Lily Lin joined the Vanguard team in Shanghai 6 years ago. Lily has a keen eye for detail, and her background and legal education serve Vanguard very well.  We would say that Lily is like the very necessary glue that keeps all the moving parts of an overwhelming amount of documentation working whether those are orders shipping from China to our global clients, or orders coming into China.  She is a master of them all.  Perhaps being the mother of a 5-year-old has also provided great training for the always changing fresh produce industry!  

Let’s get to know Lily a little more!   

VG – Has Shanghai always been home, or did you re-locate for work?  

Lily:  Shanghai is my hometown. I grow up here as a local person. 

VG – Have you always been destined for fresh produce?  How did your career begin? 

Lily:  No. My career began in a Chinese trading company, but not for fresh produce.  It a Chemical and Plastic raw materials company. I oversaw documentation like contracts and the L/C review process.  The job involved dealing with different people such as overseas suppliers, banks, customers, and warehouse personnel.  My work now is similar.  

VG – We are well into managing in a global pandemic – what have been the greatest challenges?  Any positive outcomes of a change in SOP?  

Lily:  Yes. It is quite a great challenge for all of us.  It is unavoidable that our work plans have been affected, but our service levels have not!    Especially when you have to work from home.  But there are always more ways than difficulties.  Our operations and business are running well till now.  

VG – Whose day to you impact on a regular basis. Who hears from you the most?   

Lily:  The Vanguard China Office is a great group work team.  We perform different duties, but we can easily communicate with each other to directly exchange views and opinions.  Of course I hear from my China manager Timothy Li and my colleague Kris Zhang the most. We are a team, and everyone is direct with each other with constant communication.  

VG – What has been a memorable moment of your time with Vanguard?  

Lily: I have spent a lot of happy moments with Vanguard.  I receive lots of warm words from my colleagues all over the world for every big day such as birthday and anniversary.  Vanguard Team members have the tradition to share the big events during life. I love those pictures we share.  

VG – What does your free time look like! Spending time with family, friends?  

Lily: I am still a new mom with a 5-year-old daughter.  We are very close; I spend a lot of time with her and my family.   

VG – Do you have a favorite produce item? If yes how do you prefer to eat it (Snack? Signature Recipe?)  

Lily:  My favorite fruit are juicy oranges.  It is a great supplement for vitamin-C to keep us healthy. USA California Sunkist is my first choice followed closely by the spectacular citrus we get from South Africa, Egypt, and other origins.