Posted on 12 July 2021
Darrell Lee is General Manager of the 12 (owned and joint venture) depots Stolt Tank Containers works out of in the Asia Pacific region.
The excitement of new opportunity
When Darrell joined Stolt Tank Containers some 30 years ago, the ISO tank container business was fairly new in Singapore. “I was attracted to this new ‘toy’ and new industry. The depot was my training ground where I learned, explored, experimented and learned more. I remember the excitement of when I was first asked to prepare training slides for the Port of Singapore Authority, to familiarise port personnel with handling our tanks.”Trained for success
Having come to Stolt Tank Containers from a varied education encompassing metal and electrical work, chemistry, physics, technical drawing, management, marketing and economics, Darrell had a good all-round grounding which would prove very relevant to her career. But she feels it was the great mentors and platform within the company which enabled her to rise to her current position. “It was Stolt-Nielsen Singapore’s heavy investment in in-house systems training which convinced me to anchor my career at Stolt Tank Containers. I didn’t just learn about the business and its technicalities, the team also helped me polish my communication, presentation and public speaking skills, which are very important for a person in my position.”
Enjoying the responsibility
The training and support Darrell received while working her way through the ranks has led to her become a highly trusted and appreciated manager. As well as being a safe pair of hands for the Asia Pacific region, she’s an integral part of the global organisation. “The freedom, trust and appreciation given to me by my managers, throughout my career here, has made it especially enjoyable. “The same goes for the way we work together, with our own depot staff, our sister companies Stolt Tankers and Stolthaven Terminals and third parties across multiple regions to solve various challenges. Adapting to new businesses, people, thinking and changing demands keeps me on my toes, in a good way!
“Our business operates on a very grand scale. Keeping everything coordinated and balancing my focus between tasks, stakeholder interests and people’s needs can be tough, but my determination to be a role model who inspires others to do well drives me every day.”
Coordinating the region
One essential aspect of Darrell’s job is ensuring smooth coordination across a region that encompasses many differences. “Stolt Tank Containers is a unique operator, both in terms of the size of its fleet and the number of depots we operate. Of our 23 worldwide depots, 12 are located in Asia Pacific, and these are serviced by another 40-or-so third-party depots.
“Although these depots all lie within the same region, they have different cultures, beliefs, practices, preferences, mindsets and languages. Added to that are differences in local government regulations, industrial practices and customer expectations.
“However, there is only one Stolt Tank Containers. Thanks to our professionalism, technical support and wide depot network, we are uniquely able to provide consistent quality service throughout the region, and the world.”
