Executive Profile
Globally Minded Executive Determine To Make A Difference
Lynn Wong
Manager, International Logistics
The Home Depot
By Brenda Miesel Posted June 2, 2008
The Home Depot organization is widely known for its home improvement stores. With its global sourcing for supplies and materials, the -world’s largest home improvement retailer shipped approximately 300,000 teus (twenty-foot equivalent container size) in 2007 as the 3rd largest importer in U.S. Meet Lynn Wong who belongs to the team that handles Home Depot’s global shipping and logistics needs. Wong who is a transplant from Singapore has been with The Home Depot organization since May 9, 2005.
Lynn attended the prestigious National University of Singapore and graduated with an arts degree majoring in Sociology. She then began the familiar exercise of deciding which path to take for her professional future. Her first endeavor began with-establishing herself with the A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S Group as a management trainee in their Maersk International Shipping Education (MISE) program - The program provided her with theoretical education opportunities in Copenhagen and practical on-the-job training in Singapore. Her work enabled her to travel around the world and to grow professionally.
Graduation from the MISE program gave Lynn the opportunity to seek expatriation to any of the company’s offices around the world. She applied and was accepted as a Logistics Analyst for Maersk Logistics USA, with The Home Depot account team based in Atlanta. Serendipity presented Lynn the opportunity to join- the home improvement retail chain giving her the chance to remain in the U.S. and experience being on the customer side of international shipping. A major difference between the two companies was that despite being an importer of significant volume in the US, Home Depot’s most visible focus is on delivering excellent customer service experiences in their retail stores.- This enabled Wong to see the connection of how global shipping decisions are impacted by corporate decisions which are driven by the domestic retail business.
Lynn first came to America on March 28, 2003. Her initial reaction to Atlanta was total shock, “This is a small town, not a city!”. However, she soon realized that here is where she would thrive best as compared to being a Singaporean female in Europe or Asia. “Atlanta has really grown on me. I really appreciate the fact that people here will interact with strangers and offer a pleasant ‘hello’ when they meet out in public,” says Lynn. She also noted that Western friendliness is more evident during the times she returns to Asia for visits where this practice is not as commonplace.
In 2005 when hurricanes Rita and Katrina hit New Orleans, Wong said, “This was my defining moment to decide that Home Depot is the caring company that I want to associate myself with.” She was impressed with the relief effort that Home Depot provided in this time of need. “They recognized that their supplies and products were exactly what the local citizens needed to rebuild their lives. And not only were they citizens in a disaster area, but more importantly, some were our fellow associates and they needed our help.”
The biggest hurdle to overcome in her professional career was getting lost in the bureaucracy of corporate America. With so many employees and offices all over the country it becomes harder to feel linked in as part of the whole. But Wong was determined not to give up on the America work opportunity and she kept herself involved in the business.
Her international background enables her to appreciate the cultural differences in people. “Asians excel thinking ‘inside the box’ whereas this culture teaches the opposite,” Wong pointed out. “Our lifestyles are vastly different in terms of meeting deadlines, work ethics, etc.” Lynn welcomes the challenge to connect many diverse views and bring the group together to accomplish similar goals. She enjoys being a “bridge to the world” through her involvement with volunteer efforts, both inside the company and out in the community.
Lynn volunteers her time with the Southern Center for International Studies, a nonprofit educational institution based in Atlanta and dedicated to increasing the public’s awareness and understanding of other countries, international issues and the global environment. She serves on their Board of Trustees and is Chairperson of their Young Professionals organization. At The Home Depot, she is an active member of the Women’s Link affinity group and also lends a helping hand with Home Depot’s yearly Supply Chain-sponsored playground building project with Kaboom for –a deserving neighborhood.
In addition, Wong is very involved with Home Depot’s Pan-Asian Waves Affinity Group and currently serves the role as Chairperson. Through this affiliation, she states that “Home Depot recognizes the importance of positive relations with the Asian communities in the States.” It is her personal goal to get the Asian store and non-store associates even more connected with each other. She is quick to point out that this group, now 50 members strong, is not just for natural-born Asians. All ethnic heritages are welcome. -The Home Depot’s Chief Diversity Officer, Gloria Johnson Goins, is African American and an example of non-Asian involvement as she serves as an Advisory Board member for the Asian American Heritage Foundation and helps champion the advancement of the affinity group. “Gloria is my mentor and role model. She works hard to advance worthy causes and lives integrity through all her actions,” Wong said. Gloria’s best advice to Lynn was to speak from the heart and to believe in what she can achieve.
In examining her goals for the near future, Wong feels it is prudent to reflect on her bigger mission in life. She believes that all people are connected globally and she works to bring cultures and minds together, whether in volunteerism or in business. She believes that through her managerial position, she has much opportunity to do good through the doors open to her. She wishes to “use her leadership skills to bring good people together to do even more good.” One example of her efforts in this regard is the networking brunch she has started called Brunch with Benefits. Each quarter, volunteer leaders in the philanthropic scene come together for brunch to connect, collaborate and share ideas to keep each other inspired.
After settling into the culture of Georgia, and learning to drive on the right side of the road, Wong focused her attention to doing something for her own enjoyment. She decided to resume her salsa dance lessons from her less busy years, and it was here that she met her husband, Mike Thompson. Originally from Knoxville, TN, Mike moved to the area and is also a Home Depot associate. Not surprisingly, he also is active in volunteer work. Mike puts his passion for home building/repair to work as a volunteer Skilled Supervisor with Habitat for Humanity. He has shaved his head bald twice in fundraising efforts for St Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization dedicated to seeking cures for childhood cancer. He is on the Finance Committee and when possible he also volunteers as a cook for Café 458 of the Samaritan House of Atlanta, assisting homeless men and women. The couple married on October 30, 2004 in the US and additionally held a ceremony Singapore for the overseas friends and relatives in 2006.
Lynn holds to the belief that we should all be global-minded citizens of the world and not just narrowly focused on our own needs and desires. She feels that through her giving of her free time, she is actually getting back more. It is very fulfilling for her to recognize giving outside of her own benefit. Wong is presently enjoying hosting her younger sister for a month-long visit in America. Her generosity will, no doubt, be a lasting legacy for her family to imitate.
Lynn Wong’s List of Favorites:
Favorite Book: “Leaving Microsoft to Change the World” by John Wood
Favorite Music: Anything Salsa
Favorite Place in GA: Atlanta, good view from Freedom Pkwy/Blvd intersection
Favorite Place to visit in the world: Argentina, Iguazu Falls
Favorite Food : Chilli Crabs from Jumbo Seafood Restaurant in Singapore
Favorite Restaurant: Rare (www.rareatl.com)
Favorite Hobby: Connecting good people
Favorite Movie: Bend It Like Beckham
Favorite Charity: Room To Read (www.roomtoread.org)
Favorite Website : blackle.com (similar to Google but saves energy by being in black)