Young Talent Career

Discovering Passion for Logistics

To start, what first drew you into logistics and to NX?

The logistics industry is fast moving and ever changing, which fits my personality very well. I enjoy working in an environment where I am not limited by strict boundaries or confined to mundane, repetitive tasks.
I never wanted a role where every day looks exactly the same. In logistics, every customer and every project brings a new set of requirements, and that constant change keeps me engaged.
One of NX’s key missions is to expand its footprint among non‑Japanese customers, and that goal resonated closely with my own interest in bringing new customers on board. I knew it would be challenging, but I wanted to join NX early in this transformation journey so I could personally witness — and contribute to — the growth process.
The SAO division is still relatively young, so I felt I could play a pivotal role and that my opinions and ideas would really be valued. That is why I decided to take the leap of faith and join NX.

Was there any gap between how you imagined the industry and what you actually experienced after joining?

Before I joined, I imagined logistics as something very smooth and almost automatic — cargo simply moving quickly from point A to point B.
Once I stepped into the real world of logistics, I realized how much intervention is required at every stage of the supply chain to keep things moving. There is coordination, problem‑solving, and decision‑making involved at every step. In fact, there is almost never a day without issues to resolve, which is exactly why the work is so stimulating.

My Career Story

Before NX, what kind of background did you build, and what did you study at university?

I majored in Economics and Business at the National University of Singapore. Back then, I pictured myself working in the banking industry in the central business district, not spending my days in warehouses or at ports.
Life took a different turn, and I ended up in logistics. Looking back, the analytical foundation from economics and business has been very helpful in understanding markets, customers, and how value is created across the supply chain.

Since joining NX, what roles and responsibilities have you taken on?

When I joined NX, I took on the role of developing non‑Japanese accounts in the automotive vertical. More recently, I have also started to develop lifestyle accounts, expanding the portfolio beyond automotive.

Looking back on your journey at NX so far, when did you feel your own growth most strongly?

Some of the most fulfilling moments have come from reconnecting with customers I previously worked with and successfully bringing them on board with NX.
Many of these customers already knew me from my earlier role as an ocean carrier sales representative. The trust and confidence they placed in me — and their decision to start using NX’s services — gave me a strong sense of achievement and personal growth.

How do the strengths from your previous role show up in your work at NX today?

In my previous role, I was responsible for ocean carrier sales, which taught me a lot about customers’ logistics requirements.
Coming to NX, I could combine that customer understanding with NX’s deep expertise in handling automotive customers. This mix allowed me to reconnect quickly with my previous customers and give them the confidence to engage NX as a new strategic partner.
Over the years, I have also developed what I would call “listening skills” — the ability to really hear what customers are saying and understand their pain points. Rather than pushing every product we have, I focus on identifying where NX’s strengths can truly meet the customer’s needs. That mindset helps us offer the right solutions to the right customers, without over‑promising or over‑selling.

A Day in the Life at NX

What does a typical week look like for you in your current role?

There is hardly such a thing as a “typical” week, but there is a general pattern.
Around 80% of my time is spent managing customer requests and being in front of customers. I have the flexibility and trust to travel frequently across the APAC region for meetings — for example, one week I might be in Malaysia, and the next week in Thailand.
The rest of my time is used to step back, sit in the office, and think strategically about my pipeline and opportunities. Because my time and energy are limited, I need to be very intentional about which accounts to pursue and which opportunities to priorities.

As a relatively young leader, when do you feel that you are really being trusted with responsibility?

One clear example is the way NX encourages us to be in front of customers.
The company has a strong belief in building customer relationships, and management is very open to having members represent NX directly. I am often given the responsibility to travel alone to meet senior stakeholders on the customer side. That level of trust from management — that I can carry myself well and represent NX professionally — makes me feel truly empowered.

Can you share a teamwork episode that left a strong impression on you?

One of the most memorable experiences was working with the Malaysia team to pitch for, and ultimately secure, a three‑year customs brokerage contract with a major automotive customer.
There was a large delegation of around ten people from the customer side conducting a final on‑site audit before the nomination. It became a true cross‑functional effort within NX — multiple departments came together, prepared thoroughly, and supported each other through the process. Winning that business was a proud moment for all of us.

What It’s Like to Work at NX

If you had to describe NX’s culture in one phrase, what would you choose, and why?

I would describe it as a close‑knit family working together.
In SAO, different product teams share the same office and sit close to each other. When issues arise, we can quickly reach out, ask for help, and work through the problem together. That feeling of everyone pulling in the same direction is very strong.

Compared to your past experiences, what makes NX uniquely easy to work for in terms of systems and environment?

NX puts customers’ needs above everything else. While many companies are pushing towards simplification and automation in a way that sometimes forces customers to adapt to rigid systems, NX takes a different approach.
If there is a requirement from a customer and the current system does not fully support it, management is willing to listen and adjust the process or system where reasonable. That flexibility and customer‑first mindset are what make NX stand out.

From your perspective, what are NX’s particular strengths as a company?

NX’s strong footprint and brand recognition in Japan are major strengths. When we talk to customers, many already know NX and associate it with reliability in the Japanese logistics market.
That strong brand becomes a door‑opener when we talk about expanding services to other countries. It helps us introduce NX to new customers and grow relationships beyond Japan.

How would you describe the communication and support you feel inside NX?

The current leadership is very open and supportive. We have an open‑door culture where staff can step into leaders’ rooms to ask for support or simply have a casual chat.
In the broader workplace, colleagues feel encouraged to speak openly about their daily challenges. Sharing those challenges makes people feel they are not alone, and that they have the backing of their teammates. It creates a psychologically safe environment where it is easier to raise issues and solve them together.
SAO is also a very diverse region. In our office, we have colleagues from Japan, Singapore, India, China, Malaysia, and more. That mix of cultures and backgrounds makes daily collaboration richer and more dynamic.

Future Goal / Career Path

Looking ahead, what kinds of roles and goals are you aiming for in the medium to long term?

In the medium term, I want to take on a broader scope and lead a sales team. Becoming a leader of others — having the opportunity to mentor and motivate a team towards common targets — has always been one of my ambitions.
In the longer term, once my portfolio has grown, I hope to move from being an individual contributor to leading a wider team, creating impact not only through my own sales activities but also by enabling others to succeed.

What do you want to accomplish at NX, and what vision do you want to realize?

One of my key goals is to balance the revenue contribution of Japanese and non‑Japanese customers in the mobility and lifestyle vertical to a 50–50 split.
To move toward that goal, we need to continue building trust with customers, accelerate our presence beyond Japan, and coordinate aggressively with colleagues in other countries so that everyone is equally driven to onboard and grow new accounts.

Message to New Colleagues

From your experience, what traits or mindsets do successful people at NX tend to share?

From my perspective, successful people at NX are open‑minded and willing to take on additional tasks.
When you step into new areas beyond your original job scope, you gain not only new skills but also opportunities to work with different teams and build internal networks. Over time, that makes your work easier and more meaningful, because you know more people and can collaborate more effectively across the organization.

Do you have any advice for the next generation of leaders at NX?

My advice is not to be overly afraid of exams or evaluations. Prepare well, of course, but do not let the fear of being assessed stop you from taking on new challenges.
I joked a little by saying, “Let’s take it easy — in the worst case, there is always another option.” But when it comes to your actual career, I truly hope you will make the most of the opportunities you have here at NX.

Finally, what message would you like to share with future colleagues who may join NX?

I would summarize my message as:
“never be afraid to challenge the status quo.”
If you have questions about why things are done a certain way, ask. If you see a better way, speak up. At NX, new ideas are welcome, and leaders are open to listening.
For people who have curiosity, a willingness to learn, and the courage to challenge how things are done, NX can be a very exciting place to grow a career in logistics. When we change the status quo together in a positive way, we also build the next chapter of NX together.