Leaders in any organization play an important role on multiple levels. Not only do they play a major role in defining the company’s success, but great leaders also leave an impact on those whom they lead. A living example of such a leader is Candice Heng, Executive Vice President, PSC Corporation. Bringing a host of experiences with her, she is not only a seasoned professional, but also a dynamic individual and leader focused on the overall growth of her organization. “Taking proper care of my health is the one thing I consider to be most important in life. Leaders tend to take their responsibilities so seriously that they neglect taking time off for themselves to recharge. I came to understand that I must first take care of myself in order to be able to care for others. I, therefore, engage in three crucial self-care practices: mental self-care, emotional self-care, and physical self-care”, speaks Candice. We got to know more from her in this one-on-one interaction.

Take us through the prior industry experience that you bring to the table. Throw some light on your expertise as a strategic business leader specializing in FMCG and food & beverages.

Before I started in the FMCG F&B industry, I briefly held positions in the talent acquisition sector. This has aided me in developing my communication skills, awareness of non-verbal cues, and capacity for attentive listening. I built on my interpersonal skills and began working in the FMCG F&B sector. I started my career managing commercial teams with a focus on creating and putting into practice commercial strategies to drive growth in a sustainable method. During this course of work, I developed my critical thinking abilities and learned the art of effective negotiation.

Introduce us to PSC. Tell us about the various responsibilities you shoulder as PSC’s Executive Vice President.

PSC Corporation, founded in 1974, is a leading distributor of fast-moving consumer staples in Singapore and Malaysia. We are listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange. We own and distribute well-known top-selling consumer products such as Royal Umbrella rice, Golden Peony rice, Golden Circle Oil, Fortune tofu, noodle and Asian dessert, and Beautex paper products. These brands are marketed and distributed by our subsidiary Topseller which handles FMCG in Singapore, whereas our Malaysia subsidiary SOCMA Trading focuses mainly on confectionery, snacks, beverages, and groceries. Some of the popular brands distributed by SOCMA include Mentos, Chupa Chups, Tao Kae Noi, Tai Sun, and Meiji. The manufacturing of paper products in Malaysia is managed by our paper subsidiary – TIPS Industry, whereas the manufacturing of soya beanbased products, noodles, and Asian desserts is under Fortune Food Manufacturing. PSC is at the forefront of driving sustainable innovation and actively exploring new technologies to expand our manufacturing and distribution capabilities.

My current responsibilities include originating and implementing the organization's strategy, budgeting and allocating marketing funds to execute our commercial strategies, developing resource capabilities, and managing the senior executive team. I also directly run the entire consumer essentials business. Ultimately, my primary responsibility and goal is to realize the Group’s commitment to responsibly meet Asia’s consumer essentials needs through strategic investments and partnerships. In this pursuit, we continue to expand into new markets and extend our global reach, with my role playing a pivotal part in achieving these endeavors.

“Don’t make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope & possibility”

What are some of the most challenging aspects of being a strategic business leader in today’s business climate? What steps do you undertake to overcome these roadblocks?

In this business, change is the only constant. While the world has emerged from the pandemic, it has prompted governments to rethink and diversify their supply chains to ensure the security of their food and other basic needs, especially amidst a backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tension in various regions.

At the same time, with the world caught up with how AI and other technological advancements impact the various aspects of our daily lives, the food manufacturing sector also needs to seek ways in which it can ride the trend to improve productivity and reduce the cost of compliance with respect to the various industry regulations and standards.

As business leaders, we need to be sensitive to how these various macro factors impact our operations and calibrate our strategies to ensure the company remains competitive and relevant.

Throw some light on your approach to leadership. How do you work towards creating a strong team?

My leadership approach is guided by four core pillars.

a). Show, Not Tell: Model the way and be the example you want to nurture. People will more easily align with shared values enabling the building of a cohesive and productive working environment. Shared values are the foundation for building productive and genuine working relationships.

b). Always challenge the status quo: Keep an open mind in seeking opportunities that can help innovate and improve the ways that the organization operates. Effective leaders possess the ability to dismantle bureaucracy when it hinders progress and decisive action.

c). Empower others: Good leaders know that they cannot achieve success alone. It is only when they learn how to empower their teams, foster collaboration and inculcate confidence that they are able to build high-performing teams. Maintain a perpetual focus on optimizing the strengths and untapped potential of team members, fostering a culture of leadership development within the organization.

d). Celebrating small accomplishments: Big achievements are built on the compounding of small accomplishments. Recognize and celebrate every meaningful accomplishment of the team, to encourage them and keep hope and determination alive. In every successful team, it is crucial that members share in the rewards of their collective efforts.

Tell us about the most significant milestone you have achieved in your illustrious professional journey so far. What has been your Mantra for success?

The most significant milestone in my career was my first general management position. Shortly after, I was tasked with the restructuring of the team, where I had to make many difficult decisions, explain these decisions, and to motivate the team in order to keep the business going. As it turned out, being thrusted to the deep end of the pool significantly accelerated my learning. I became a more resilient and holistic manager.

I am inspired by three mantras that have always given me the confidence to keep pushing on. Firstly, be gutsy and fearless in standing and speaking up views on issues that we have strong beliefs in. Secondly, maintain a positive mental attitude so as to help stretch ourselves to reach our maximum potential. Finally, set both big and small goals to celebrate significant milestones and keep us and our team members motivated.

Candice Heng,  Executive Vice President, PSC Corporation

Candice Heng brings extensive experience across multiple sectors with her. She graduated with a B.Sc degree in Business, after which she went on to work in talent acquisition, later transitioning to the FMCG sector in the F&B industry. She has held multiple management roles, the first of which she was awarded the CEO GEM award for her outstanding contribution as the country lead for Singapore. As a leader, she inspires budding leaders to challenge themselves, be confident, and outgrow any self-limiting mindset.