Leaders

As the classic adage goes, ‘Optimism is the foundation of success.’ Faith and optimism play a pragmatic role in catapulting our pace towards achieving our goal and Maria Chakraverty Stevenson (Executive Director, Tandex Chemicals) strongly abides by the fact that it was her faith and optimism that compelled her to emerge as a quintessential leader. “My faith has been my driving force leading to the subtle yet strong intuitions, coupled with that, optimism”, quotes Maria when asked about the driving force as a successful leader. Maria has come a long way as an entrepreneur she and her husband Stevenson E. Leo, the present Chairman of Tandex Chemicals, started .Started the company from scratch.

Initially, starting the journey with the sale of foundry chemicals to industries, the dynamic duo of husband and wife moved on and included the supply of designed spare parts and nozzles for palm oil mills and refineries, before stumbling upon some Australians, who were looking for an agent for some chemicals supply in Malaysia. As a risk-taker, Maria prompted her husband to chance it and together they decided to take up the agency; the birth of Tandex Chemicals SdnBhd (1986). Gradually, they found footing in this business and further developed the business through the innovation of their proprietary organic-based chemicals for boiler water treatment and cooling tower treatment.

The nature of business for Tandex Chemicals also took a sharp shift when Maria along with her husband Stevenson moved into the Chemical Cleaning business of bigger capacity boilers used in the power and petrochemical industries. Spearheading the firm from a two head company to emerge as an organization comprising of 35 stalwarts leading by example, along with international presence and demand, Maria played a pivotal role in moulding Tandex Chemicals into World’s No.1 Industrial Chemical Cleaners.

Below is an excerpt of her interaction with the Editorial Team of Women Entrepreneur Magazine.

Give Us A Brief Overview Of Tandex Chemicals. Highlight Some Of The Distinctive Factors That Make The Firm Stand Uniquely In The Industry.

Tandex Chemicals, since its incorporation in 1986, is proud to be the leading niche player in the industrial cleaning services. Considered pioneers in the industry for pre-commissioning and post-commissioning acid cleaning (carbon steel, stainless steel piping, combined cycle and high-pressure boilers, vessels, heat exchangers and others) for power stations and all petrochemical plants like refineries and so on. We are commonly known as the Chemical Cleaning Specialists offering the whole package including effluent treatment.

Our services include Chemical Cleaning (Acid), Alkali Boil out, Steam Blowing, Oil Flushing, Sanitisation, and Waste Water Treatment. Tandex envisions being ‘The point every industry touches’. Tandex serves the power and petrochemical industry primarily. The nation’s Petronas endorses Tandex for its sound technical knowledge and professional execution through repeat orders for the past 24 years for its various plants.

A large number of clients are foreign and local big boys in the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) Contractors field like Siemens, Ferrostaal (Germany), ABB Alstom (Swiss/ French), Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain), EDAC (India), Hitachi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), IHI, Toshiba, Shinryo (Japanese), Sinohydro (China), CTCI (Taiwan), PT Rekayasa (Indonesia), BMC (Brunei), and locally, Dialog, KQKS, EESB to name a few. Tandex also gets contracted directly by Construction Management Consulting (CMC) companies like Lurgi and Flour (American).

What Are The Various Roles & Responsibilities That You Currently Shoulder At Tandex Chemicals? What Are Some Of The Most Pressing Challenges That You Face As The Finance Director And How Do You Successfully Tackle Them?

Roles and responsibilities include overseeing verticals pertaining to Payroll, verifying claims, Policy making and revisions, Board decisions, Difficult Purchasing, and Procuring materials.

In terms of Pressing Challenges, we have fought hard to remain at the top of the triangle with sound technical know-how and competitive pricing. Today, international contractors reach out to Tandex Chemicals. Surviving in a multi-racial country as a minority is a challenge. Most suppliers choose to operate in cash terms, especially to outsiders.

"When one cannot be trusted with monies, they simply cannot be trusted in anything else"

The term‘ Outsiders’ means you don’t belong to any group or associations, often times those within, rally support from the group mates to ensure positioning, find you a threat when you are in business. Another challenge is the increase of poor paymasters and it further worsens with clients who are welchers and renegers and we tackle it with firm contractual terms.

Some challenges are due to productivity and efficiency also because the current workforce comprises millennials and the work attitudes are quite distinctive from the other generations. Adaptation towards more tech-related functions and software helps manage some of the problems, but not all.

Tell Us About The Various Areas Of Expertise That You Possess As A Leader In Finance. What Are Some Key Business Lessons & Philosophies That You Follow?

I would highlight ‘Forecasting’ as one of my expertise, as I work strongly with my intuition. Being a religious person, this is rather enhanced with me. Apart from having an eye for details, I have the patience to painstakingly go through every single receipt if I have to. Accuracy in every way is very important to me. I would also define myself as a ‘winner’ as I have pulled a two (2) on nineteen (19) in blackjack. So, taking some risks in business was no new norm for me. I am an empath and an advocate for fairness.

While some leaders believe fairness to all is impossible, I believe it is Possible if all play by the rules, listen with an open mind and don’t play favourites. ‘When one cannot be trusted with monies, they simply cannot be trusted in anything else', this is a philosophy I strongly advocate and I educate my children and staff alike. The days are usually numbered for those hired with a weakness for the chips. This extends to having a clean bill of affairs without fear. No corruption and no bribery, they are one and all the same. As an organization, we are transparent with each other as a family.

How Do You Keep Yourself Well Aligned With The Periodic Evolutions Occurring Within The Malaysian & Global Business Landscape & Tech World?

In my lifecycle, I have come through quite a few transitions. I have moved from no television to black and white TV (communal) to Coloured TV and now to smart and digital televisions. At work, I have moved from typewriter to the advent of computers and now, apps on smartphones. I believe I have adapted pretty well for my age.

I have social media accounts, and I like to partake in virtual meetings. Resumes, interviews and purchases are conducted online and I actively participate in the digitized functionalities this newage has to offer. Life has never become a standstill for me and I look forward to ascending greater heights of success as an optimistic leader.

Drawing From Your Experience As A Successful Business Leader, What Would Your Advice Be To Young Women & Girls Who Also Aspire To Become Business Leaders And Entrepreneurs In The Future?

I would advise them to be brutally honest and always push the envelope. At the same time, they need to be adventurous to explore the plethora of opportunities present around them.

Born in Sarawak, a state in the Borneo Island, Maria studied at St. Teresa’s primary and secondary school, Kuching, Sarawak. Maria holds a business certification with Associate of Business Executives (ABE), UK, and completed her Diploma in business administration (1997). As the Executive Director of Tandex Chemicals, Maria plays all the roles a business requires. She believes that by the virtue of her flair for languages, she has managed to sustain to date as a new-age leader.