Hana: The Mill Manager Who Built People

The palm oil mill at Sungai Kinabatangan was always busy — steam hissing from the boiler, conveyor belts rattling with fruit bunches, turbines humming day and night. But when Hana was promoted as mill manager, she realized her greatest challenge wasn’t the machines — it was the people who kept them running.

Celebrating Wins

One Monday morning, after the sterilizer team broke a record for cycle efficiency, Hana didn’t just file the report. She gathered the team in the canteen, clapped her hands, and announced loudly:

"This is your achievement. You’ve proven that teamwork beats pressure every time."

The workers, many of whom rarely received acknowledgment, left that day standing taller.

Constructive Feedback

Not long after, a junior engineer made an error in adjusting a pump valve, causing a minor production delay. Instead of scolding him in front of others, Hana invited him into her office. She pointed out the mistake clearly but added,

"Every manager you respect today once made errors like this. Learn fast, correct fast, and one day you’ll teach others the same."

The young engineer left motivated, not humiliated.

Recognizing Effort

During one peak season, the maintenance crew worked through the night to fix a breakdown. By morning, Hana arrived with breakfast packs and thanked them personally. She reminded the head office that effort, not just output, deserved recognition. Slowly, her culture of acknowledgment spread.

Turning Mistakes into Growth

When the kernel plant team accidentally over-dried a batch, Hana resisted the easy route of issuing warning letters. Instead, she organized a “learning session” where the mistake became a case study. The team walked away not fearful, but sharper and more confident.

Legacy

Hana’s mill soon became known not only for its production numbers but also as a place where workers felt valued. Under her leadership:

Praise was public.

Criticism was constructive.

Success was celebrated.

Mistakes became lessons.

And in the quiet corners of the estate, workers whispered something rarely heard in the industry:

"If you want to grow, pray you end up at Hana’s mill."