PTSC Staff Spotlight: Sunny Lin
This piece is the first in a series that features various members of PTSC and their stories with the company over time. In our first instalment, I talked with a colleague who is beginning her second journey with PTSC, Sunny Lin.
Although Sunny Lin recently started working with PTSC on August 1st, 2020, her story is as much a continuation of her journey with the company as it is a beginning. I joined Sunny for lunch at Graffee Cafe which I can highly recommend for the care they put into their dishes, as well as their refreshing lemon tea. We chatted about her first cycle with PTSC, as well as her decisions to leave and return to be the valuable colleague which she is once again.
How long were you working at PTSC the first time around, and what section were you working in?
“I worked at PTSC from 2005 to 2017. During that time I worked with the Administrative Services Department (ASD).”
What was your area of focus during this time?
“When I was with ASD, I was mostly working on projects related to operation management.”
What was it that made you decide to leave PTSC in 2017?
“I always had a dream to open up my own cafe. The idea of that simple communication that happens between customers and staff at a cafe is something that always appealed to me. There’s something innocent and direct about that exchange that I wanted to have. It’s a dream I might still want to develop one day.”
During these three years did you open up a cafe?
She smiles.
“No, I guess you could say I was taking time off during these three years. But I definitely wasn’t being lazy. I would spend time in a restaurant to learn from friends who were in this business. It really opened my eyes. Opening up a business, however small, it’s not something easy to do.”
She looks around the cafe where we are eating.
“I would want to open up something like this type of cafe. Clean, bright, the customer has a good feeling, and there seems to be a good rapport between staff and customers. But I know there’s a lot of work that goes into this type of place.”
So what was it that made you come back to PTSC?
“Throughout these three years, I’ve had a continued connection with former colleagues and managers at PTSC. They reached out to me directly, and they helped to keep those ties alive. They told me that there was a new position opening up, and it would include different roles and responsibilities from what I was doing previously.”
So it was mostly the relationship and care from your former colleagues that brought you back?
“Partially, yes. I’d also say that they were willing to listen to me and my needs. The position that I’m now is in a different department with the Board of Directors (BOD) where I’ll be working as a project manager. This position will give me opportunities to grow and develop professionally, as well as have more chances to have exchanges with customers, too.”
Recently in a meeting, we were discussing company’s entering a second curve or second growth cycle. Would you say this is something you’re experiencing yourself here?
“I only just started again, but my job is definitely different than it was before. I wouldn’t have come back if it was the same job, and I can appreciate having the chance to start something new here.”
Would you say that PTSC has changed much since you’ve returned?
“Again, because I just started, this is hard to say, but I do notice there are more people here than before. Some of the faces are different, and there seem to be more activities for people to get involved with. I know that PTSC is somewhat of a traditional company, but I can feel that it’s changing, and I’m happy that my own role has been able to change within this company.”
Sunny and I continued to talk about her life and family outside of PTSC, and I was surprised to learn that she spends 3 hours each day just in commuting to work since her home is in Keelung City. Being someone who prefers to wake up early and avoid the heaviest traffic, I was inspired by Sunny’s determination and persistence to make it on time each day, even with such a long commute. We are all lucky to have Sunny on board as she makes her second start and demonstrates how colleagues within the company can make career changes striving for professional growth and development along their own PTSC journeys.
