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WLI Champions of Change Launch
On 11 January 2022, the Women’s Leadership Initiative under ULI Singapore launched its Champions of Change Pledge.
WLI Singapore Honestly Speaking with Chong Siak Ching and Ong Choon Fah
25 January 2022
WLI Singapore Honestly Speaking series comprises engaging sessions where ULI invites inspiring women leaders in the real estate industry to share their journey. In this session moderated by Ms Ng Li Ling, Head of Client Care Asia of CBRE, our delegates heard candid thoughts from Ms Ong Choon Fah, Board member of EDMUND TIE and Ms Chong Siak Ching, CEO of National Gallery Singapore. Both remarkable leaders are long term friends and throughout the session, they would both recount anecdotes of their past experiences together as colleagues and friends as they touched on their work, family, and thoughts about the future.
Both ladies shared anecdotes of past experiences as colleagues and friends.
Choon Fah spoke about her journey at EDMUND TIE.
Choon Fah spoke about her journey and challenges during her 26-years stint in EDMUND TIE. Being mentored by the founding chairman of EDMUND TIE, she was taught to treat people with respect and to put in her very best for any given task or stages of life. When the role of CEO of EDMUND TIE was made available to her, she decided to step forward to answer the call of duty. However, being a female leader in a male dominated industry, she had to deal with push back from male subordinates who exhibited displeasure and refusal to “report to woman”. To mediate and enhance the working relationship, she empowered male subordinates with the authority to partake in decision making, and the move proved to be successful in improving subsequent working relationships.
Siak Ching shared the importance of making the most out of any company you work for. While she has encountered instances of having to deal with demanding leaders, these acted as learning opportunities for her to self-reflect. At the end of the day, it was all about hard work and seizing every opportunity. After a long stint in Ascendas, Siak Ching felt it was time for a change and decided to take up the position to head the National Gallery Singapore when the opportunity arose. Bringing along her experience in the commercial world, she got the team to not only focus on creating a vision for the gallery, but also co-create the visitor experience to provide a comprehensive moving experience. Drawing from her career journey, her advice to the room was to “always make yourself ready in the mind for a change”.
As part of the sharing session, both Choon Fah and Siak Ching acknowledged mistakes are aplenty during their career. But mistakes also serve as chances for one to reflect, learn, improve and move on. Siak Ching further adds on that career is not always smooth sailing and there are occasional trying times with the switch of environment and bosses. At times of such encounters, she will look to count her blessings and the many other joys to wash the small setbacks over. Choon Fah agreed and shared that whatever we go through now will be insignificant in hindsight. Hence, she is more appreciative of current working relationships and moments.
When being questioned on how the younger generation should view mis-steps in the career journey, Siak Ching shared as women wear many hats in their life, one ought to be clear of priorities at each phase of life and adjust the career pathway accordingly. The definition of success varies among individuals, and one should benchmark to their personal mapped journey instead of comparing to others. Nonetheless, it is always important to do the best in given tasks and let results speak for themselves. Opportunity presents itself to those who prove they are ready.
Always make yourself ready in the mind for a change, advised Chong Siak Ching, CEO of National Gallery.
Career does not define you. It should not be your identity so that when you step out of your career, you still have a sense of who you are. We often let career define us and overtake our identity, but we forget that career is not forever. Instead, relationship and families are probably what we value most at the end of the day.
Ong Choon Fah
Board Member, EDMUND TIE
Siak Ching also provided some tips on how to engage under-performing colleagues and the younger generation at the workplace. For the former, effort will have to be made to demonstrate that chances have been given to the under-performing individual to improve before taking any extreme actions. While the young of today needs to be inspired as they are not just looking for a career, but also a purpose in the workplace.
Choon Fah, who recently retired, concluded the session with her take on retirement. With no clear retirement plan, she maintains an open mind to adapt and embrace the change. Currently, she is actively taking up courses to pick up new knowledge, and participating in studies and activities. “There is no hard stop to retirement, it is more of re-wirement”, she said, “by not working for a company, you create your own brand”.
This event was hosted by:
