My job: Kiwi's 2Ms - method, moulding

Debra Tong, operations manager for 3M NZ, says seeing people progress is the best part of her job. Photo / Graeme Sedal

Name: Debra Tong
Role: Operations manager
Age: Late 30s
Working hours: I am lucky that I can be flexible. I work 40-45 hours in the office. I also do some work at home in the evening once the children are asleep. Probably 50-hours plus a week.
Employer: 3M NZ
Pay scale: Comparable to other senior managers.
Qualifications: BCom (Auckland); Postgrad Diploma in Business Administration (HR management), Massey.

Describe your job.

There are two parts to my job. One is the operations manager for the 3M New Zealand subsidiary. I have the support functions or the back-office operations reporting to me, which include finance, supply chain, HR, IT, corporate marketing and sales development. My role is to improve the synergies and the collaboration with the back-office functions here and with 3M in Australia.

The other part is master black belt, which is a Lean Six Sigma role for 3M in Australia and New Zealand. Lean Six Sigma is a process-improvement methodology, where we use different tools to look at customer processes and our own processes and try to make improvements.

Your background?

I have a commerce degree from the University of Auckland and a postgraduate degree from Massey. Before starting with 3M, I worked in accounting and HR roles with a radio station and then manufacturing companies.

I wanted to get into a multinational or a bigger New Zealand corporate, so I started with 3M as an HR adviser in 1999, becoming HR manager when my boss retired. I was HR manager for 4 years here before moving to Singapore as the country HR manager in May 2005; and after two years I also had responsibility for the Southeast Asia region. I came back to New Zealand in February this year.

You are the first New Zealander to hold such a senior position in NZ with 3M. How difficult was this to achieve?

The way the subsidiary structure works within 3M is we have a managing director, normally from the US because that is where head office is, but they can come from other countries, and they are placed on assignment into a subsidiary.

The company made a decision at the end of last year that the New Zealand MD role was going to be split in two. I would come back to take the operations part and the Australia MD picked up the New Zealand MD role as well, so I report to him.

For 3M to come up with a different structure that is progressive and looks to local people to fill the role, that is really beneficial for the company and good for us in terms of leadership development.

How is the Singapore working environment different to here?

The Singaporeans are very hard-working and will take a project that is identified by the manager and complete it very quickly and thoroughly. They are dedicated and really easy to work with. In New Zealand, the main difference is that people are much more independent in their thinking and will come to you with a project and ideas on how to solve it.

Best part of the job?

Seeing people move into new roles, developing or progressing and expanding themselves. I still get a real kick out of that; maybe because of my HR background.

The job's challenges?

In this economic environment, we are always looking for process improvement or alignment; and the challenges are how to work those alignments internally and with Australia whilst keeping people engaged. We want to continue to grow the New Zealand organisation and also understand how we can benefit from processes we can share between the two countries.

Your strengths?

I am very open; I can relate to anyone at any level. I am interested in people and their development. It is also good for me to be broadening my knowledge base [and] my career.

How do you juggle family and work?

I have two little boys; Josh is 5 and Ryan is 8. My husband is very supportive and we have good family support. The way I have always done this since I came back to work is to try and compartmentalise.

When I am at work, I think only about work, but when I am at home, I think only about the boys and I try not to do any work when they are awake. I think that's the only way I can personally do it.

Advice to those interested in a similar role?

It's important for people to find something they are passionate about. If you want to be in HR, try to find something that has some HR in the role.