In the dynamic world of commerce, few stories are as compelling as Dovie's journey at Coupang Taiwan. Joining the company at a critical moment in our expansion, Dovie brought over 30 years of diverse industry experience to a rapidly evolving landscape. We sat down with Dovie to explore how Dovie has navigated the challenges and opportunities of Coupang's growth in Taiwan, driving EHS (Environment, health and safety) success through leadership, innovation, and a commitment to excellence.
Hi Dovie, Could you tell us a bit about yourself? What initially attracted you to Coupang, and how has your role evolved since you joined?
Hi, I am Dovie, Sr. Director, - Head of EHS & Facilities. Joining Coupang at a pivotal moment in our expansion into Taiwan was an opportunity that combined the dynamic environment of a startup with the resources of a well-established company. Startups are always full of exciting challenges. Bringing a global perspective to Taiwan business added another layer of professional growth. With over 30 years of experience across aviation, mining and metals, power generation, discrete manufacturing, and commerce, I saw an opportunity to apply my expertise in a rapidly evolving landscape. Since joining, the pace of organizational growth has exceeded expectations, allowing me to play a key role in developing policies, shaping strategies, and selecting and mentoring top talent to support Coupang’s continued expansion.
Coupang has grown rapidly in Taiwan. What challenges have you faced in keeping up with this scale, and how have you led your team to success?
Coupang's rapid growth in Taiwan has presented both exciting opportunities and unforeseen challenges. Scaling at this pace has underscored the importance of developing strong talent and leveraging expertise across the organization. By tapping into resources in both Taiwan and Korea, I have been able to drive solutions, remove barriers, and ensure we stay ahead of emerging challenges.
Can you share a key initiative you led at Coupang that you are particularly proud of?
One of the initiatives I am particularly proud of is the leadership development within our team. Leaders like Sophie Liu have been instrumental in launching impactful Health & Well-Being Programs, including Breast Cancer Awareness and the 2024 Walking Challenge. Additionally, the opening of our first Coupang Care Center at our second Taipei office recently has been a significant milestone. Leaders like Barry Huang, CP Hong, Johnson Ko, Owen Lee, Dante Kim and many more have instituted programs and practices that drive EHS, Fire Safety, Design & Launch and facility maintenance excellence. Whether it’s operational improvements or launching new operations that elevate the customer experience or internal initiatives that enhance our workplace, Coupang Cares — and I’ve had the privilege of playing a leadership role amongst a very strong team of professionals in making that vision a reality.
What sets Coupang’s approach to EHS apart from others?
Coupang differentiates itself in EHS through its commitment to excellence in execution. It is supported by a diverse range of specialized expertise. Our EHS structure includes dedicated roles in Strategy & Planning, Health & Well-Being, EHS Operations, Process Safety, and ESG & Sustainability. Safety is embedded across multiple teams, including Product Safety, Food Safety, Facility Maintenance, Construction, Design and Launch teams, ensuring a holistic and integrated safety strategy supports our Operations teams. This approach is further strengthened by cross-functional support from Business Analysts, Legal Counsel, and other key departments, all aligned with Coupang's Leadership Principles, which provide a shared vision and a broad perspective that unites all teams in prioritizing safety and operational excellence.
How do you build and motivate high-performing teams in a fast-paced and dynamic environment like Coupang Taiwan?
Building high-performing teams at Coupang Taiwan starts with hiring talent that thrives in dynamic environments and aligns with our Leadership Principles. Clear goals, empowerment, and continuous development are key. Providing autonomy while ensuring alignment helps teams take initiative and drive impact, and recognizing wins is a great way to keep engagement high. Fostering collaboration and resilience is essential, especially in a fast-growing organization like Coupang Taiwan. Prioritizing open communication, removing barriers, and creating growth opportunities are excellent strategies to inspire teams to excel.
What advice would you give to potential candidates looking to grow as leaders?
For candidates aspiring to leadership roles at Coupang Taiwan, my advice is to focus on three key areas:
Achieve results through others: Strong leaders don’t just execute. They empower their teams. Develop the ability to coach, delegate, and drive accountability while fostering collaboration.
Be entrepreneurial: Coupang thrives on innovation and agility. Take ownership, seek opportunities to solve problems, and adapt quickly to change. Leaders here are proactive and push boundaries.
Embrace our Leadership Principles: These principles define how we operate. Whether it’s wowing the customer, delivering results with grit, or hiring and developing the best, aligning with them will accelerate your growth.
By mastering these areas, you'll not only succeed in EHS but also become a strong leader driving impact in Coupang Taiwan's fast-paced environment.
Dovie's journey at Coupang Taiwan is a testament to the power of leadership and vision in navigating the complexities of rapid expansion. Through strategic initiatives, talent development, and a focus on environmental, health, and safety excellence, Dovie plays a pivotal role in building Coupang's success in Taiwan.
At Coupang Taiwan, we are on an exciting journey of growth and excellence, and we invite you to join us. By joining Coupang, you'll have the opportunity to drive impactful initiatives and grow alongside a team of dedicated professionals. Embrace the challenges, seize the opportunities, and contribute to delivering excellence for our customers.
Employee stories |
In this third article, we sat down with Keynes, Recruiting Director at Coupang, who leads a recruiting team with a deep understanding of the business. We explored his growth, Coupang's distinctive recruiting organization, and its culture.
Employee stories |
We introduce Daniel, who has been with Coupang for over 11 years. During his time, Daniel played a crucial role in launching key services including Rocket Delivery and Rocket Fresh. Today, Daniel leads the marketing engineering area, continuing to build the future of commerce at Coupang.
Employee stories |
At Coupang, our employees have the opportunity to expand on the work they are passionate about and achieve the career growth they desire. We sat down with Angela, a Retail Director, to talk about how she plays a crucial role in ensuring that customers always have access to essential processed food.