Meet Tan Wai Tjun

What is your role at Nolato, and what do you find most exciting about your job?

As a Business Development Manager at Nolato Malaysia, my role involves managing strategic key accounts and ensuring we build strong partnerships with our valued customers. Additionally, I oversee Nolato Malaysia's LinkedIn presence, where I share updates on our achievements, capabilities, and innovations. What excites me most about my job is the opportunity to engage with a wide range of people. I enjoy collaborating with individuals across different functions, backgrounds, and expertise. Whether it’s working closely with internal teams or interacting with clients, each experience broadens my perspective and enhances my ability to drive successful outcomes. Being part of such a dynamic environment keeps my role both challenging and rewarding.

What are your biggest challenges, and how do you tackle them?

One of the biggest challenges I face in my role is managing people and communication. Every individual has their own personality, perspective, and way of processing information, which can sometimes make collaboration complex. To overcome this, I focus on understanding the person I'm dealing with—their communication style, what they want to hear, and equally important, what they don’t want to hear. By tailoring my approach accordingly, I can deliver information in a way that resonates with them, ensuring clear communication and effective collaboration. Beyond that, I believe that a key part of leadership is empowering others to succeed. I make it a priority to provide guidance, share knowledge, and create an environment where team members feel supported and confident to take ownership of their roles. This combination of adaptability, mentorship, and support has helped me build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts, and achieve better outcomes in both internal teamwork and customer engagements.

What has been your most memorable experience during your time at Nolato?

One of my most memorable experiences at Nolato Malaysia was winning a challenging project that required close collaboration with our sourcing and engineering teams. The project was particularly demanding because it wasn’t just about meeting the customer’s requirements—we also faced a major hurdle in securing supplier support for the required material. To overcome this, our team dedicated significant time developing a clear strategy, engaging in extensive discussions with both the customer and the supplier. It was crucial to align all parties, ensuring the customer was confident in our solution while convincing the supplier to support us with the necessary material. Through teamwork, persistence, and effective communication, we successfully secured the project from a strong competitor. This achievement was especially rewarding because it demonstrated the power of collaboration, strategic thinking, and resilience.

What do you think makes Nolato stand out as an employer?

What truly sets Nolato apart as an employer is its unique approach to fostering trust, empowerment, and accountability—values that resonate with the principles outlined in the book "No Rules Rules" by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer. This book, introduced by our Managing Director, Dan Wong, highlights the importance of creating a workplace culture that embraces freedom with responsibility. At Nolato, employees are encouraged to take ownership of their work, make decisions confidently, and challenge ideas openly. This level of trust empowers individuals to innovate and contribute meaningfully without being restricted by excessive rules or micromanagement. Just like in the book, Nolato focuses on building a high-performing team where clear communication, mutual respect, and shared goals drive success. This progressive mindset not only enhances collaboration but also nurtures a positive working environment where employees feel valued and motivated to excel.

If you were to describe Nolato in three words, what would they be?

• Innovative
• Collaborative
• Empowering
  
  

Do you have any interests or hobbies outside of work that inspire you in your job?

As a father of two energetic little ones—my "two monsters"—life outside of work is always lively and full of surprises. Beyond my role at Nolato, I dedicate a lot of my free time to drawing, sketching, and watercolor painting. These creative activities not only allow me to unwind but also inspire my work. Art has taught me patience, attention to detail, and the importance of seeing things from different perspectives—all of which are valuable in my role. Just like in painting, achieving the best results at work often requires creativity, strategic thinking, and a willingness to experiment with new ideas.