This is the true test of success in real estate, according to leadership at GuocoLand Group

How would you describe what you do to someone you’re meeting for the first time?

My role at GuocoLand Group involves strategic planning, investment analysis, and making investment decisions to maximise value and returns, specialising in hotel real estate. Overall, I am responsible for more than 500 team members, and each day differs, making this role very dynamic and fulfilling. 

Why is your work essential to the world today?

As urbanisation continues to rise, designing spaces that foster meaningful community interactions and build strong relationships becomes increasingly important. These spaces must also be relevant across generations, inspiring a broad audience and offering lasting value that makes them desirable to own and maintain over time.

Creating environments that serve current and future needs ensures they remain vibrant, engaging, and integral to the community.

What do people most misunderstand about what the work you do aims to achieve?

Many assume it's all about glamour, fancy dining, and a lavish lifestyle. However, the reality is that we work harder than most industries, with certain aspects of the business operating 24/7.

There is an immense amount to keep up with, from understanding both macro and microeconomic trends that can subtly influence the market to manage the constantly evolving hardware and technology, which can be crucial to the success and performance of each property. This makes the work I do at GuocoLand Group both demanding and dynamic, requiring continuous effort and adaptability.

How have changing market conditions and evolving customer expectations influenced your approach to the work you do?

Customers today are more discerning, seeking designs that balance novelty with practicality. This pushes us to be more innovative, ensuring that our products resonate with the market from inception.

For instance, many now prefer calmer interiors incorporating more indoor greenery and creative design elements rather than utilitarian spaces with hard edges and harsh lighting. After the pandemic, some people have grown accustomed to staying at home, so it takes more to entice them to return to the office, visit malls, or dine at hotels.

I speak with people across generations to understand their lifestyle needs, challenges, and aspirations. These conversations offer broader perspectives that enable me to understand better the factors that influence their decision-making.

What would sustainability look like in the industry that you occupy?

It will be well-designed real estate that is green from the conceptualisation stage and built to exacting standards. Users can enjoy them intuitively, and the real estate requires neither complicated maintenance nor hefty capital expenditure. This ensures longevity and minimal waste, thus making it the best form of sustainability.

What would success in the work you do look like?

Success would be having satisfied stakeholders internally and externally — from office and retail tenants to residents, guests, shoppers, diners, and motivated team members. Continued and repeat business is the best endorsement of our work because it shows a long-term relationship, earned trust, and validation that we are doing the right things.

What three things would make your bigger work goals easier to achieve today?

Fortunately, these three factors already exist to a certain degree, and any improvement in them could serve as the rising tide that helps us progress even further.

The first is macroeconomic stability, which we already enjoy and deeply value in this part of the world. It tops my list because it plays a crucial role in the real estate sector and is not easily controlled by any one entity.

Next is geopolitical cooperation. We are fortunate to be part of ASEAN, where regional countries coexist peacefully. I remain hopeful that geopolitical conflicts and tensions in other parts of the world will also decrease.

Lastly, it is essential to continue building a motivated and engaged team. By encouraging them to share their unique perspectives and experiences, we can further enhance the team's energy, culture, and overall effectiveness.