HRM Asia Watch List 2018: Felicia Teh

Felicia Teh, regional HR director for Carlsberg in Southeast Asia, has shot up the HR hierarchy - but there's still much more on her career horizon.
By: | October 2, 2018

The HRM Asia Watch List 2018 (#hrmwatchlist), brought to you by Armstrong Craven, showcases the brightest next-generation HR leadership talent from across Southeast Asia.

 

 

Felicia Teh’s career in HR can certainly be considered the epitome of “fast trajectory” – she was barely 30 years old when she was promoted to the role of HR director at AstraZeneca Malaysia and Singapore.

HRM Asia Watch List

Felicia Teh

Regional HR Director, Southeast Asia, Carlsberg Group

Based in: Kuala Lumpur

HR focus area: Organisation Development, Talent Development

Favourite aspect of HR: “Making a difference in people’s growth in the company – seeing them develop and reach their full potential.”

Career-defining moment: “Being made HR Director by my previous company, a pharmaceutical multi-national, at the age of 31 – an affirmation that I was being recognised for my performance and potential, and not by the number of years under my belt!”

“A lot of times, people have to leave to progress in their career,” she notes. “But in my last two organisations, I have been promoted internally, and it’s been great to be recognised that way.”

She admits it hasn’t always been easy, however. “[The AstraZeneca role] was interesting, as I was juggling my MBA part-time as well – so I had to strike a balance between work and school – but it was very rewarding, ultimately.”

After six years at the pharmaceutical titan, Felicia moved over to another big name, albeit this time in the food and beverage industry – Carlsberg.

There, she started out as the HR Director for Malaysia, where the company is listed on the stock exchange. But within two years, her portfolio was expanded to include the rest of Southeast Asia.

“It’s an interesting challenge because the scope is diverse,” she says. After all, the developing market of Myanmar is an entirely different environment to Malaysia, where the business is more established, or even to Singapore, which is smaller.

“My strategic priority is to build a high-performing culture across markets — to make sure that everyone has the right mindset to win, and that regardless of market, they are fit for purpose and fit for the future,” she says.

In the long run, she’s keen on contributing to the development of thought leadership in the HR sector, but what’s driving her right now is business transformation:

“Because I still have consulting very much in my DNA,” – she started out as a consultant a PwC – “I always feel the need to solve problems and add value. But that’s what will continue to excite me in years to come.”


The HRM Asia Watch List aims to showcase the up and coming generation of HR leadership talent in Southeast Asia. The list will be unveiled daily between September 27 and October 19, 2018. Check the dedicated archive for the latest updates, follow #hrmwatchlist on social media, or see below. 

Introduction | Welcome address by Tom Mason

Profile #1: Jaspreet Kakar | Profile #2: Dianne Goette | Profile #3: Chen Fong Tuan

Profile #4: Felicia Teh | Profile #5: Monica Oudang | Profile #6: Evangeline Chua

Profile #7: Agapol Na Songkhla | Profile #8: Clayton Tan | Profile #9: Tony Tan

Profile #10: Vanessa Mercado-Maningas | Profile #11: Jahja Soenarta | Profile #12: Minn Yan

Profile #13: Rudy Afandi | Profile #14: Norazlina Idris

Profile #15: Naveen Chhabra | Profile #16: Monir Azzouzi