The courage to keep growing

Growing beyond the job title

When MJ joined FrieslandCampina ten years ago, he never imagined his career would take him across so many different parts of the business. Starting in Data Science and IT, he later moved into Marketing, Business Development, local Sales, regional Sales, and eventually returned to lead a local commercial team. Each move brought new challenges, new perspectives, and new ways of thinking.

Looking back, he sees those transitions as some of the most important learning moments in his journey. Rather than following a straight path, he embraced opportunities to step into unfamiliar territory and develop skills beyond his original expertise.

The trust placed in him extended beyond his day-to-day responsibilities. Throughout his career, he has been given opportunities to lead complex projects, manage one of the Asia Tiger Cubs, the company’s talent development programs, and participate in leadership development experiences. These opportunities helped him expand his perspective from being a commercial operator to thinking more broadly about how to grow teams, build capabilities, and create long-term impact.

The opportunities I've had weren't always easy, but they've helped me grow in ways I never expected. Every challenge taught me something new about myself and what I'm capable of.

Learning through transformation

One of the experiences that shaped MJ the most was leading the Route-to-Market (RTM) Power Program across Asia. Working with teams across multiple countries, the ambition was simple: to create the right systems, capabilities, and ways of working so that thousands of salespeople could perform at their best.

The scale of the transformation was significant, but what stayed with him most was the human side of the journey. Success depended on listening, understanding different realities, and bringing people together around a shared goal. The experience reinforced a leadership philosophy he continues to carry today by balancing the courage to challenge the status quo with genuine care for people and their growth.

Finding energy beyond work

Outside work, MJ is an enthusiastic traveller and self-confessed foodie. He enjoys discovering different cultures, exploring local cuisines, and gaining new perspectives through the people he meets along the way. Living in the Philippines gives him endless opportunities to do just that. 

He also enjoys basketball, pickleball, chess, gaming, and movies. While each hobby helps him recharge, they also reflect qualities that influence the way he works. Team sports reinforce the importance of trust and collaboration, while chess reminds him to stay strategic, adaptable, and focused on the bigger picture.

For MJ, growth has never been about following a predefined path. It's about staying open to new experiences, learning from every challenge, and helping others grow along the way.

Sometimes targets can be artificial limits. When you empower your people and focus on the right behaviors, there is no ceiling to what you can achieve.