Why Loving People is Key to Effective Leadership

In this episode of Leaders with Ambition Asia, Matthew Cooper, Managing Director of Ambition Malaysia, together with co-host Shanggar Ganesh, Associate Director of Engineering and Supply Chain & Procurement, sits down with Datuk Hishammudin Hasan for a candid conversation on leadership, resilience and career growth.

With over 30 years of executive experience across Southeast Asia’s FMCG sector, Datuk Hishammudin has led teams in multinational giants such as Nestlé, Kraft and Danone, before taking on senior leadership roles in Malaysia including Deputy CEO of 7-Eleven Malaysia and Chief Executive of Central Sugars Refinery. From military service to regional executive leadership, his career spans multiple markets, industries and leadership environments.

Throughout the episode, he unpacks the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy, from putting people at the centre of leadership to demanding clarity in strategy and execution. He also reflects on navigating different corporate cultures and offers a pragmatic perspective on career advice for the next generation, challenging the idea of “follow your passion” in favour of resilience and disciplined growth.

Datuk Hishammudin speaks openly about the lessons that shaped him, including a costly early-career mistake that resulted in a SGD1 million loss to the business. What happened next, and what his manager said in response, became one of the defining moments of his leadership journey.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Early life and military foundations

Datuk Hishammudin’s upbringing in Singapore and early years in the military, and how discipline, resilience and responsibility shaped his early leadership mindset.

From military to multinational leadership

His transition from the armed forces into corporate life, starting with Nestlé and moving through regional roles across Asia, Oceania and Africa, building both operational and commercial depth along the way.

Leading across multinational and entrepreneurial environments

The contrast between structured multinational organisations and founder-led businesses, and why leadership agility and adaptability are essential in different corporate cultures.

Clarifying strategy and aligning teams

Why leaders must invest time in defining direction before execution, and how alignment, communication and buy-in drive sustainable performance.

Learning through doing

Why real growth comes from immersion rather than theory, and how stepping into unfamiliar roles across supply chain, sales and retail strengthened his leadership capability.

A SGD1 million leadership lesson

The early-career mistake that cost the business close to SGD1 million, what his manager said in response, and how that moment reshaped his philosophy on failure and accountability.

Rethinking career advice for the next generation

His pragmatic perspective on “follow your passion” versus learning to love what you do, and why resilience, grit and mindset remain key differentiators in an increasingly competitive job market.

Building high-performance, sustainable organisations

Why thriving businesses are built on motivated people, sound strategy, disciplined execution and a long-term commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

Key Takeaways

Leadership begins with genuine care for people and trust is earned through consistent actions rather than titles
Leading across multinational and entrepreneurial organisations requires agility because context determines which playbook works
Time invested in clarifying strategy creates alignment and makes execution more effective
Real capability is built through immersion and experience rather than theory alone
Growth often comes from facing mistakes with accountability rather than fear
Long-term success often comes from learning to love what you do rather than waiting to find the perfect role
In an increasingly competitive job market, resilience and mindset remain critical differentiators

Key Quotes from the Episode

“You’ve got to love people to lead people because if you don’t genuinely care, people will see through it."

“Learning is through doing. You can understand the theory, but real growth happens when you step into the work.”

“Not all of us have the privilege of pursuing what we love. Sometimes you have to learn to love what you do.”

“Mistakes are part of growth. If you are not making them, you are probably not stretching yourself.”

About Datuk Hishammudin Hasan

Datuk Hishammudin bin Hasan brings transformational leadership with over 30 years of executive experience across Southeast Asia’s FMCG sector, having served in multinationals and blue-chip companies across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia and holding regional roles (Asia, OCEANIA and AFRICA).

A former Singapore Armed Forces officer; he transitioned into corporate leadership with Nestlé. He went on to have a successful career with the company, spanning more than a decade in various operational, commercial, and regional roles before moving on to other major FMCG companies such as KRAFT and DANONE where, along with multinational team members, he drove turnaround and growth strategies. He then chose to contribute at local Malaysian companies like 7-Eleven Malaysia, Central Sugars Refinery, and Al-Ikhsan Sports.

He firmly believes and has demonstrated that the key to achieving a thriving and sustainable business lies in building high-performance teams that are motivated and happy, complemented by sound business strategy, solid processes and SOPs.

Datuk Hishammudin is a staunch advocate of ESG integration, championing sustainability and social equity through initiatives supporting orphans, dialysis patients, and the homeless. He holds an MBA from TWINTECH, a Group Diploma in Logistics/Supply Chain and is an alumnus of INSEAD’s LEAP program in Fontainebleau, France.

About Matthew Cooper

Matthew Cooper is the Managing Director of Ambition Malaysia, leading recruitment across Commerce & Industry, Global Business Services, and Banking & Financial Services.

With more than 20 years of recruitment experience across the UK and Asia, Matthew is passionate about building high-performing teams, strengthening long-term client partnerships, and helping organisations navigate increasingly complex talent challenges.

Under his leadership, the Malaysia business has built a strong reputation for specialist market knowledge, trusted relationships, and a steadfast commitment to Ambition’s purpose of Building Better Futures.

About Shanggar Ganesh

Shanggar Ganesh is an Associate Director at Ambition Malaysia, where he leads the Engineering and Supply Chain & Procurement practices.

He partners with organisations across the manufacturing, engineering services, energy and industrial sectors to deliver specialist talent solutions, advising clients on market trends, hiring strategies and long-term workforce planning. Known for his consultative and relationship-driven approach, Shanggar works closely with both clients and candidates to ensure strong alignment between technical capability and business objectives.

Passionate about building sustainable talent pipelines, he is committed to helping organisations strengthen operational leadership and develop high-performing teams in an increasingly competitive landscape.