From the Factory Floor to Leadership: A New Force Rising from Tradition
I am the second generation of Winner Food, a traditional noodle enterprise founded by my father’s family in 1986. From the year I graduated from university, I chose not to walk the easy path of being “the boss’s daughter,” but instead started from the very bottom of the production line.
I have always believed: if you don’t understand the process, you cannot lead the team—let alone earn their trust.
I worked side by side with the senior craftsmen, kneading dough, preparing mixes, moving goods, and sealing packages. Sweat and flour became my daily uniform. At times, my inexperience caused delays, and I had to stay behind to redo entire batches. Those moments taught me not only the essence of our products but also the true meaning of management.
Years later, when I stepped into management, the real challenges began. Systems had to be reorganized, teams needed unity, and equipment required upgrading. And I—a young woman, and the boss’s daughter—had to break through layers of traditional perceptions and doubts.
Our long-serving employees had been accustomed to old ways of working. Asking them to embrace new systems and adapt to automated machinery was no overnight task. It took communication, coordination, and endless perseverance. Standing between tradition and transformation, I had to balance trust with reform.
Through this journey, I learned to set aside emotions, cultivate resilience, and gradually saw change take root: some employees began listening, some started supporting, senior workers came to me for advice, and younger ones chose to stay and grow. That gave me certainty—our generation of women is not here merely to “inherit,” but to reshape the future with courage and wisdom.
Succession is not about standing on a giant’s shoulders, but walking behind my father’s back, choosing to continue forward, then daring to turn and carve my own path.
Today, Winner Food is advancing toward automation and standardization. We uphold strict raw material standards of safety, health, and edibility, and we have built a professional yet compassionate team. I am proud that what once began as a “helping hand” has now become a true force of decision-making.
I am not here to continue my father’s glory—I am here to carry forward with courage, and to redefine the place of women in business leadership.
#ANewForceRisingFromTradition
Ng Wei Shu (Clara)
Winner Food Industries Sdn Bhd