To celebrate International Women’s Day, we sat down for a conversation with our girl boss, Huilin, and picked up a handful of great advice from her!
How did you come into the business?
I’ve always loved the F&B and hospitality industry. It was an industry that has fascinated me and I always enjoyed being with people from the same industry. In hospitality, people are truly in the profession for their love of the craft and not for material rewards. Being around such people with the same motivation is inspiring. When I came right out of graduating from hospitality school, it was a natural choice for me to join the family business as it combined my passion for the industry and my responsibility to the family.
Describe one of your most memorable “aha!” moment.
It was probably at my first job working as a pastry kitchen intern at the age of 18 with The Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore. That day, we were severely understaffed and as a team, we ended up pulling a 14 hour shift with no break. Despite being exhausted by the end of the day, everyone was still smiling and in a positive state of mind. Looking around at my team, I realised what it was like to experience satisfaction and accomplishment. That was my aha moment of how I wanted to live my life. It was also the same moment that I realised how much better the taste of an ice cold beer is after a long hard day!
When was the time you felt completely discouraged and how did you push through it?
2013 was probably one of the hardest year for me professionally. Q Industries International underwent some challenges and there were times where I felt that I wanted to give in and give up. But it was then that I came to realisation that failure can sometimes be one of the best teachers in life. The circumstances of failure at times may not be under your control, but you can always control yourself and how you manage the situation and eventually you will come out better for it. Realising this, it gave me the strength to keep on pushing through and brought the business to where it is today.
What attribute to your confidence when you meet clients?
The knowledge of the products and services we provide. I also do some research on the client, his/her establishment and will generally have a good idea of their needs. The key thing is to be well prepared for any meeting. I always keep in mind our Q Industries’ 5Ds process: Discover, Define, Design, Develop and Deliver. And of course, I meet all my clients with the passion that I have for the industry. Excitement is contagious!
Define what is success to you.
Success is looking back at every moment and being able to look at myself in the mirror and say that I would not have done anything else different if I have to re-live it again. This applies to both my personal and professional life.
How is it like being a #girlboss?
It is fabulous being a girl boss! I wouldn’t have it any other other way. I have a phenomenal team of power girls behind me, making it fun to work in the office. My mother built the business from scratch and at the start it was mainly herself and her sister. Q Industries grew to what it is today on solid foundation of girl power and I am really proud to be able to continue this legacy.