“I believe we are destined for success and can make a meaningful impact in the world.”
Troy is currently the lead of the Sourcing Intelligence Team. He began his journey with Tridge around 2023 and in the short amount of time, he has been the backbone of Tridge’s success in terms of sales in South Korea and even in Global. With a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto and experience in working at a trade and global fintech firm based in the United States. Troy’s career progression at Tridge has been remarkable. Troy is always known for his hard work ethic, dedication, and humbleness
Q. Could you introduce yourself?
▶ I am Troy, from Tridge’s Growth Solutions and Intelligence Department. I have experience working in both trade and investment and at a global fintech firm based in the United States. Currently, I lead the Sourcing Intelligence team at Tridge's headquarters in South Korea, managing a global team of 4-5 members. Our team engages with global buyers, including manufacturers, importers, and distributors, providing comprehensive agri-food intelligence data and tools to optimize their sourcing and procurement processes.
Q. Can you tell us about how you joined Tridge?
▶ After studying, working, and living abroad for an extended period, I was eager to explore professional opportunities in South Korea. While working for a U.S.-based fintech company in their Korean office, I was approached by Tridge’s recruitment team.
After being approached, I conducted research and was impressed by Tridge’s innovative business model, forward-looking vision, and immense growth potential. Tridge’s focus on building a sustainable future for the agri-food industry through data, technology, and trusted business networks stood out, and I believe this vision would drive significant growth for both humanity and the planet.
My Professional background in international trade and tech positioned me to make a meaningful contribution to Tridge’s mission. As the company operates at the intersection of these two fields, I believe that my experience equipped me well for success in helping Tridge achieve its ambitious goals of fostering mutual prosperity and delivering the highest levels of economic satisfaction for all stakeholders involved.
Q. What motivated you to pursue a career in Sales?
▶ At its core, all business roles ultimately converge on sales. Even in a partner position at a global consulting firm, a significant portion of time is dedicated to engaging potential clients and driving sales, while much of the actual consulting is often carried out by the team. While sales is undoubtedly one of the most high-pressure roles within any organization, it is also one of the most rewarding and dynamic. It allows you to develop essential skills such as communication, negotiation, and relationship building. For me personally, the continuous interaction with global clients, the direct impact on business growth, and the excitement of closing deals are what drew me to a career in consultative sales and business development.
Q: What key skills and strengths are essential for success in global sales at Tridge?
▶ To succeed in global sales, it is essential to have a combination of skills, knowledge, a deep understanding of cultures, and actions grounded in the company’s core values.
At Tridge, understanding different cultures is critical for building meaningful relationships with clients, and the ability to communicate in multiple languages makes this process smoother. Since global agri-food markets can change rapidly, adaptability is key. Quick thinking and creative problem-solving are crucial for navigating these changes effectively, while a strong understanding of the agri-food sector helps us better grasp our client's needs and offer tailored solutions.
Furthermore, collaborating with talented teams across the world adds even more value to what we deliver.
In addition to technical skills, embodying Tridge’s core values of care, discipline, and intensity is fundamental to our approach.
For example, earlier this year in February, I faced a challenging situation involving a potential deal. The client was considering withdrawing due to financial difficulties caused by a political conflict, which had disrupted logistics. Determined to close the deal by the end of the month, I stayed late at the office on the last day of February to arrange a meeting with the client.
My goal was to consult with them and emphasize the benefits of partnering with Tridge to minimize their losses. After a focused and thoughtful discussion, I was able to successfully close the deal just hours before the end of the month. This experience demonstrates the discipline and intensity I applied to the situation, leading to a positive outcome for both the client and Tridge.
Q: How have your global experiences at Tridge contributed to your professional growth?
▶I will never forget the excitement of introducing Tridge’s business to the global market for the first time. Many global enterprises were already familiar with Tridge and highly valued the agri-food solutions we offer. They had heard about our business not only from prestigious publications like Forbes, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal but also from their own partners with whom they were already doing business.
There were of course some concerns due to the high entry barriers and the complex nature of the agri-food industry. However, the process went more smoothly than expected, and we were able to create several successful cases. These successes have helped solidify Tridge’s position as a trusted, intelligent partner in the global agri-food sector.
That said, we certainly faced challenges. There was one deal, for example, that had progressed smoothly all the way to the contract stage but was deferred due to the client’s internal restructuring. While it was disappointing, we understood that sales often require accommodating the client’s circumstances, so we put the contract on hold. Nevertheless, we have maintained a strong, positive relationship with the client, and we continue to engage with them.
Looking back, my time at Tridge has been incredibly beneficial for my personal growth. Despite having been with the company for less than a year, I was given the opportunity to lead a team of four to five members on important missions. This role comes with great responsibility, but the support and resources provided by Tridge have significantly contributed to my professional development. The opportunities and resources here have enabled achievements that would have been difficult to realize elsewhere.
Through Tridge’s vision of fostering mutual prosperity, I have had the chance to collaborate with global enterprises and witness their willingness to invest in our capabilities. This experience has not only filled me with pride but also played a key role in shaping a broader global perspective.
Q. While you are based in Korea, your work spans across global markets. How do you manage your responsibilities in such a dynamic environment?
▶ As a Global Account Executive based in Korea, managing diverse time zones and cultural differences is an essential part of my role. Most of my colleagues are exceptionally talented, and in many cases, multilingual, which is critical for efficiently handling our day-to-day tasks, both within the company and with our global partners.
At Tridge’s headquarters and beyond, it's truly inspiring to see such a diverse and skilled group of professionals committed to building connections with enterprises worldwide. Their dedication to going the extra mile fosters seamless collaboration with clients and teams across the globe, motivating me to maintain the high level of intensity required to excel in my role, regardless of time zone, language, or region. Tridge currently operates in over 40 to 50 countries globally, and I focus on the GCC, Southeast Asian, and Indian markets. I collaborate daily with team members from the UAE, Singapore, Indonesia, India, and other regions.
Q: How do you collaborate with HQ and other global teams?
▶ At Tridge, effective collaboration between the headquarters and the global teams is key to our global success. We leverage various internal and external tools to ensure smooth communication. This definitely helps us to stay aligned on goals and share updates efficiently. I often participate in cross-functional meetings with various departments where we discuss ongoing projects, share insights, and brainstorm solutions together. This collaborative spirit fosters a sense of unity regardless of the department and the geographical differences that we have.
Additionally, We place great emphasis on open communication, encouraging team members to freely share feedback and ideas. Our teams are composed of passionate individuals, regardless of department or location, all of whom are deeply committed to going the extra mile to achieve success. This shared passion is ingrained in our DNA, and it fuels alignment with the company’s vision. It also drives mutual motivation, as we inspire one another through our actions.
As a result, even when different perspectives arise, we come together to develop new strategies focused on achieving customer satisfaction. This teamwork enables us to respond swiftly to market changes, both here in Korea and across global markets, allowing us to provide the best solutions to our clients.
Q: Any final words you'd like to share?
▶ I love Tridge. For new joiners interested in becoming part of our team, it's important to understand that Tridge is a unique company on a mission to accomplish what has never been done before in the industry. A fun fact that comes to mind is a quote attributed to Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company. When asked about customer input in the development of the Model T, he famously remarked "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses”. Having experienced my time at Tridge, I resonate with Mr. Ford’s perspective.
For instance, when Bloomberg was first introduced, many criticized it as overly complex and costly to implement. Fast forward to today, and we see that nearly all financial institutions leverage Bloomberg to their advantage. Similarly, when Tesla launched its electric vehicles, there was significant skepticism regarding their viability, range, and performance compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars. Today, Tesla is valued at over USD 700 billion.
This illustrates that whenever new and original ideas emerge, there are often pushbacks to overcome—a natural and necessary part of the process. If given the chance to work at Bloomberg in the 1980s and make an impact, who wouldn’t seize that opportunity?
If we had the opportunity to join Tesla or invest in them 15 years ago, would we not have taken that chance?
Returning to Tridge, I firmly believe that we are destined for success and can make a meaningful impact in the world. The question now is: what actions do we need to take in this moment to ensure that we realize this potential? I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Tridge and to help uncover the next chapter of our journey.
