As another year draws to a close, the team at NIPSEA Group has been reflecting on their personal and professional journeys. From launching innovative web pages to navigating the complexities of international collaboration, 2024 has been a year filled with accomplishments, learning, and team spirit.
Celebrating Successes: Big and Small
One of the year’s key highlights was the successful launch of the NPS Career Webpage, spearheaded by Sharin Huang from HR. “The career webpage features talents from the company and aims to attract other talents to join us,” she shares. This initiative not only showcases the incredible people within the company but also strengthens our employer brand.

Melodie Yap from Communications & CSR achieved a significant personal milestone by freezing her eggs. ” It gave me the freedom to focus on living life without the pressure of the biological clock,” she explains. This highlights the company’s supportive and understanding environment that encourages employees to consider all of their options when it comes to family planning.

Forging Bonds Beyond Borders
Melodie also recounts her experience organising a regional CSR volunteering programme in Sarawak, Malaysia, as one of her most cherished memories. “It was an unforgettable experience as we connected with colleagues from around the world on a personal and emotional level outside of the work environment,” she says. “Happy tears were shed during heartfelt sharing sessions, creating memories I will always treasure.” This initiative underscores the importance of human connection and the power of shared experiences in building a strong, unified team.
Embracing Challenges and Learning Curves
For Finian Ho from Group Marketing, 2024 was “The Adventure of Learning.” He proudly launched the new “N” Lockup visual element across all entities, an initiative to standardise the company’s global social media presence. He describes the year as “a thrilling journey of self-discovery,” where he stepped outside his comfort zone and tackled new challenges. His adoption of the principles from the book Atomic Habits reflects a shift towards building sustainable systems for achieving goals, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.

Florence Qiang of Nippon Paint China’s PR Department reflects on her year akin to the TV series “Friends,” filled with daily adventures and collaborative efforts. She played a key role in the Two Brushes Award Ceremony, achieving a satisfaction rate of over 90% among 800 participating employees and the China International Import Expo (CIIE). “It was the first time facing so many central-level media and government delegations,” she notes, highlighting these events’ growth opportunities.

Pham Quang Van, National Sales Manager for Marine & Offshore Coating at Nippon Paint Vietnam, celebrated a successful year with significant expansion into new sub-segments, such as Coastal Lines, Cruise Ships, Offshore, and Fishing Boats. “This is a positive signal showing that we are rapidly and effectively expanding our business across all channels in the Marine Coatings and Offshore segments,” he states. He proudly reflects on building a new segment from scratch and attributes the team’s success to strong leadership, dedicated teamwork, and support from various departments.

Vo Thi Thuy Trang from Nippon Paint Vietnam describes 2024 as a “memorable and impressive year” filled with opportunities. She takes pride in her adaptability and commitment to new challenges. A highlight for her was organising customer trips to Laos and Japan, where she found motivation in witnessing customers’ satisfaction with the cultural experiences. She considered these trips an impressive project that provided valuable insights.

Looking Ahead: Aspirations and Ambitions
The team is brimming with optimism for the future. They envision continued growth, innovative product development, and a strengthened brand reputation. As Quang Van puts it, he hopes for “sustainable growth” across all business sectors and the development of “new products that meet market demands in terms of quality and cost.” He also advocates for enhancing the company’s brand image through various channels and improving the quality of human resources by continuously training and developing necessary skills for staff members. Florence echoes this sentiment, expressing her hope for “more opportunities to maintain communication with our overseas colleagues and learn together in areas such as sustainability and marketing.” Finian shares his aspiration to “standardise our global social media appearance across different social media platforms.” Thuy Trang hopes NIPSEA Group will “continue to offer short training courses for employees on knowledge, skills, and industry-specific languages related to various departments.” She believes this will “enhance individual capabilities” and contribute to the company’s overall development.

Personal Growth and the Pursuit of Balance
Beyond professional goals, the team is committed to continuous learning and personal development. Thuy Trang expresses her desire to “learn more languages” and further develop her Marketing and Business Administration skills. Quang Van plans to enhance his leadership skills, learn Chinese and Japanese, and even take up golf to better connect with clients.
The team also recognises the importance of work-life balance. Melodie emphasises the need to “identify the methods that work best for you to manage anxiety and stress, as well as to maintain proper sleep.” Whether enjoying a chilled beer, jogging, cooking a meal for loved ones, or pursuing creative hobbies like Finian’s baking and hairstyling or Melodie’s diving, everyone has their unique way of unwinding.

Hidden Talents and a Touch of Humour
The team is full of surprises, revealing hidden talents and quirky aspirations. Sharin dreams of “teleporting” to work, while Finian has a knack for identifying spices by their smell. Melodie reveals she’s a PADI-certified professional mermaid freediver instructor and content creator, and Sharin expresses her interest in experiencing the work of their chemists. These glimpses into their personalities add a touch of humour and remind us that there’s more to each individual than meets the eye.

A Team United by Shared Values
The reflections shared by the team paint a picture of a dynamic, dedicated, and forward-thinking group of individuals. Their stories highlight the power of teamwork, the importance of personal growth, and the value of a supportive work environment. As they look ahead to the new year, they share a commitment to excellence, innovation, and a healthy dose of fun.
