A prominent business leader should be adaptable to the changing business environment. He should be emotionally intelligent, innovative, open to new ideas, willing to take risks, and possess effective communication skills.
Jason Lau, CEO of Fence Empire LLC, is one such leader who has left an impact on the fencing industry with his sustainable and ethical leadership. With his expertise and understanding of fencing and woodwork, he aims to drive the company toward continued success and growth while maintaining the commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
Inspirational Family Generation Business
Jason Lau comes from a southern Chinese family that has run a sawmill for three generations. The family’s factory expanded after creating basic furniture. After graduating, he joined a state-owned export and import company in China that specialized in lumber. He started a wood export enterprise in 2009. Large orders, particularly from Home Depot, pushed the enterprise to concentrate on fence pickets—leading to its rise as the fence industry leader.
While working, the challenges faced by the clients because of time zone differences inspired Jason to start Fence Empire LLC. While the aim was to provide exceptional, timely service, it became apparent that the company needed a more flexible and responsive approach.
Changing the Fencing Industry
Founded in 2017, Fence Empire LLC dedicates itself to overcoming time zone barriers and ensuring its clients receive the best possible service, regardless of location. Its primary focus is providing high-quality Japanese Cedar fences, leveraging its three generations of expertise in the industry. It offers a range of products, including residential, commercial, and industrial wood fences. The company also invests in ornamental metal and aluminum fences. It supplies high-quality iron and aluminum fence panels and railing in the market. It has a good reputation and is associated with eight famous brands: JapCedar, Americraft, ProRail, Feshield, FeDeck, AmeriTimber, AmeriGuard, and AmeriRail.
Fence Empire directly sources raw materials from Japan and handles its own saw-milling, processing, packaging, and sales—creating a complete and self-sustained ecosystem. With an experience of over three decades in the wood industry, it has developed mature production techniques. Its direct procurement of raw materials, combined with scientific management, allows it to minimize production costs to the greatest extent. By selling directly to the United States and providing after-sales service without time zone differences, it achieves the most competitive prices and high-quality service.
Leading the Company to Success
Eight years as the CEO of Fence Empire, Jason has led the company toward immense growth and success. Below are the responsibilities he overtook to maintain the Fence Empire’s long-standing success.
- Developing and implementing the Fence Empire’s strategic visions and goals and ensuring that its directions align with its mission and values.
- Overseeing day-to-day operations to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in all business activities. This includes production, procurement, sales, and customer service.
- Managing the company’s financial health, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning. Ensuring profitability and sustainable growth.
- Ensuring a seamless supply chain, from sourcing raw materials directly from Japan to managing its saw-milling, processing, packaging, and sales.
- Maintaining high standards of product quality and service, overseeing quality control processes, and addressing any issues promptly.
- Leading and motivating the team. Ensuring that employees are engaged, productive, and aligned with the company’s goals. Providing opportunities for professional development and growth.
- Ensuring excellent customer service and satisfaction. Addressing customer needs and concerns promptly and effectively, providing after-sales support without time zone barriers.
- Identifying and pursuing new business opportunities. Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, partners, and customers.
- Ensuring the company complies with all relevant laws and regulations, both domestic and international.
- Continuously seeking ways to improve the company’s products, processes, and services. Staying abreast of industry trends and advancements to keep the company competitive.
The Role of Modern Business Leaders
Jason believes that over the years, business leadership has evolved significantly. Technological advancements have made it essential for leaders to be tech-savvy, understanding, and leveraging new tools and platforms to stay competitive. Globalization has broadened the scope of business operations, requiring leaders to be culturally aware and adaptable to different markets. The workforce demographics have also shifted, with millennials and Gen Z bringing new expectations for flexibility, inclusivity, and a more collaborative work environment.
Today more than ever, there is a greater emphasis on sustainability and ethical leadership, with leaders expected to prioritize corporate social responsibility. Moreover, the rise of remote work has further changed the landscape—necessitating effective management of virtual teams.
Strategies to Overcome Failures
Handling failures and setbacks is an integral part of a business leader’s journey. Jason approaches these setbacks by viewing them as opportunities to learn and grow. Being resilient is important. He analyzes and understands the root cause of the failures and extracts valuable lessons from those experiences. This process helps in making informed decisions moving forward. It’s also crucial to keep the team motivated and aligned with the company’s goals, especially during challenging times.
However, Jason also recognizes that sometimes setbacks require a shift in approach or new solutions to overcome obstacles. He does this by being flexible and willing to adapt strategies as needed. He also engages with mentors, peers, and the team for feedback and support. He believes that collaboration often brings new perspectives and innovative solutions.
Important Leadership Lessons
Throughout his career, Jason has learned some valuable leadership lessons. The major lesson is that having clear, transparent, and frequent communication with the team, suppliers, and customers builds trust and ensures everyone is on the same page. Leading by example is also important. He demonstrates the values and work ethics he expects from others. This fosters respect and encourages the team to emulate these behaviors.
By trusting his team and empowering them to make decisions, he fosters innovation and accountability while boosting the morale of his employees. Moreover, he highlights the importance of continuous improvement and having a customer-centric approach as key factors to staying ahead in the industry.
Work-life Balance
Jason believes achieving a perfect work-life balance is crucial for personal well-being and professional success. He allocates specific times for work and personal activities and ensures that he adheres to this schedule as much as possible. He trusts his team and delegates tasks effectively. This empowers his employees and frees up his time to focus on high-priority areas and personal life. To strike a balance, Jason establishes clear boundaries between work and personal life. Understanding the importance of regular breaks, he takes short breaks between work and goes on vacations to recharge.
“Spending quality time with family and making time for self-care is essential for maintaining an overall balance and he makes sure to implement it in his life.”
Advice for Young Business Leaders
For aspiring young business leaders who want to attain success in their respective industries, Jason has the following advice:
- Embrace continuous learning and focus on value creation
- Build strong relationships
- Be resilient and stay persistent
- Lead with integrity, and focus on team building
- Take calculated risks and embrace innovation
- Maintain a healthy work-life balance
