Season 4 - Episode 3 | An Island Girl Becoming a Greenfield Expert in Vietnam with Alison Astarita (Vietnam, Malta)

In this episode, Dr. Ramesh Ramachandra speaks with Alison Astarita, a global operations executive, greenfield specialist and  an accomplished leader in the automotive industry who has spent over 20 years working in Asia, including China and Vietnam. Alison shares her inspiring journey, from starting in quality management to leading multiple Greenfield factory setups. The conversation explores entrepreneurial and crisis-ready mindsets, sustainability goals, and the importance of empowering women in male-dominated industries. Alison’s reflections on resilience, gratitude, and finding joy in simplicity offer profound personal and professional growth lessons.

5 Key Insights from this Podcast:

1. Leadership Through Greenfield Projects
Alison shares her experience leading three Greenfield factory setups, from site selection to mass production. These projects required vision, resourcefulness, and team-building skills. Her approach focuses on developing both infrastructure and people, ensuring long-term success. She emphasizes the importance of choosing the right partners and aligning values for impactful outcomes.

2. Entrepreneurial Mindset
An entrepreneurial mindset is critical for thriving in uncertain environments. Alison’s career exemplifies risk-taking, seizing opportunities, and creating value beyond financial returns. Her ability to adapt, starting with a spontaneous move to China, underscores the importance of embracing challenges and stepping out of comfort zones.

3. Women in STEM
Alison reflects on overcoming barriers as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Early in her career, she felt the need to prove herself, but later, she embraced the philosophy that leadership transcends gender. She encourages women to focus on skills and continuous learning to achieve their goals.

4. Gratitude and Resilience
Gratitude is central to Alison’s approach to life and work. She maintains a gratitude journal to reflect on small wins and build a positive mindset. This practice helps her stay grounded during crises and focus on learning and growth from setbacks.

5. Sustainability in Manufacturing
Alison discusses her company’s commitment to sustainability, including designing products with recycled materials and optimizing supply chains. She highlights the role of education and community engagement in promoting long-term environmental and social impact.

Host: Dr. Ramesh Ramachandra - Author, Podcast Host, Founder of Talent Leadership Crucible & Impact Velocity
Guest Speaker: Alison Astarita – Vice President Operations, ASSA ABLOY Group, Vietnam.
 

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Transcript

Thriving In The Age Of Disruption – Season 4

Season 4 - Episode 3 | An Island Girl Becoming a Greenfield Expert in Vietnam with Alison Astarita (Vietnam, Malta)

Dr. Ramesh  00:00

Today we are excited to have Alison Astarita, who is from Malta, but living in Vietnam. Alison's journey started in the automotive industry in Asia, and she's worked on Greenfield project where she's actually started factory from ground zero. Welcome to Thriving in the Age of Disruption podcast series. Allison, I'm so excited to have you here today. I'm in Singapore and you are in Hanoi, so it'll be interesting to see how this conversation goes, Sure.

Allison  00:29

 So first of all, thanks so much, Dr Ramesh, for giving me the opportunity to be on your podcast. This is my first, let's say, podcast experience. I'm really excited to see how this will go. It's another new experience for me. Thank you, Allison. My pleasure. So I'm Allison Asarita. I'm originally from Malta. It's a very small island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. We're close to Italy, but actually I've made Asia my home for the last 20 plus years, I started in China, way back in 2003and then I've spent 13 years there, and in 2015 I have moved to Vietnam. So I spent most of my career in the automotive industry, so having various roles within operations. So I started as quality management, moved to industrial engineering, and later on, also to plant leadership. It's been a really exciting journey. I definitely never dreamt of moving to Asia. It is was nowhere in any corner of my imagination. But anyway, here I am. Oh, what are we? Yes, basically, outside of work, you would find me enjoying time with friends, because for me, friends are a very important part of my life, spending time in nature, so whether it is by the mountains or by the sea. And of course, I am a Southern European person, so wining and dining is also a very essential part of my life. 

Dr. Ramesh 02:04

Alison, I wanted to appreciate how much I have admired your zest for life, because we are both in the same network, the business executive network, and you inspire color and variety in our discussions. I wanted to share a little bit about this podcast series. This was to inspire people to think about two essential mindsets for the VUCA world, and one was an entrepreneurial mindset, and the other was a crisis ready mindset. So let me talk about the entrepreneurial mindset. There are three key areas. One is being resourceful. And by being resourceful, I mean that you're someone who is able to identify the right problem, because if you have the problem defined correctly, then it's half solved. And then there is the aspect of, how do you actually manage uncertainty and take risks. And the last part is about creating value. And this value can be both financial and non financial, like a social impact, and also it is value that we bring to ourselves or give that to others. So share with us that aspect of entrepreneurial mindset. 

Allison  03:20

Thank you. So I think this goes back way to around 2002 I have always living a small island. I always thought, Okay, I would want to explore living living abroad. At that time, I was working for a company in Malta producing car seat heating and car seat cooling. I knew that there were plans to transfer the operations from Malta to China, and one time, my boss came to me and he goes, so you're part of the teammate. And funny enough, it was, I think, the fastest decision I made in my life. I just said, yes, sure, because at that time, I thought I had nothing to lose, you know? I mean, it's surely a new opportunity. And, yeah, if it doesn't work out, I can just go back home. I mean, I was not going to end up in the streets, something which was meant to be a three year assignment ended up being a 13 years journey in China, which then also with the same company, brought me over to Vietnam. Actually, you never know what opportunities come your way. Have that mindset to be ready to take what the universe throws at you. 

Dr. Ramesh  04:34

That's right. Okay, great. So I love being ready for the opportunity is a mindset, and also the fact that you were able to tell yourself when you're making the decision, well, if it doesn't work out, I can go back home. And that's like, how you manage uncertainty and take risks, right? Because it helps you to move forward. How did you move along in that career that you've had with this company, because you moved from quality area to setting up factories in the automotive industry. So share a little bit more about that journey. 

Dr. Ramesh  05:13

You remind me of any typical startup founder, because you start off with a blank page and just build it from ground zero. Vietnam is attracting a lot of FDI investments. What is the biggest challenge for both investors and local owners of factories around quality? 

Allison  05:13

So basically, when I started at university, I studied chemistry and biology, and I always wanted to work in manufacturing. I found it exciting. It's dynamic. In my very first job after university, was working in a microbiology lab for a pharmaceutical sector. After one and a half years, I remember there was this job advert at that time. It was there internet was actually just at the very, very beginning, this company was looking for somebody with scientific background that they would train you to become Quality Manager. This also doesn't happen every day that the company gives you the opportunity to train you to become a manager. So and I got the job. So it was a other times it was a German company. I worked there, and I was also part of setting up the quality department right from scratch. So something, there's always been something in me, enjoying to start up things from the beginning, designing that framework and making it happen. Then five years down the line, I was given the chance to be part of the startup team with the same company of the factory that we set up in China. I was part of the startup team there, and again, given this, more or less like it's a blank paper. But I think also what is even more rewarding is actually the people part in 2003 so we gave the opportunity for people in China to join our company. We taught them new technologies, new processes, new tools. Looking back now, like 20 years later, and seeing how people have progressed in their lives and how they're now actually leading some top companies in China, seeing that really touches my heart and make this whole journey so rewarding. I have been lucky to be given the opportunity to actually do this now three times and over, my get the chance to build a new factory from Greenfield. Opportunity to select the location where we want to build work with construction companies, and yes, we actually had our Grand Opening last October, and we started the mass production in September. Grateful to have been given this opportunity three times. It gives me so much energy to be able to create things right from the beginning and actually have a vision and make it come to life. 

Allison  07:49

First of all, I always believe in working with the right partners that have your same values, because then that is the only way you can make things happen in the right way, for example, whether we work with our construction company, the insurance company that have also guided us always in the right way to build things after the typhoon, I'm grateful with the partners we have engaged, because it's really all thanks to their high standards, their high requirements, that we could build in the right way. In we've built something that could withstand the Yadi. When I look around our area, we have been lucky, because we came away with just with some minor injuries, right? Yeah. So I think working with the right partners, for me, is key.

Dr. Ramesh  08:41

Here's the million dollar question, how do you find the right partner?

Allison  08:45

there are always these networks out, like Chamber of Commerces for the different regions. You can always connect with people that are already here, and they can share their stories experiences with you. You take a couple of samples of those, and then you can form your opinion, you can understand better all your challenges, and also what are the right channels to work with. So you get introduced basically to their own network, where they have already proven successful. And I think it's a continuous journey. I've also been on the other side of the experience, like a showcase to companies who are coming to invest here, time to give back, time to give back and share our own experiences with newcomers companies that are interested to set up here. 

Dr. Ramesh 09:28

You can tap on the chambers of commerce. You can talk to people who are already located here. But more importantly, I also like the fact that when we settle then we can also share our journey and experience with others. I'm sure that when you started off in the automotive industry, you were a rare person, because you represented the fairer sex. And how was that, when you look at statistics around women's participation in STEM it's still low. So what would be your advice to. young women who want to work in male dominated sectors in industry. 

Allison  10:04

I have to be honest, in my earlier days, I did feel that I had to prove myself, or I had to work double to prove myself. But of course, that was in my very early days, building my own experience to be credible, because I started as a leadership position at a young age. So of course, I had to also build credibility for myself. But after all these experiences, I must say for me, there is one quote that really resonates with me from Sheryl Sandberg. I was listening to her TED talk, and she said, in the future, there will be no female leaders. There will be just leaders.

Dr. Ramesh  10:50

 Wow! 

Allison  10:50

this really resonates, also, because our gender should not limit us from our career aspiration. Yes, so it's not about our gender, but it's also it's just about our skills, our experiences that we bring onto the table. One advice I give to younger leaders is to never stop learning. Never stop bringing on new skills. Never stop trying new experiences, because this is one way to be always one step ahead and be prepared for any new opportunities that come your way. We will never know when these opportunities come actually. So it's really just up to us to be prepared. I also share with my own team, we need to take control of our own career development. Nobody's going to do that for us. So this is why I always think that preparation, keeping ourselves up to date is is key to then be able to embrace any opportunity that comes our way. 

Dr. Ramesh  12:01

Oh, wonderful. I mean, that's really useful advice for any young leader, male or female who wants to move up their career ladder.

Dr. Ramesh 12:14

So I want to move on to the next piece, and that was about a crisis ready mindset. And I define a crisis as any kind of setback or failure, and usually it's serious enough where, if you don't survive, you could die, and some people react to it by either fighting back, or some of us can freeze, and some of us can flee from that. I'm sure you came across crisis, whether it was personal or at the workplace, share with us an example and also point out what was that enduring quality that allowed you to be grounded and resilient? 

Allison  12:55

Yeah, so of course, life always comes with challenges, but it is really up to us decide to look at challenges. I always look at any challenge, any setback, as an opportunity to grow and an opportunity to learn. So maybe it comes because of my quality background, so with all my problem solving skills and experiences. But I always like to say, Okay, now this happened, fine. What went wrong? What was the reason behind this? What can we learn from it? How can we make sure that it will not happen again? By taking this mindset, I never let any challenges pull me down, because I always say, Okay, what has happened? I think what is most important is our takeout from it. What is our lessons from it? And how can we grow from it?

Dr. Ramesh  13:54

Right? So I love that opportunity to learn and grow and so then you focus on that improvement, rather than it as a failure or a setback.

Allison  14:07

 I like to practice every day before I go to sleep, I keep a gratitude note, and I reflect on three things I'm grateful for every day. They can be very simple things. It's as simple as today, I managed to achieve to lift the new weight in my workout at the gym, I see the mind like a cookie jar. Okay, so when you fill it up with positive thoughts, then there is little space for negative thoughts to come in and distract our life. I've been doing this for quite a while. It has really helped to keep positive. 

Dr. Ramesh  14:44

That's a very powerful practice, just being grateful. I like the fact that you note down three things, not just one, and it allows you then to really be rigorous, to find the miracles in the day.You know, the way society is managed and organized, we focus so much on the things that don't work. So to reflect on what you are grateful for and what worked, I think that's a great opportunity. Okay, let's move on to another new topic, and that's about spirituality. Where are you in your spiritual journey? Would you like to share about that?

Allison  15:28

 For me, spirituality, it's about exploring our innocence, understanding our connections with others and with the universe. So it's also about reflecting on our values, our beliefs, our life experience. Ultimately, spirituality is a lifelong journey of discovery and growth.I think the most challenging path for me, at least, has always been to to trust the process.and just trust that the universe knows best, and whatever the universe throws at you is actually that is what you need at that moment in your life. Nowadays, I just really try to practice, to just embrace ever the universe chosen me, and then I've become quite a believer that actually everything happens for the right reason.

Dr. Ramesh 16:28

Wow, you have highlighted two different aspects. One is having faith in the universe and that whatever is in front of you is the lesson that you have to learn or go through, right? But then there is also the other aspect, and although you didn't talk about it, how does manifestation show up? 

Allison  16:48

This is very interesting. When we talked about preparing yourselves for the opportunity,

Dr. Ramesh 16:53

 Yeah.

Allison  16:53

 So I think that also when we are preparing ourselves, we're actually telling the universe that we are ready so we can also attract those opportunities or those circumstances.

Dr. Ramesh  17:06

 Yes, we should catch up and have coffee and talk more about that. This is a talk. 

Allison  17:11

It is one of the experiences or the learnings throughout my life journey. I somehow connect with people who have also the same kind of thinking. I also enjoy sharing and talking to friends or people that I come across in in life. I just always look at different perspectives, because sometimes another angle to look at things always help us grow. 

Dr. Ramesh 17:32

That's right. What about living a simple life? Do you think it's possible to live a simple life? 

Allison  17:37

This is really a good question in today's, let's say fast paced world, simple life just means focusing on the things that matter and just finding joy in those simple things. So for example, I met Sun Chase. I go all around the world. I'm always want to watch sunset, but even just sitting down, whether sitting down in my apartment or sitting down by the beach or wherever, or just on a rooftop somewhere, and just enjoying something, this gives me so much joy. Same thing, if it's just catching up with a friend and maybe a glass of wine, sit on the beach, right? Yeah, and just talk, or maybe sometimes just listen to the waves. These small things that fill me up with happiness, simple life is  just trying to remove all the distraction a modern life brings. This is not something we can do all the time, but I think it is important that we are aware of it, we are mindful about it, and so try to find more of this, let's say, carve the out moments where we can really just, you know, live in the moment and just really enjoy The Things That Matter and make us happy.

Dr. Ramesh  19:02

 Wow. So I love it, taking out the distractions and carve out spaces. They're two very interesting phrases, but they evoke an imagery of something that we can have control over, rather than be helpless, that it's something we have to do at some point when we retire, or when we have more time and more money. It's actually very simple things, yeah, and maybe it's come because I'm an island girl, so for me, the sea, the sun, are things that, of course, I really enjoy and give me a lot of pleasure. It's also a matter of looking for that. And if you had to describe thriving, what three words would you use to describe thriving?

Allison  19:47

So I think first is embracing challenge, then turning them into opportunities. So then the third one would be growth.

Dr. Ramesh  20:01

Yeah, nice

Allison  20:03

and looking back at my life when we are embracing these challenges and not just going through, not just surviving through ups and downs, but like really seek these opportunities that push us beyond our comfort zone, then we really cultivate a mindset of the resilience and curiosity to open ourselves to opportunity. So, as we mentioned about the manifestation, you know, and so all these things, all these mindsets, and it's, I strongly believe it's a way to, it's a signal we get to the universe. Yeah, yeah, that can provide us with opportunities because we are open and we are ready to explore more.

Dr. Ramesh  20:52

I'm curious, how did you start to engage in this mindset? Was it something that you're influenced through reading or programs. 

Allison  21:04

So, of course, I do reading. And I mean, I think one of the very first book that also would remain really engaged for me is like, is the is the Power of Now

Dr. Ramesh 21:16

Oh, yes.

Allison  21:17

And from Susan Jaffer, and yeah. And then you start to explore further. And I remember also there was a one moment in my life, so I was also working together with a coach on on mindfulness. Of course, there were some insecurities and so on. And yeah, this is where I started the exploring of mindfulness and living in the presence more about gratitude. So yeah, has been an interesting journey.

Dr. Ramesh 21:41

 Thank you for sharing that sustainability is a very big part of the manufacturing industry, as well as the world in general. And in our consulting practice, we see it's the ongoing thriving of a living system. Fundamentally, it starts with one's mindset, even before you distill it down to a process, whether it's with recycling or with reducing. I wanted to discuss with you where and how do you embrace sustainability, whether it's in the organization as well as personally in your life, 

Dr. Ramesh 22:16

sustainability

Allison  22:16

sustainability is also very high in the agenda for the company that I'm working for today. Sustainability is really about, let's say, meeting the present needs without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet there, right? It's really about a holistic approach which balances economic growth, Environment Protection and social social equity. Taking an example in our organization, our sustainability program actually has three pillars. One of them is people. So that's our workforce. So how do we provide them with a safe and positive working environment which also allows them to participate in the success of our company and also provide them with the opportunity to to grow, then it goes to the planet. So that is our environment as a company. We can have so much impact on this because of all the materials, of all our supply chain. So this is where our company tries to work on this first in terms of our product itself. Okay, so let's say, how do we design product with a certain recycled content? How do we try to optimize our supply chain to have less impact on the carbon footprint? It's a long term journey, and as a company now, our main goals is, by 2030 to actually have our emissions packed by half, and by 2050 to be a carbon neutral company.

Allison  23:45

So of course, we have many activities going on in this way, and tech is our community still an area where we can do much more as a company. I think we're still at our initial stages, but I'm sure we will find more opportunities on how to support the communities that we operate in. So for me, it's about giving back we are given the opportunity to work, maybe in competitive environments like, for example, here in Vietnam, then I really think it is our responsibility to give back to the community. And I always believe that actually education the foundation of sustainability. So this is how we can help our community, by sharing knowledge, try to build up awareness on maybe how to protect the environment, how to work in a safe environment. Also maybe working with schools and how we can help them, to provide them with not only with knowledge, but maybe with tools, or making the education environment more attractive for the children and attend there. I have quite a lot of ideas my personal life. I try to be mindful about trying to have less plastic in my my life. So when it comes to driving, I mean, I am working one hour away from Hanoi, so sometimes that's always a question. But then it werePossible. I try to mitigate where I'm in the city, try to do more walking like small things. I think every little small thing can contribute. 

Dr. Ramesh  25:10

I think that's really spot on, right? Each one of us can contribute in our own small way, and we don't have to wait for that big, major thing to happen. Alison, how do you measure the impact of your work? 

Allison  25:27

I really see that through my people. I still keep in touch with a lot of my colleagues. So I think the fact that people also they can still reach out to me for maybe sometimes for balancing ideas, or for some advice, or even just seeing their growth journey and how they have developed okay when they first started with our company, to where they are today. Seeing people like 20 years on in China, LAO, leading some major companies, this really touches my heart. It makes my work meaningful, also because, as a leader, my main mission is really to create working experiences where people can grow both personally and professionally. Oh, wow, I like that

Dr. Ramesh  26:14

nice. And how do you stay motivated when the going gets tough?

Allison  26:21

I think it's two ways. I think this practice of gratitude definitely really helps me keep positive and looking at a positive part of life. I think one other thing is about the people I surround myself with. I don't know if it's because I have been lucky or I attract these kind of people, but yeah, whether I've lived throughout my journey, whether in Malta or I've lived or in Beijing or here, I've managed to have some very good friends, same mindset, the same quest for learning and for developing. And we do share a lot. I like to share and see other people's perspective is and maybe if they had some similar experience, I feel this helps a lot, right? So it's like having this extended network, which becomes in your support structure as well. Yes, for me, this is key. So I think also this one reason why I survived so long away from home. So having this network, this support structure, is very, very important. And of course, I've made some of the strongest bonds during my time living abroad. We say we are only a flight away. We still celebrate big events, whether it's a birthday or it's a marriage, any big milestone, we are there also just to share the celebration. What's the one thing you wish you knew at the start of your journey. I guess it's like the importance of believing in yourself and just try, just try. You have nothing to lose. Nice in the Self confidence is something I developed through life. It was not always there from the beginning. Yeah.

Dr. Ramesh  28:02

I Well, I'm going to ask you some fun questions. What's your favorite book?

Allison  28:08

So, yes, I think so really. So I think Becoming from Michelle Obama is one of my favorite books. Becoming has been quite inspirational for me. 

Dr. Ramesh  28:16

Nice. And what's your favorite travel destination? 

Allison  28:20

So, yeah. So of course, traveling is really one of the things I really love to do, to explore the world. So of course, my favorite would always be a beach destination. I am a beach lover. So luckily I am here in Southeast Asia, so we do have some access to some very nice places, exploring the culture, the People's the daily life. And, of course, always exploring the cuisine. I mean, so for me, Food plays also a very important part, and I see that also as part of the culture. Actually, 

Dr. Ramesh 28:50

what do you think is your superpower?

Allison  28:53

Oh,  interesting. I think one is my intuition. I think it has always been proved me right. I feel I'm a positive person, so I attract positive

Dr. Ramesh  29:09

 and if you could have dinner with any person in the world, who would that be?

Allison  29:13

Oh, I never thought about that one, didn't it? I innit. So interesting. I would like to have a dinner with Michelle Obama, because I attracted her life story and how she managed to meet down to earth. 

Dr. Ramesh 29:38

What's the best advice that you've ever received in your life, 

Allison  29:42

it really comes from my coach, and it was just really about embracing the moments and just being grateful for what you have. Well, excellent, 

Dr. Ramesh  29:54

and the worst advice,

Allison  29:56

 I don't think I was given any worse,

Dr. Ramesh 29:59

excellent. Allison, thank you very much for being on this podcast. I enjoyed our chat, getting to know you a lot more as well.

Allison  30:10

So thank you very much. Dr Ramesh, this has been really exciting experience. I said this was, was the first time, 

Dr. Ramesh 30:17

Yes!

Allison  30:18

and thank you very much for all your sharing and for giving me the opportunity to share with your audience, you're welcome.