1. How do you measure success, what does success mean to you?
Success to me is when you look in the mirror and know you have worked your hardest, done your best with the most effort you can apply in business and life, irrespective of the outcome.
2. How do you keep employees engaged and motivated?
By cultivating an atmosphere of interest in each others work, successes, problems, views, ideas and engaging with staff. Listening is as important as talking when motivating staff and leads to a more cohesive team sprit.
3. What is the best career advice you’ve received, and why?
I worked closely for a time in my career with an advisor to Nelson Mandela. I learned that opportunities in one's career can develop at any time and in unexpected directions. You need to be sensitive to when these arise, as they are most times not directly put in front of you. Don’t be afraid to take a risk and to step outside your comfort zone. Expansion of your horizon can be exhilarating and entertaining.
4. How do you manage work-life balance?
Exercise is key to a work life balance. I chose the easiest sport to do – running. Running is good exercise and one can let your mind recover from the stresses of work. You can travel with very little kit and run, at any time, any place. I travel a lot for business and it is very relaxing taking an early morning or evening run, with many cities having beautiful parks and running trails to explore. Urban running is also enjoyable when the cities are quiet in the early mornings. Ultra marathons allow time to think, ruminate, and see spectacular places, which you carry throughout the working life.
5. Share a book/person that has most influenced your career or life, and why?
With the current atmosphere of racial tension in international news, it was over 30 years ago the book 'Roots' by Alex Haley influenced my career and life. Many lessons and ideas from reading the book are with me to this day. Perseverance, strength of character, never giving up and striving to look and drive forward.
6. When did you join Tricor, and why?
I joined Tricor in 2015 as Managing Director of fund administration Singapore and Hong Kong. My role was to take over managing the Tricor IAG joint venture fund administration business. I was located in Singapore. Tricor offered the most compelling platform to join, with a renowned name in the market place, entrepreneurial spirit, relevant skilled staff which the fund administration business could be built around. We have been successful in attracting funds with assets under administration of over US$14 billion.
