Christina Lu-Maxwell

After Christina graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and History at the National University of Singapore (NUS), she thought about becoming a teacher. However, she realized she might not have the patience for it. So, instead, she chose to join the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in Singapore through their non-uniform scheme for fresh graduates.

Christina started working in the Operations department of the Singapore Navy as a Manpower Officer with the rank of Lieutenant. Even though she didn't know her job well at first, she went in with an open mind and confidence. She had three sergeants, a chief clerk, and seven clerks reporting to her. On her first day, colleagues warned her that the two graduates before her didn't last more than a year on the job. Despite the warning, Christina embraced the challenge. Within six months, she became friends with the chief clerk, creating a positive atmosphere in the office.

In MINDEF, Christina discovered her passion for HR. She decided to pursue this career and she took up a part-time graduate diploma in HR. She left MINDEF after 2.5 years to join POSB IT Services, the IT department of a Singaporean bank. The company has 100 employees who are mostly computer programmers. At just 24 years old, Christina set up the HR department from scratch.

After 2.5 years with POSB IT Services, she was headhunted to join OUB, a Singaporean bank. The bank was going through a transformation and Christina was involved in the Customer Service Transformation project. Her responsibility as an HR personnel includes reviewing job descriptions for the entire branch network. She had the opportunity to work with Anderson Consulting and it was a great learning experience for her. Christina worked in OUB for 7 years. 

Next, she took on a role as the Regional HR Manager with Commerzbank, a German bank. Unhappy with the culture there, she found herself with another exciting opportunity at Robert Bosch, another German company. In this role, Christina played a pivotal role in redesigning the entire HR department, engaging in M&A activities, and doing projects in Germany and India.

In the early 2000s, Dave Ulrich, a professor and HR guru, promoted the transformation of HR. Christina had the opportunity to implement the HR business partnering and Centers of Excellence (COE) model in Robert Bosch. After 6 years in the company, her CEO retired. At the same time, Volvo Group approached her to take a VP HR role. She felt that it was a good time for her to make a move. 

Christina led transformation at Volvo Construction Equipment. The company was growing rapidly in China and India. Her mission was to restructure the team and establish HR shared services. She developed her business partnering skills deeply in the first six years. She set up the entire team in China, resulting in high sales growth. She also supported the turnaround of the Indian business. She visited all the local dealers in India, conducted HR audits, and recommended improvement solutions. After 6.5 years, she transitioned to another VP HR role for Volvo Financial Services, expanding the business in Japan, China, and India.

Christina seized a significant opportunity when Volvo established a new global business unit for three brands in Japan, China, and India. She was appointed as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Communications for the trucks division worldwide. After successfully overseeing a transformative three-year period with positive outcomes, Christina made the decision to depart after dedicating 11 years to Volvo.

Despite not having another job lined up, she was later headhunted to join Neste, a Finnish renewable energy company, to serve as the HR Head for Asia-Pacific (APAC). In her new role, she played a pivotal role in orchestrating organizational transformation, integrating diverse cultures, and rapidly expanding the workforce for the extended refinery. Furthermore, she successfully expanded the commercial organization's presence in the APAC region.

When Christina was changing roles from Volvo, she had other global HR roles available to her. She chose a regional role with less travel to prioritize time for her to contribute to the community. Reflecting on her HR career, Christina emphasizes the importance of having an open mind, self-confidence, and sticking to her values. 

In the next ten years, she aims to continue her contribution to society through corporate HR work and charity. Active as a volunteer and Board Member with Habitat for Humanity International, Christina is seen as an inspiration for future leaders to prioritize what is right for their companies and society.