ENGINEERS TO OFFER A CONSISTENTLY INNOVATIVE MATCHING EXPERIENCE.
WE BELIEVE THAT ‘CONNECTING AMBITIONS’ IS KEY TO SUCCESS – BECAUSE IF YOU ACHIEVE YOUR AMBITIONS, YOU GROW. THAT’S TRUE NOT ONLY FOR PROFESSIONALS, BUT ALSO FOR ORGANISATIONS AND FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES TOO, OF COURSE. THAT’S WHAT WE FIND SO REWARDING ABOUT OUR WORK, WHICH WE DO BASED ON OUR OWN UNIQUE APPROACH: REFRESHING, ENERGETIC, PIONEERING AND DIFFERENT.
WORKING TOGETHER ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND OUR APPROACH IS CLEARLY GETTING US NOTICED, BECAUSE WE’VE GROWN RAPIDLY SINCE OUR COMPANY LAUNCH IN 2015 AND HAVE ALREADY MADE HUNDREDS OF SUCCESSFUL MATCHES. WE TAKE PRIDE IN THAT RESULT, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY’S CHALLENGING LABOUR MARKET. OUR TEAM IS A GREAT MIX OF YOUNG AND ENTHUSIASTIC HIGH POTENTIALS, CREATIVE MARKETING SPECIALISTS AND EXPERIENCED HEADHUNTERS WITH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE AND VISION. TOGETHER, WE STRIVE TO DO THINGS EVEN BETTER EVERY DAY.