Taking Asian Leadership Global

Frans Wiwanto, overseeing all entities and subsidiaries across Singa- pore, China, India, Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong. Additionally, he holds the role of CEO at Flywire Singapore Pte. Ltd. With the Asia Pacific base in Singapore, he leads strategic governance and operations, driving growth and success for Flywire's ventures in the dynamic Asia Pacific markets.

During an interview with Prisila, Correspondent of Asia Business Outlook Magazine, Frans Wiwanto shares his insights qualities and leadership behaviors are essential for achieving success, and the ways can be further refined or adapted to enhance effectiveness.

1. What are the operational and behavioral traits of a successful Asian leader in a global context?

I feel that successful leaders, regardless of their cultural background, often share similar traits. Having said this, in the context of Asian leaders operating globally, I think there are some specific traits that are often valued. A strong work ethic comes to mind, I see many being admired for their dedication, discipline and commitment to hard work and operational excellence. Resiliency is another key trait we all should possess. The ability to bounce back from failures and setbacks is an extremely valuable trait, I always think we can learn more from our failures than our successes. Cultural sensitivity is another area that is gaining in importance given the increased diversity of the workforce. Understanding and respecting the different cultures is crucial in the global context. Successful Asian leaders often possess the cultural intelligence and adapt their leadership style accordingly. This helps in being an effective communicator where having clear and respectful communication, both verbal and non-verbal, is required. Language proficiency and the ability to convey ideas across the various cultural boundaries only works if one understands the cultural sensitivity. Last but not least, it is also important to adopt a long-term vision. 

2. What qualities and leadership behaviors are essential for achieving success, and in what ways can they be further refined or adapted to enhance effectiveness?

The ability to combine operational excellence with a long-term vision is something any leader should continuously work on in order to enhance effectiveness. To continue being an effective leader, I feel that we must also continuously learn by staying updated with the industry trends, latest leadership theories and best practices. Building a strong professional network is very important as the network provides opportunities to learn from others' experiences and perspectives. This is one area where I feel we can all do better. The stereotypical view of Asians is that they are introverted and quiet. Now whether this is true or not depends on the individual person, but the underlying theme here is that there are times where we all need to force ourselves out of our comfort zone in order to experience and learn new things. One more thing of note is that we all need to ensure a balance between our professional and personal life. Not only does burnout negatively impact effectiveness, it is also not good for the mental well being of the individual. Remember to take care of your well being. 

3. What are the most effective ways for a company to support the swift yet comprehensive onboarding of local leaders when they join a global organization?

From what I have seen, the best companies invest in a lot of programs to ensure local leaders are equipped with what they need for future success in the company. It starts with a customized onboarding plan tailored to each leader's role, responsibilities and cultural background. This recognizes the unique needs and challenges that local leaders will face in the global context. Cultural sensitivity training is another important investment as it can help bridge cultural gaps, enhance communication and promote understanding among team members from diverse backgrounds. This is one of the reasons why I am so proud to be the Co-Chair of the Asian & Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group at Flywire. One of our missions is to run events and sessions to promote understanding of the diverse cultures and leadership styles in this region to the whole company. Mentorship and a buddy system is another great way to help local leaders integrate better. These mentors or buddies can provide guidance, answer questions and generally just offer a safe space for local leaders to express their views or issues. As a mentor in Flywire, I feel that it is important to train the next generation of leaders. It is also a form of paying-it-forward as I have also been the beneficiary of such mentorship in the past.

4. What was the most challenging difference in leadership or culture you had to understand and overcome in a multinational corporation?

I think one of the most challenging differences in leadership and culture in multinational corporations is managing diverse teams from different cultural backgrounds. Each culture has its own set of norms, values, communication styles, and expectations in the workplace. For instance, some cultures might value direct and explicit communication, while others prefer indirect and nuanced communication. These differences can lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and conflicts within teams. Understanding and bridging these cultural gaps is crucial for effective teamwork and collaboration. What this means is as leaders, we need to be culturally sensitive, we need to be open-minded and we need to be flexible so that we can navigate these differences effectively. It is important to promote cultural awareness and create an inclusive work environment where employees from various cultural backgrounds feel valued and respected, a place where they can truly be themselves and thrive. Also, multinational corporations often operate in different legal and regulatory environments, which can pose challenges in terms of compliance and decision-making. A good leader must be aware of these differences and ensure that their strategies and policies align with the laws and regulations of each country they operate in.

"Cultural sensitivity training is another important investment as it can help bridge cultural gaps, enhance communication and promote understanding among team members from diverse backgrounds"

5. What is the best support you feel a company can provide for a quick yet thorough onboarding for local leaders when they first join a global company?

Aside from investing in a series of programs to ensure local leaders are equipped with what they need for future success in the company, I feel the best support a company can provide to these local leaders is trust. Trust that they will get the job done. Trust that mistakes will be made along the way but trust that they are able to figure it out and make it work ultimately. Local leaders that know they have been given this valuable trust will be self-motivated to do the best they can.

6. What advice would you give the next generation of Asian leaders?

Well, Asia is incredibly diverse in terms of cultures, languages, and traditions. I would tell them to embrace this diversity, both within their own country and also globally. Being culturally sensitive and open-minded will enable you to work effectively with people from different backgrounds.

At the same time, think globally. Asia is interconnected with the rest of the world economically, socially, and culturally. Understand global issues and collaborate internationally to address challenges that transcend borders.

Also, recognize that the world is evolving rapidly. Therefore, staying updated with the latest trends, technologies, and global affairs is essential. We should all commit to life-long learning. Try to pursue more education, attend more workshops and read widely to broaden your knowledge base.

Leadership is not just about technical expertise. As the name suggests, it is about leading. By that I mean it is about emotional intelligence, communication, empathy, and resilience. Work on developing your soft skills as they are crucial in building strong relationships and leading diverse teams. The business landscape is ever-changing. Be adaptable and willing to embrace change. Develop resilience to bounce back from failures and setbacks. Treat every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow. Remember that leadership is a never-ending journey of continuous growth and self-discovery. Stay humble, be open to feedback, and never stop striving for excellence.