Turning curiosity into a meaningful career at Nexus Circular

Sometimes, a career opportunity starts with someone who knows you best. For I Lik Zau, his introduction to Nexus Circular, one of Cox’s cleantech investments, came through his mother.

She had joined the company while he was in high school and told him about its work converting hard-to-recycle plastics into circular oil that can be reused in manufacturing. 

The work sounded interesting to I Lik, and a few years later, he decided to join the company himself. He started as a sorter, separating dirty plastic from material that could move through the recycling process. Before long, though, he wanted to learn more about how Nexus Circular’s patented technology worked.

That curiosity led to his next opportunity. I Lik began training on the human-machine interface (HMI) that allows employees to monitor the recycling process. Today, he’s an HMI operator and recycling specialist. As Nexus Circular scales its technology and operations, I Lik continues to take on new challenges and broaden his expertise.

“I never go a day without learning,” he said. “Every day is a new thing for me.”

That mindset also comes through in the way I Lik supports his coworkers. About 15 percent of Nexus Circular employees are Burmese, and I Lik often serves as a bridge for colleagues facing language barriers. He translates information from town halls and shift-change meetings, helping ensure his coworkers understand important updates and company information.

His generosity has made him a trusted resource across the facility. Whether someone has a question about operations or needs help navigating something in the front office, I Lik is always ready to lend a hand. 

“Anytime, call me. I’ll be out here helping around,” he said. 

His experience is a reminder that career growth often starts with curiosity and the willingness to try something new. Since joining Nexus Circular, I Lik has taken on greater responsibilities, broadened his expertise and found new ways to contribute as part of a team helping advance the future of plastic recycling. 

“I’m really proud,” he said. “I really appreciate that they gave me a chance.”