Rosy Ng is the senior commercial manager at Malaysia-based frozen seafood supplier Golden Fresh Sdn Bhd, which has grown from being one of the largest seafood processors in the country to being a global supplier of raw and value-added seafood products.

Ng joined the company 27 years ago, coming from a professional background in the personal computer industry.

IntraFish: How did you begin working in the seafood industry ?

Rosy Ng: I was one of the pioneers in personal computer field back in the 1980s. The company I worked with as system support/sales manager was the agent for Apple and Olivetti PCs.

In 1986 Butterworth Iceworks Sdn Bhd, the holding company of Golden Fresh Sdn Bhd, was the first in Malaysia to purchase from me the Italian made Olivetti M24 , the state-of-the-art personal computer back then. Its CEO Earn Saw later offered me a job in his company which I accepted, fortunately otherwise I won’t be what I am today – both financially and emotionally stable.

It’s been 27 long years in the industry and I am extremely  grateful now to be doing what I love to and feel proud to be a part of this company.

IF: What attracted you about the seafood industry?

RN: The thing I appreciate most about this industry is that it has given me the opportunity to travel from one part of the globe to another over the last several years. It is also the people in this industry that make me feel very comfortable and happy with how everything went. The opportunity to work with such a diverse group of people has been invaluable. The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.

IF: What obstacles have you faced in your career a man might not have encountered?

RN: In fact I enjoyed working with male counterparts as they tend to be more varied and interesting. Throughout my working career I just cannot recall any obstacles I have faced that a man might not have encountered. Having said that, there might be some incidents happened without my knowledge.

IF: Would you encourage other women to seek a career in this industry? Why?

RN: Yes and no depending on the nature of work and the list of priorities. There’s no longer a one-size fits all career path in most organizations so adaptations to the actual situation may be needed. Ability may get you to the top, but only character will keep you there.

IF: What advice would you give aspiring female seafood executives in the industry?

RN: Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great people make you feel that you, too can become great. Success is to be measured not by the position one has reached in life as by the obstacles one has overcome while trying to succeed. “Every Fish Has a Tale” - The seafood industry is more complex than other protein commodities. There’s so many different species, so many different layers along the chain. Well I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.

IF: What are the biggest challenges facing female seafood executives in the industry?

RN: In general Asian men prefer to marry women who are further “down” the career ladder. Striking a balance between work and home life is a delicate one. Unlike fast-moving consumer goods, our industry is affected by seasonal variation and changing ecological conditions hence it is mentally disturbing at times when we face demand-supply issues.

IF: How can the industry recruit more women into the sector?

RN: Despite a gradual cultural shift, women are still responsible for the majority of child care and household duties. While there is no magic formula businesses can use to shrink gender gap, there are some concrete steps one can take to recruit, hire and retain female talent. Equal pay for equal work is one of the major factors to consider and also a generous paid leave policy has to be in place. Most women appreciate having female colleagues and if the opportunity to socialize with other women and be mentored by more senior women is available then recruiting star female candidates becomes much easier.

IF: Why are there so few women in executive roles in seafood?

RN: Women have more personal and social pressure than men which probably affect their ability to further their careers and get the experience they need to become good executives. Noted that women’s representation in Financial Post 500 Leadership positions has slowly increased in recent years which I hope likewise applies to our industry.

IF: If there were one thing you could change about the industry to make it a better place for women workers, what would it be?

RN: Workplaces that work for women also work for men and for employers.  And the right workplace culture makes a big difference to employee engagement and commitment.

IF: What was the dumbest advice a man in the seafood industry has ever given you?

RN: I received only the good advice. Anyway, nothing is ever perfect, but if we help ourselves then the world would be a better place to live in. It is about how you treat other people, not how many people you have power over.