Employee Spotlight: From Building Trust to Solving Problems

Meet Madeline See, our Senior Sales Executive from Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients, Food and Personal Care department in Singapore. She describes her daily role as "conducting multiple trains on a one-train track"—and honestly, that's pretty accurate.

But here's the thing about Madeline: she figured out something important early on. This job isn't really about selling products. It's about building trust.

When Everything Clicked

Her "aha" moment came during a tough client meeting. The food manufacturer was stressed, deadlines were tight and Madeline didn't have all the answers. Instead of bluffing her way through, she did something that felt risky: she admitted it.

"I told them, 'I don't know the answer to that right now, but I'll find out,'" she recalls. "And you know what? They respected that more than if I had tried to fake it."

That day taught her something that no sales manual ever could: Trust isn't built on being perfect. It's built on being real. It reminded her of something from the Growth Mindset course she took during her first week at Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients, Singapore: "Challenges are not roadblocks—they're invitations to grow." In that moment, she realised that admitting what you don't know is the first step to becoming someone who does.

The Mackerel Spirit in Action

What strikes you about Madeline is her hunger to learn. She'll Google something immediately if she doesn't understand it. "My browser history is probably 90% work-related research," she laughs. That entrepreneurial energy—that Mackerel spirit—shows up everywhere, even in her weekend hobby of grooming her dogs Wangcai and Yuanbao. Why not learn and do it myself?” she says. It’s just her way—always exploring, always trying something new.

What Makes Jebsen & Jessen Special

As a Millennial, Madeline appreciates what many of us value in our Group: transparency, support and genuine inclusion. "I find myself enjoying the transparency, supportive and inclusive work environment here and the possibilities in growth opportunities and recognition for efforts," she says. "Plus point for the Flexi Work Arrangements!"

Why This Matters

Madeline's secret isn't complicated. She brings commitment to every challenge, exercises prudence in her decisions and approaches every interaction with Anne Frank's wisdom: "In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit."

Her advice? "Bring on your explorer hat and enjoy the journey!"

When personal values align with corporate values, work becomes purpose. That's Madeline's real achievement—and maybe the rest of us can learn from it.