Oi Newsroom

Life@Oi: Annika Drenth - Otto International

Hera Lau — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

At Otto International, as our people grow, so does our long-term success. By investing in upskilling and nurturing a culture of continuous learning, our teams do not just adapt, they lead change and deliver real impact every day.

In this Life@Oi spotlight, we highlight Annika Drenth, Director Merchandising for several of our key customers. Her career reflects both hands-on experience and a mindset defined by stepping up to new challenges and driving meaningful changes. From playing a key role in the Costing Programme to furthering our digital transformation, Annika has strengthened organisational capabilities and created lasting value, reflecting the spirit of Life@Oi.

Built on Curiosity and Continuous Learning

Annika's journey began during her Textile Engineering studies in the Netherlands, when she joined Otto International as an intern at featuring, our 3D digital competence centre, in Hong Kong. Working with featuring enabled Annika to learn firsthand how the textile industry is developing, and how digital tools streamline Otto International's processes and support sustainable practices. Curiosity drove her from the start, turning every task into an opportunity to learn more about the business.

She continued her learning through her Management Traineeship programme, relocating first to Turkiye and then Vietnam, where she was promoted to Merchandising Manager, gaining in-depth exposure to Quality Assurance and Merchandising work. She highlights how the experience not only improved her technical knowledge, but also sharpened her ability to work across different environments and cultures while adapting within a short timeframe, an invaluable skill she has continued to leverage throughout her career. She did not stop there. Annika has completed a master's degree while at Otto International and is now pursuing a PhD alongside workplace responsibilities, carrying on her professional growth beyond her role.

Most recently, Annika moved to Shanghai as Merchandising Director, her fourth country with the company. Her willingness to take on new challenges reflects a broader commitment to continuous learning, expanding her perspective and deepening her expertise. As she shares: "I'm always interested in a new challenge. When this came to my path, I immediately said yes."

That same proactive mindset also shapes how she encourages others to do the same: "Don't wait for opportunities, work on your own development, even outside work. When offered, say YES."

Where Ownership Begins

For Annika, taking ownership means stepping in where she sees potential to create value. Her involvement in the Costing Programme progressed alongside her merchandising role in Vietnam: "It was a great opportunity to build on what Otto International offers and help take it to the next level, while also challenging myself with something new."

Through Annika's work on the programme, Otto International has strengthened its ability to leverage data, negotiate with confidence, and support customers with more informed decisions. The approach was grounded in her belief that "if you do not have knowledge or facts in hand, you have no feet to stand on." Achieving this required close collaboration across stakeholders. One of the biggest challenges, she notes, was to drive a discussion on the next steps, with much of the work focused on coordinating different components.

As the Costing Programme evolved, so did its scope as it expanded broader organisational capability. "It's more about coordinating a lot of different components and then learning all the details about those new components as well." Within this progression, ownership naturally translated into autonomy: "We onboarded a new digital solution which can better track cost metrics and are now integrating apparel costing experts, with a view to expand to other product groups." Annika demonstrates how capability-building is driven not just by structure, but by individuals taking initiative.

Looking ahead, Annika is focused on building on the foundation she helped create. She sees clear potential to make costing faster and more accurate through AI, while recognising that the challenge is to keep data updated, not to add workload but make it more efficient. She explains that most quick costing will be provided by AI, but the data must be built and improved by experts, showing a clear progression from building capability to using it more intelligently. Her ambition is to improve processes while shaping a future where technology and expertise deliver better results.

Reflecting on her journey through Otto International's programmes, Annika's adaptability enabled her to work across different environments and cultures and develop a global mindset. These experiences defined the way she leads, navigating complex environments, translating change into practical results, and reinforcing the importance of continuous learning in the process. Annika's curiosity and readiness to go beyond her defined role embody the proactive spirit at the heart of Life@Oi, showing how meaningful impact is made by stepping up, embracing growth, and contributing wherever opportunity arises.

Check out our News page and LinkedIn to read more about our culture and Life@Oi.

Happy Year of the Horse!

Hera Lau — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 16:00:00 GMT

We wish our customers, business partners, employees and your families a joyful and prosperous:

Happy Lunar New Year!
新年快樂!
新年快乐!
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!

As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we want to embrace the qualities it represents, strength, perseverance and vitality. These values reflect the spirit we bring to all the initiatives we currently have underway.

We’re looking forward to an inspired and courageous Year of the Horse 2026!

Check out our News Page and LinkedIn for more business updates and insight into our work culture.

Season’s Greetings 2025

Hera Lau — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Otto International wishes everyone a joyful holiday season!

As the year comes to an end, we want to express our heartfelt appreciation to our staff. Your trust, hard work, and dedication during uncertain times have been essential to our achievements and have brought us closer to our vision.

We are also truly grateful for the continued support from our business partners and customers throughout this challenging year.

As we look ahead to the new year, we hope you find time to rest, reset, and reconnect.

Season’s greetings and happy holidays!

Follow our News page and LinkedIn for more updates.

Eike Ernst Michaelis becomes the Chief Sourcing and Supply Chain Officer - Otto International

Alexander Grasic — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Today, Eike Ernst Michaelis stepped into his role as Otto International’s new Chief Sourcing and Supply Chain Officer.

In this capacity, Eike will be instrumental in driving transformation within our organisation to better serve our customers. He will also be responsible for building up new capabilities and strategic alliances with our business partners, as well as further accelerating our high-performance culture.

Eike joins us with a wealth of experience from various companies, such as VF Corporation, adidas, and Boston Consulting Group. His expertise is built upon almost nine years at adidas, at the end of which he was the Senior Director of Sourcing for Accessories and Gear.

In his most recent role as VF Corporation’s VP of Global Product Supply for Footwear and Equipment, Eike oversaw the global strategic and operational sourcing activities for those product groups across all 12 VF brands. In addition, he implemented a complete reorientation of his team, led VF’s Centre of Excellence for digital product platforms, as well as the “Speed” initiative which aimed to optimise go-to-market timelines.

Our CEO Heidi Stevens had the following to say: “We are absolutely thrilled to have Eike join Otto International and for him to dive into the business. Eike’s strategic and operational expertise across supply chain optimisation, digital product platforms, and building high-performing teams will further boost the incredible work already being done here. Eike will provide additional horsepower in delivering a world-class service for our customers. Welcome to Otto International!”

We wish Eike success in his new role.

Life@Oi: Thuy Lam - Otto International

Hera Lau — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Previously, we focused on Patrick and Lily in our Life@Oi spotlight, who demonstrated opportunities for career growth within our company.

In this instalment, we are highlighting Thuy Lam, one of our Vietnam Merchandising Managers who continuously personifies our values through her work at Otto International and her pursuits outside the office.

Thuy has a wealth of experience in the garment industry. After working at various companies in Vietnam, she joined Otto International in 2015 as a merchandiser and in a short time rose to Sourcing Officer. During this time, she became more acquainted with the Vietnam sourcing scene and was one of the youngest people in the local management team. In 2023, she became the merchandising manager for two of our primary customers. While her primary role is with them, Thuy has consistently searched for ways to develop customers’ reach in the Vietnam market and supported our Business Development team in their endeavours.

Thuy exemplifies our motto of ‘It Starts with Me,’ seeking opportunities to develop her capabilities and those around her. Her passion for learning and sharing knowledge is evidence of her dedication to leading by example, underscoring the essence of Life@Oi.

Expanding her knowledge

Her drive to push her limits stems from her belief that ‘everyone should try to constantly grow towards their next step.’ With this principle in mind, Thuy pursued a master’s in business administration while working at Otto International, equipping herself with the necessary skills to better manage various areas of our business. She believes that ‘everyone’s knowledge is limited. If we have the opportunity to learn more, we should take it.’

Balancing work, studies, and family is undoubtedly challenging. However, Thuy emphasises that Otto International’s flexible working arrangements made this balance feasible. The mutual trust cultivated between Thuy and her managers played a crucial role, providing her with the confidence to manage both work and academic commitments. When there were tight school deadlines, Thuy felt comfortable to speak up: ‘I could ‘openly discuss my challenges with my managers, who would listen and collaborate with me to ensure I met my academic deadlines while fulfilling my work responsibilities.’ The supportive environment allowed Thuy to seamlessly incorporate her further studies into her work routine.

The impetus for Thuy to study a master’s degree was the ability to put the skills acquired from her courses into action. Her studies not only enhanced the practical skills she employs in her day-to-day tasks, such as developing her research skills for new customers, refining her analytical skills, and finetuning her ability to read financial reports, but it also expanded her strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. Thuy likens her approach to problem-solving to that of a doctor: She explains that “During my master’s programme, I had to ‘identify the symptoms of a problem within an organisation and find the cause for those symptoms.’ Thuy carries this mentality into her daily work, finding solutions for the root of the issues she finds rather than solely treating the symptoms.

Passion for teaching

While she remains dedicated to her role, and constantly learning, Thuy also has a deep passion for teaching. Her ‘It Starts with Me’ mindset motivates her to seek opportunities where she can fulfil both her desire to be a student and a mentor. Over the past year, Thuy has been a guest lecturer at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, teaching globalisation and sustainability. Her aim is to share practical knowledge from the sourcing industry and provide real-life examples of practices that Otto International has implemented. Additionally, Thuy participates in the Vietnam Alumni Mentoring programme, guiding one student through their undergraduate years at her alma mater.

Thuy’s inspiration to pursue mentoring opportunities arises from her desire to ‘bring something to the younger generation.’ During her time at university, she remembers that I didn’t have the chance to meet with people directly from the industry, and such interactions are a valuable experience for both students and teachers.’ As such, she wants to both teach and learn from students, as she believes they will ‘raise new ideas that help support CR topics and can be implemented into our organisation.’

Moreover, Thuy lectures while working at Otto International to lead by example, encouraging her peers to ‘push their limits and do more.’ Her team members are aware of the extensive scope of her responsibilities inside and outside the office, keeping her motivated to continuously enhance her capacity and perform her best. When her peers approach her about how to learn more about the organisation and take on additional responsibilities, Thuy eagerly transitions from manager to mentor, offering guidance and feedback to help them excel. Her mentoring philosophy is to ‘encourage them to do everything with passion – if you love what you do, success will follow.’

Thuy is a proponent of the proactive culture that Life@Oi aims to cultivate. Her inquisitive nature pushes her to expand her knowledge and inspire others to push their boundaries. She is only one example of the kind of spirit our organisation represents, where at the core we encourage our people to be their own leader.

Check out our News page and LinkedIn to read more about our culture and Life@Oi.

Happy Year of the Snake!

Hera Lau — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 16:00:00 GMT

We want to wish all our customers, business partners, and employees a:

Happy Lunar New Year!
新年快樂!
新年快乐!
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!

We are entering the year of the Wood Snake: it is said to usher in wisdom, renewal, and growth. We hope this year reaps blessings and good fortune for everyone.

May everyone have a prosperous Year of the Snake!

Check out our News page and LinkedIn for more business updates and insight into our work culture.

Life@Oi: Julian Matejek - Otto International

Hera Lau — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 16:00:00 GMT

In this edition of Life@Oi, we highlight Julian Matejek, our Human Resources Business Partner for Sourcing and Supply Chain.

Julian joined us from the Otto Group, bringing with him a strong background in market and social research. He began his journey with the Group in 2021 as an intern in their HR Management Strategy and Diversity department, focusing on strategic direction and community work. In this role, Julian worked closely with organisations across the Group, contributing to their Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) initiatives and gaining valuable insight into diverse organisation cultures and practices. In 2022, Julian moved to Otto International’s corporate office in Hong Kong to work in our People Development and Talent Management team. Over the course of his time here, he stepped into the role of Talent Management Lead, where he played a pivotal role in developing and facilitating our global performance and talent processes to enhance the capabilities of our organisation. Recently, he transitioned into his new role as HR Business Partner, offering HR guidance on talent and performance management, organisational development, and employee relations, while driving HR operations.

Julian’s drive to challenge himself, from moving to Hong Kong and finding opportunities to further develop himself and the organisation, embodies the commitment to continuous improvement that Life@Oi advocates.

From the Otto Group to Otto International

Julian shares that relocating to a new country has always been one of his key goals throughout his career, explaining “it is important to put myself in a position where I can push myself professionally and personally. Working in a new country puts me in that position.” When the opportunity to complete a traineeship at Otto International arose, Julian embraced the challenge.

His experience at the Group was instrumental in his transition, working with cross-functional teams from various Group companies around the world on D&I initiatives. Reflecting on these experiences, he says, “communication and collaboration were essential when working with the Group’s global companies. All of which helped me when I came to Otto International since we have locations around the world. Every country has a different work culture, and learning to communicate effectively with different HR departments gave me insight to all the different perspectives.” During this time, he worked with Otto International on several of our D&I projects, interacting with people in our various locations and giving him a glimpse of the internationalism we champion.

The impetus for moving to Otto International was it presented Julian with an environment where he could challenge himself. When collaborating with our company, Julian explains he felt “the company had a strong multicultural presence, and the prospect of working in that environment excited [him] since [he] had mainly worked in the German market up until that time.” Moving to our corporate office offered Julian an opportunity where “[he] could not only work with people from all different backgrounds but also live in a country with a different environment and culture, which is a prospect that excited [him].”

Building Capabilities Within the Organisation

As Otto International’s Talent Management Lead, Julian was instrumental in streamlining processes and developing programmes to enhance our organisational capabilities. One of his biggest undertakings involved developing and implementing talent and performance modules that provide our employees with greater global visibility for their career development. Julian reflects on the enormity of the project, explaining, “We had to coordinate with a number of different stakeholders, and there were a lot of different elements that we had to develop within a very tight timeframe.” The project’s success hinged on close collaboration between the Talent and HR teams across all our locations, ensuring that everyone’s objectives were aligned, and tasks were completed efficiently.

Despite the pressure, Julian considers this project one of his proudest accomplishments. His pride stems from the team’s collective effort to tackle such a significant task. “Everyone got to see our final result, but the teamwork behind the scenes is often unnoticed,” Julian says. “The team came together to meet the tight deadlines, and it wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s commitment.” This experience not only highlighted the power of teamwork but also reinforced Julian’s belief in driving continuous development across our organisation.

Refining Skills

While Julian has supported our company in building our talent initiatives, he has also been an active participant in these programmes himself. One such example is our Project Management Capability Enhancement Programme, which is aimed at refining our people’s skills so that they can take on more complex tasks and initiatives within our organisation. Julian explains that, in his experience, “Project Management is an essential skill and necessary for talent development and to enhance our capabilities to meet our future needs.”

As part of the programme, Julian participated in a secondment with our Strategy team, applying his learning in a different function area. Through this collaboration, Julian sharpened his strategic thinking skills, “teaching [him] to better understand various initiatives’ environments: their risks, and how to mitigate them,” and giving him the requisite practical skills to be more efficient and effective in his role. By collaborating with the Strategy team and learning how they operate, Julian gained insight into “the relationship between Talent Development and our Business Strategy.” The team has a “360-degree view of the organisation.” Working alongside them, allowed Julian to deepen his understanding of various departments, our business, and our processes. He maintains the belief that it is beneficial to have a clear understanding on specific roles in different function areas: “It helps to fully understand the scope of a merchandiser in order to establish the right approach and initiative to develop them.” This mentality equips Julian with the mindset to further enhance our organisation’s capabilities as he enters his new role of HR Business Partner.

Julian’s proactive mentality and hunger to learn embody the spirit of Life@Oi. His drive to push himself beyond his comfort zones and provide opportunities for people in our organisation to enhance their skills reflects the culture of continuous improvement we strive to foster.

Check out our News page and LinkedIn to read more about our culture and Life@Oi.

Flexible Working: Otto International's Hybrid Environment

Hera Lau — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 16:00:00 GMT

At Otto International, we care about our people. This means implementing the necessary policies and infrastructure to empower our people to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Over the last few years, we have implemented and integrated our Flexiwork policy. Based on mutual trust and respect between team members, Flexiwork enables us to work remotely to cultivate our personal lives while still being fully able to do our jobs. An essential factor that makes Flexiwork possible is our digital set-up; it enables us to work and effectively collaborate with our teams anytime, anywhere. As a result, we have the freedom to seamlessly blend remote and on-site working into our routines.

This setup has given our people the opportunity to pursue further studies, stay close to their children as they grow, and much more. We asked several of our colleagues to share how Flexiwork has impacted their personal lives:

The flexible arrangement has allowed me to better balance work with my personal responsibilities. It gives me a chance to focus on myself and exercise before or after work, which would not be possible if I had to commute three hours every day. However, most importantly, as a single dad, the ability to work remotely for most of the week is invaluable as gives me more time to spend with my seven-year-old daughter and be present in her formative years.

Sezgin Koc, Logistics Lead, Istanbul

One of the key benefits of Oi’s flexible arrangement is it allows me to dedicate time to sports commitments. I am the captain of my netball team and part of a run club, both of which have matches and races throughout the year. Having the flexibility to start work earlier and leave on time for a match, or to work later into the evening in order to go for a run in the morning has been helpful in giving the time and dedication needed for training. I’m very grateful that I am able to maintain this balance between work and sport, as I really see exercise having a positive impact on my wellbeing.

Anna Hoffmann, People Development & Wellbeing Lead, Hong Kong SAR

With the flexibility from our digital solutions and the support of my team, I have the resources I need to be present at my job while also looking after my two children.

My eldest is 11 and I drop him off at school and during his exams, I help him revise. Having the option to work remotely gives me the time to help him with his schooling as well as spend a bit more time with him throughout the day. Similarly, my youngest is a toddler so having the option to work from home allows to look after them, especially when they are sick.

Masuma Shammi, Logistics Coordinator, Dhaka

Since working at Otto International, I’ve been able to dedicate my personal time to my passions. I can start my day earlier, allowing me to complete my tasks ahead of schedule and arrive at football practice on time, which would not have been possible with my long commute. I also appreciate having the opportunity to utilise my lunch break for gym sessions, helping me stay active and focused throughout the day. Finding the balance between work and personal interests has never been easy, but Otto International’s flexible arrangement has given me the resources to remain focused on my professional commitments and dedicated to my training.

Grishma Singh, Solutions Developer, Hong Kong SAR

Working from home provides me with the flexibility to manage my professional responsibilities and attend to my family’s needs. One of my family members requires dialysis and is critically ill most of the time. By cutting out the time required to commute between home and the office, the arrangement ensures that I can provide care for my family while also completing all my responsibilities at work.

Titly Ferdous, HR Manager, Dhaka

The flexible working arrangement has only benefited our people. Before we had this policy, my mother was sick in the hospital for two months, and it was a difficult time for me because I could only look after her during lunch and after work.

However, since Otto International has implemented the Flexiwork policy, I have been able to spend more time with my family. Over the summer, I took my teenage kids to Australia for three weeks for some quality time and to explore a different country. This was only made possible because of Otto International’s Flexiwork policy, giving me the opportunity to work from another country and spend time with my family.

Phan Thao, Merchandising Lead, Ho Chi Minh City

Since we’ve implemented flexible working at Oi, my team has been able to nurture a healthy balance between work and their family by dedicating more of their time at home, wherever home is for them. For me, I am able to spend weeks back in France and combine my holidays with Flexiwork, without any disruptions to my work. This gives me the opportunity to support my teams while still spending time with my family abroad.

Denis Giglioli, Global Head of Enterprise Solutions, Hong Kong SAR

These experiences highlight the importance of workplace policies that support work-life balance, allowing employees to prioritise their personal lives while continuing with their professional responsibilities.

Check out our News page and LinkedIn for more updates and insight into our work culture.

Life@Oi: Patrick Schraets and Lily Zhou - Otto International

Hera Lau — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:00:00 GMT

In our previous Life@Oi highlight, we focused on Ernest and Vivian, our Strategy and Development Project Leads, who illustrated what it is like to be adaptable and foster collaboration among our global teams.

This time, we are spotlighting Patrick Schraets and Lily Zhou, who both recently moved into global roles after years of experience in different markets and function areas.

Patrick and Lily embody the essence of our vibrant innovation and culture. Their unwavering commitment to learning and enthusiasm for undertaking new opportunities and challenges in our company is a testament to the spirit of continuous growth and adaptability that Life@Oi champions.

Opportunities for Growth

Through Otto International’s various development programmes, Patrick and Lily sharpened the skills in their toolbox to excel in their new roles. Patrick’s priority is to grow by facing new situations. Over his career, Patrick has worked in the garment industry around Europe and Southeast Asia, gaining experience in various fields – from development, merchandising, production, and quality. Wanting to work closer to the supply chain, he joined Otto International in Dhaka as a Quality Manager in 2019, before becoming our Head of Quality in Bangladesh. Currently, he is the Türkiye Key Account Manager for one of our main customers. During his time, he has observed that Otto International “recognises talent, acknowledges hard work, and provides opportunities to learn,” and therefore an ideal place to grow.

Similarly, Lily has 25 years of experience in the US, Europe, and Asia at major brands and supply chain services companies. She joined Otto International in 2017 as the Senior Merchandising Manager for a key customer. For the last four years, Lily has been the China Key Account Manager for another primary customer and now manages their account globally. In contrast to her most recent experience in the Chinese market, Lily’s new role positions her to “push [her] thinking and learn about new platforms and technologies to achieve Otto International’s goals and operate within a multicultural framework.” Lily’s dedication to being a lifelong student is a testament to her forward-thinking mindset, maintaining the belief that “you must keep yourself learning; it can be through understanding new trends or implementing new ideas.”

Continuous Learning

Patrick and Lily are previous participants of Oi Academy, an initiative to nurture future leaders by developing their collaboration and leadership skills by engaging with colleagues from different function areas and locations on various innovation projects. Patrick explains that the experience trained them to “fall in love with the problem, not the solution.” The initiative prompted them to adapt their thinking and search for solutions in more systematic and creative ways.

Giving and receiving feedback are essential skills for leaders like Patrick and Lily, which they have both refined through trainings. Patrick credits his experiences in Oi Academy and our ‘Train the Trainer’ Programme with teaching him to “adjust yourself to improve yourself” when leading. His approach focuses on fostering a culture of self-improvement in his teams, rather than just providing solutions. For Lily, it was the psychometric tests she took when training that gave her the insight she needed. She also adapts to the working styles of her colleagues, providing encouragement for more proactive team members and offering guidance and feedback to colleagues who are less self-assured. She underscores that constructive feedback is a gift because “you can never do something 100%, there is always something missing – if someone can point this out to you, it’s a very good lesson.”

Embracing Challenge

With Patrick and Lily stepping into new roles, they inevitably face challenges. Moving to a new country has its difficulties; however, Patrick actively sought them. He communicated to his manager that relocating within the company was a career goal and explains, “it is important for me to be proactive in searching for experiences where I can expand my learning – overcoming challenges is what drives me.”

For Patrick, working in Istanbul presented a chance to explore a new market and function area. He believes his experience in different departments “makes [him] more adaptable and deployable in various scenarios.” Patrick also thinks his background in Quality Control in particular makes him more “empathetic to the challenges Quality faces, which at times may be exacerbated by other departments.” One of his goals is to be a mediator between departments, believing his experience allows him to “help iron out the issues” and foster cooperation.

Similarly, the transition from leading a local team to a global one presents Lily with new tasks: “the biggest learning curve will be developing my strategic thinking to a larger, more complex scale.” This involves understanding different global markets and ensuring the team’s overarching goals align with Otto International’s vision. To facilitate this change, Lily has proactively requested mentoring to “support and guide [her] in leading and motivating [her] own team.” This combination of training and mentorship will enhance Lily’s leadership capabilities as well as ensure that her global team thrives under her guidance.

Patrick and Lily epitomise the ethos of Life@Oi, representing our global workforce and values. Their inquisitive spirit pushed them to embrace new opportunities for growth. They are only some of the people that represent the essence of our organisation, where we foster a culture of innovation and forward-thinking for our employees to excel.

Check out our News page and LinkedIn for more business updates and employee spotlights to learn more about our Life@Oi.

The Oi Empowerment Programme: Supporting our Supply Chain

Hera Lau — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 16:00:00 GMT

“How can we support the people in our supply chain?” – With this question in mind, we initiated our Empowerment Programme in 2021. At the heart of our company, we have four core values, one of which is – “We Care.” This commitment goes beyond implementing social and environmental regulations, we actively strive to support our business partners and the individuals within our supply chain by providing resources to enhance their well-being. As of mid-2024, we are proud to share that approximately 6,500 individuals have participated in 400 empowerment courses facilitated by the Social Compliance Team of our subsidiary, ASTRA.

Our Approach

We established our Empowerment Programme as part of our Corporate Responsibility (CR) Strategy which aims to bolster the well-being of supply chain workers. It was therefore implemented by ASTRA’s Social Compliance Team who possess a deep understanding of factory conditions and needs. The courses and sessions focus on personal development, self-confidence, and independent decision-making, all while promoting self-recognition and appreciation.

Implementation

We launched our pilot projects in 2022 with selected factories across seven countries in Asia and Europe, covering topics like mental wellbeing, workplace social environment, cultural diversity, unconscious bias, and women empowerment. The participants were encouraged to reflect on their role models, learned stress management techniques, and discussed the importance of respectful cooperation. The materials were tailored to fit the cultural contexts and needs of people in our supply chain.

In addition to on-site training, our team introduced remote programmes to foster open discussions, which required sensitivity from the trainers. To reinforce learning, factories received posters summarising key session content and certificates acknowledging their involvement in the programme.

Results and Feedback

Two of the programme’s main challenges were the language barriers and the varying literacy levels of the workers. To overcome them, the ASTRA team shared videos in their local languages and facilitated role-playing activities to boost engagement. In order to collect feedback from all participants, non-literate workers were paired literate peers and the factories’ welfare officers would explain more complex concepts to them. Going forward, the team will also consider adopting digital methods with audio materials as a more effective and inclusive approach.

Despite these challenges, the empowerment programme has resonated with the participants and its success underscores the importance of enhancing the well-being of those who work in our supply chain. In the end, initially reluctant participants also found the topics valuable and enlightening for both their professional and personal lives: They valued the stress-free sessions, which are beyond typical compliance topics and offered fresh perspectives about their personal lives. Many recognised the significance these topics had on their lives for the first time. Through the programme, they’ve learned to discuss them openly and are motivated to make improvements. In turn, the factory management also expressed enthusiasm, leading to a growing demand for additional empowerment courses.

Looking Ahead

Building on the valuable experiences from the past years, the Otto International CR Empowerment Programme will continue to evolve and expand to more factories, further enhancing the value for individuals in our supply chain.

Visit ASTRA’s website or follow the Otto International LinkedIn page and news channel for more business updates.