What is your one trait which you think has led to your career success?
To be successful in a large and geographically dispersed organisation such as ours, it is important to stay flexible, be open to opportunities and be willing to make bold decisions. I started as an apprentice with Johnson Controls in the United Kingdom. Over the past 21 years, I have had the privilege of visiting 38 countries, and taking on many different roles and responsibilities. By being flexible and seizing opportunities, I have gained much experience and a larger perspective of the company and industry. This has helped me progress in my career.

Continue reading → MDIS – View from the Top – Johnson Controls

Could you share more about the Fair Consideration Framework that you had lobbied for?

Since August 2011, I have been lobbying for labour market testing (LMT) to ensure that Singaporeans are given due consideration before employers recruit foreign Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs). This was in response to PMEs’ feeback on the excessive numbers of foreign PMEs and hiring malpractices. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) responded by implementing the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) which will be implemented on 1 August 2014. I believe that this form of LMT would translate to greater transparency and more opportunities for local PMEs, and grow the Singaporean Core. To facilitate FCF implementation, MOM established the National Jobs Bank (NJB), which I had also pushed for. This will ensure that foreign manpower will complement rather than undercut the skills of the local PME workforce.

Continue reading → In Conversation with Patrick Tay – MP for Nee Soon GRC (Nee Soon East)

What is the one thing you look out for in an interview candidate?
I focus on the soft skills of the candidate as it impacts how well he or she will carry out the job successfully. The technical aspects of a job can be learned in time but soft skills are not always trainable. It’s more important whether the candidate is aligned to the values of the organisation and whether he or she will go the extra mile.

Continue reading → A View from the Top – Wildlife Reserves Singapore

What are some of your personal traits which you think have led to your business success?
Honesty, integrity and doing what I say I’ll do. I think these traits have helped me build trust and relationships with colleagues and business associates which I believe is the foundation for business success. Listening and being open to new ideas are also important as it takes a team to build a business. No one can be an expert in everything. Consulting and trusting my team‘s expertise and recommendations have helped me make many well-informed decisions. Challenging myself to always try something new, to keep up with changes and learn new things are also important factors in my success.

Continue reading → A View from the Top – Philips Electronics