Tropicana Jul-Aug 2018 #119 Hot Stuff
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Tropicana Jul-Aug 2018 #119 Hot Stuff

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DOMINIK FRUTH When Dominik Fruth made his way to his new home in Southeast Asia as a teen, little did he expect a major turnaround in his life, one that till today, has led to his resounding success as General Director of Häfele Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia. Häfele offers inspirational kitchen solutions for the family, couple and single person, encompassing a wide range of products for storage, cleaning, preparation and cooking in the kitchen as well as ideas for the living area and dream wardrobe. “ My parents, who were teachers, decided to come to Asia for a holiday,” he says. “ They loved it and decided that they’d live here some day. So, when the German School in Singapore was looking for teachers, they applied and got the jobs.” But Dominik never envisioned himself as being part of their plan to uproot their lives in Germany and head to Singapore. “ I wished my parents ‘good luck’ and was told that I would be joining them!” At 17, this was a big move for Dominik, who had a firm circle of friends and an active social life; so it came as no surprise that he was reluctant. His older sister, who had just joined the Police Force, wasn’t expected to join the Fruth family on their Asian adventure. The prospect of moving far away from the life he was accustomed to was daunting at first. “ I had two sets of friends with differing opinions,” he divulges. “ I had friends who said ‘Your parents can’t do this! You are old enough and you don’t have to go.’ Then there was the other set of friends who said ‘What an opportunity! I wish I was in your place!’” He adds, “ In hindsight, it did turn out to be a great opportunity.” BUILDING A FUTURE Being in a new country allowed the young Dominik to forge a sense of independence. “ Back in Germany I could start earning additional pocket money by delivering papers or working at the checkout counter in the supermarket from as young as 11 years old. But in Singapore that was not allowed, and I needed the extra money. So, when apprenticeships were offered by German companies in Singapore, I decided to check them out.” Mind you, this wasn’t his first choice of a lifelong career. “ I always wanted to be an air steward as a friend’s uncle was one with Virgin Airlines. I thought it would be cool to travel the world whilst you work.” A career in the airlines was soon scrapped when he realised it wasn’t all it was cut out to be. Following in his parents’ footsteps as educators was also not on the cards. “ I never really like school,” he laughs. “I wasn’t bad at it, but I just didn’t like the pressure. I could remember stuff easily, but could forget them just as easily too. Hence, a career in academics was just not for me.” So when the opportunity to join an apprenticeship presented itself, Dominik was game for a change. For Häfele, it was the first “When the opportunity to join an apprenticeship presented itself, Dominik was game for a change. For HAäfele, it was the first time they participated in the apprenticeship.” time they participated in the apprenticeship programme. Though a German company, Dominik had not heard about the company before. “At the interview, I was asked if I knew about Häfele,” he recalls. “ I said I didn’t. The interviewer whipped out these big catalogues to show me, and that was when I realised how big a company Häfele was. I bought into the idea of working with this company.” After a year of apprenticeship, there was a change in management and Dominik was offered the post of General Manager. “ I was more mature than most of the others in the apprenticeship programme as I had a head start in Germany, and I was older than most in my class. I would go into class on a Monday and get all the study instructions for the week from the teachers and head on to work. I was travelling to Australia and New Zealand for training.” Coping with his studies came easily even though his time was divided between that and work. “ I loved the work so much and coupled with having to get the grades in, I ensured that I put in some time into studying. Maturity and work experience as well as a super supportive school helped with my studies too.” There was a time when Dominik had to go to Australia for four months and he was reluctant to tell the school. “ When I told them I needed the time off, I thought it was going to go downhill from there. But they gave me their blessings and lent support all the way!” Dominik recalls the first week he started his apprenticeship, when the shipping manager went on maternity leave and his boss asked him to take over the shipping department. Though he didn’t know how it worked, he stepped up to the challenge. “ When I came back to school, everyone was comparing notes on their apprenticeship,” he recalls. “ Some were filing documents and some had nothing much to do and were just hanging around. I said ‘I took over the shipping department!’ much to everyone’s amazement. I was thankful for the opportunities that Hafele presented though I was inexperienced, it has enabled me to learn.” TM | JULY/AUGUST 2018 24

DOMINIK FRUTH Pants from HACKETT LONDON 25 JULY/AUGUST 2018 | TM

DOMINIK FRUTH<br />

Pants from<br />

HACKETT<br />

LONDON<br />

25 JULY/AUGUST <strong>2018</strong> | TM

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