Meet Nancy G., a Kellogg leader, who began her Kellogg career at the Pringles plant in Jackson, Tennessee, and has since successfully advanced into a leadership role globally as Operations Director, Supply Chain Singapore.

Nancy is one of many Kellogg employees spotlighted inFeatures, the sixth annual Diversity & Inclusion report from Kellogg Company.

Here, Nancy describes the cultural challenges presented with her new assignment in Malaysia, and how she is working to create change within her new work environment.

Q: Regarding diversity, how is the Malaysian workplace different from your experience in Tennessee?  

A: Nancy: The diversity challenges here in Malaysia are complicated. In Tennessee, we thought about diversity primarily in terms of men/women, black/white. In Malaysia, we not only have the gender dynamic, but we also have three primary ethnic groups – Chinese, Indian and Malay – along with workers from Indonesia and Nepal.

Q: What challenges are presented by such a culturally diverse community?

A: The plant here is brand new. We hired and put together the original team of 107 employees over a nine-month period. Among my challenges so far: Making sure we hired an appropriate ethnic mix, and also communicating to women in the organization that they can lead and speak up, just like men. Neither of those things has come easily; both have taken deliberate effort. I feel particularly good that my management team is 40 percent women, and includes good representation of all three major local ethnic groups.

Q: Going forward, what are your goals for your plant and its workforce?

A: I’m working to bring out the best in every employee. I want our hourly employees to voice their opinions and have a sense of ownership and responsibility for the business. And I want my managers to coach, rather than just tell people what to do. Neither of these behaviors is typical in the Malaysian manufacturing culture.

Nancy’s story shows how a diverse, inclusive workforce and supplier base gives Kellogg Company a competitive advantage. In Features, you’ll discover many more stories about the people of Kellogg, their unique talents, skills and insights – and the special culture of diversity and inclusion that is helping Kellogg fuel their future, grow their brands, and make a real difference around the world.

Read more Kellogg’s diversity and inclusion journey, and meet more people like Nancy,  atwww.KelloggDiversityandInclusion.com.