Arnott's intern explores diverse Malaysia

Noriko: "Malaysia has many beautiful cities, nature, and the nicest people."

Arriving in Malaysia, I was very excited and was looking forward to what I would experience, learn, and see over the next three months. Southeast Asia was a part of the world that I had never been to but always had a desire to visit.

Taking a Grab (their version of Uber) from the airport into town, the driver was so enthusiastic for me and my adventure that I felt even more excited to be in the country. 

At Arnott’s, I worked in their commercial finance team, but at university my studies were in investment finance, so everything was very new to me. This was a challenge but also enabled me to learn a lot and gain new insights into the industry.

The people I worked with were all very supportive and encouraged me to get involved in as many projects as possible. As a result, I was also able to learn about logistics, production, marketing and sales.

One of the most interesting projects I was involved in was helping to establish a new business partnership in Japan and creating a five-year strategy plan for the partnership.

As I speak Japanese, I was able to interact directly with the Japan team. We discussed product ideas, logistics and partnership details.   

It was interesting to see how long-term decisions are made and everything that needs to be considered including all the risks.

The full Arnott's team including Noriko and Emmalee

Many different departments were involved in the project and provided their perspectives and opinions on where the company should focus.

I helped by analysing the original forecast and adjusting it to take in the perspectives and insights we received from the different departments. I then had to consolidate this information and present it in a clear, easily digestible way.  

We (myself and fellow Foundation intern Emmalee) were based in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia’s capital, which is a very vibrant, busy, and diverse city. Due to the size of the city, there are so many suburbs and hidden gems to explore.

Before this internship, I did not know much about Malaysia, but as we explored more places and discovered new things, I fell in love with the country more and more. 

One of my favourite things about KL and Malaysia is the level of cultural/religious integration.

When I arrived, I learned there are three main cultural/ethnic groups - Malays, Chinese and Indians. All three ethnicities not only live alongside one another but also complement each other.

I had never seen this level of cultural and religious integration in a city before, and it was really inspiring to see.

There were many occasions when I would be walking through the city and see a mosque, a church, and Hindu temple within 100 metres of each other. 

Emmalee and I went on several excursions on weekends including Malacca, Pangkor Island, Penang, Bali and Cameron highlands.

One of my favourites was our trip to Penang. We went there by bus, which took the whole day as we stopped at a small city called Ipoh along the way, where we saw beautiful, serene lakes and amazing temples built inside caves.

Noriko (right) and Emmalee in a tea plantation in the Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia

We got to Georgetown, Penang, at night and went out for food straight away. Penang is known to have amazing food, and it didn’t disappoint.

On our first day in Penang, we visited Kok Lok Si, which is a large temple complex built on top of a hill. The scale and size of this temple was amazing to see; it was hard to imagine how they built it without modern technology.

For the second day, we drove around the island exploring beaches. We were in awe of the number of beautiful tropical beaches, which were all easy to access and uncrowded. 

During our time in Penang, we stayed in a hostel that was at the centre of Georgetown. The hostel was very social, and we would all go out together in the evening. Staying at hostels also allowed us to meet people from all around the world.

Visiting Penang exposed me to a lot about Malaysian culture, cuisine, and history while also opening doors to so many new friendships.

Gaining an understanding of an Asian culture and work environment is a big advantage for future job opportunities — it can help you stand out from the crowd.

However, it is important to acknowledge that culture and working cultures vary widely within Asia.

For example, in Japan, work culture is much more structured, and people are expected to put their work as their first priority. Whereas in Malaysia, having a good work life balance is encouraged and considered normal.

Noriko: "The people I worked with were all very supportive and encouraged me to get involved in as many projects as possible."

For anyone wanting to experience a difference culture or to have a different career opportunity, I would definitely recommend an internship in Asia.

You not only learn about your area of specialisation (whether that is finance, marketing, or somethings else) but you also learn about new cultures and societies, how to travel, how to adapt to new environments, communication skills and so much more. 

There are also moments where you are put outside of your comfort zone, which can be scary, but it is also when you learn and grow the most.

This internship was an amazing experience and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something different.

The Foundation's Business Programme supports New Zealand companies to better understand Asia so they can make the most of opportunities in the region. We are also focussed on growing the next generation of Asia-savvy business leaders.

Our internship programme provides opportunities for young New Zealanders to intern with companies in Asia and New Zealand companies and organisations working extensively in the region.