How different are you, in terms of personality and leadership style to other peers in your industry?
I would humbly consider myself to be a contrarian, adventurer and more innovative. I have a habit of always wanting to do things differently than others.
What kind of a leader are you?
My style of leadership is deeply impacted by my education in the University of San Francisco. USF is a Jesuit University that preaches Servant Leadership. I’m not used to the hierarchical top-down approach, but am more inclined toward a flat collaborative approach. With that said, decision making is usually not conducted by me alone, but collectively agreed upon by all major stakeholders. Effort is not put in in order to accumulate more power, but to empower others and relentlessly collaborate to find the best way for the company.
How do you tackle human resource issues?
Are you hands on, or do you delegate?
Never delegate human resource issues. The HR department, along with Finance, to me, are the two most important departments in any organisation. Corporate cultures are heavily influenced by human resource policies. Hence, I believe a good HR department will have a higher chance of cultivating good leadership.
Apart from doing well financially, what factors are important for a person to be considered ‘successful’?
To me, being successful means bringing positive impact to the community, society, and the world in general.