In The Know Singapore
November 2010
The ‘New’ Colliers International
Message from the Managing Director
Y
provide excellent service, we want to be known as the expert in the industry, we want to have fun and enjoy what we do, and we want to give back to the community we live, work and play in.
Colliers International is the leader in global real estate services, defined by our spirit of enterprise. Through a culture of service excellence, and a shared sense of initiative, we have integrated the resources of real estate specialists worldwide to accelerate the success of our partners.
The year has been a great one for the Singapore office. This is due to the relentless effort and hard work of everyone in this office. As we approach 2011, let us make special efforts to have Fun as we work, look after our Community, be an Expert in our work, and to provide the very best Service, as well as make memorable interactions with our clients so as to keep them coming back.
ear 2010 is a milestone for Colliers International as we come together globally under one management and one brand. This has allowed us to bring focus and consistency to our offer and to who we are.
Accelerating Success – this is our goal, our one aim. We will achieve success for clients and ourselves through our four corporate values – Service, Expertise, Community and Fun.
Dennis Yeo Managing Director Colliers International Singapore & Industrial Services | Asia
These values form the pillars of Colliers’ position, reflecting the essential character of our relationship with clients, on who we are, as well as what we stand for. We want to
In This Issue 1
19
Knowledge Capital
Colliers Goes Green.............02 Department Updates.............10 Excerpt from the Expert.......17 Inspirational Quote.................19 Brain Teasers..........................19
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Brand Capital
4
Colliers in the Limelight.......04
6
Relationship Capital
Events/Happenings..............05 Lifeblood..................................08
15
Human Capital
Colliers University.................05 Behind The Scene.................15 Up Close and Personal.........16
Knowledge Capital
Colliers Goes Green
Colliers Singapore adopts “paper-less fax”
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n another effort to go green, the Singapore office is now able to send and receive facsimile documents directly from their PCs and laptops.
Not only does this initiative help to save paper, it also removes the hassle of having to print the document and do a manual fax.
Singapore is a Food Paradise… Not.
O
ne of the distinct traits of Singaporeans is our love for food.
With the myriad choice of mouthwatering food easily available around the island, Singapore prides herself as a food paradise. However, you may be appalled to learn that, according to the National Environment Agency, some 600 million kilograms of food was wasted in 2009 alone. To put that into perspective, the amount of wasted food is almost equivalent to 10,000 double-decker buses lining the Pan-Island Expressway, multiplied by three. That is the atrociously-alarming amount of food we throw out in a year. For a tiny island that imports more than 95 per cent of our food, how are we capable of squandering almost one-fifth of it? www.colliers.com
It is estimated that a daily average of 30 per cent of vegetables are discarded at wholesale markets in Singapore. Of the amount that makes it beyond the wholesalers, another 30 per cent gets thrown away at supermarkets.
its food waste by 2012. But as of 2009, the rate stood at only about nine per cent. Some organizations are already making it their corporate social responsibility to put food waste into good use.
Adding to the list are food wastage from wedding banquets, buffets at restaurants or mass food functions, among others.
For instance, Parkway Parade is just one of the few malls in Singapore who separates food waste properly and sends it for recycling.
Singaporeans need to be made aware of how leftover or expired foods at restaurants and food outlets, and supermarkets are being treated.
The food waste, which totals about 100 tonnes daily, is turned into electricity which can power more than 3,000 fourroom HDB flats.
Because we do not see how such food – which is treated as trash – is being disposed of, we care less about the abundance of leftover food at functions.
That is quite an astonishing energy feat for recycled food waste, isn’t it?
Consequently, we are not aware of the impact of food waste generated every day, and in turn, do not see the urgent need to reduce or recycle. Singapore aims to recycle 30 per cent of
So, perhaps, it is high time for us to diligently find ways to either reduce food wastage in our homes and at our events, or make a conscious effort to segregate our food waste from the rest of the trash. Source: •“Recycling Food in Singapore” by Ah Meng, 4 January 2009 •“Food Wastage: Who’s to Blame?” on XinMSN, 3 August 2010 •“Dirty secrets of a food paradise” by Estelle Low & Miak Aw on http://foodwasterepublic.com
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Knowledge Capital
Colliers Goes Green Save or waste waste? Let us hear from some of our colleagues on their daily “food” habits and their views on food segregation and recycling! “Save
. At home, it is a habit for everyone in the family to finish every dish on the table. If there are any leftovers, we will keep it for next day. Cynthia Ng Food wastage would be more Deputy Managing Director apparent when people dine outside where the food portion is determined by the cook/chef; and if you can’t finish what he puts on your plate, you can’t. I am open to any viable suggestions when it comes to reducing and recycling. However, I think it is going to take some time for people to take the initiative in such activities. Recycling takes time and effort; so if food segregation and recycling were to be implemented, we might have to consider other options such as national education.”
“Save
. I think when it comes to food, it is a common habit for most Chinese – inculcated since young by our mothers – to try to finish every bit of food on your plate. We are taught not to be wasteful and the same applies to food. But as the society progresses and people become more affluent, the value of food staples seems to slowly diminish, and this is a pity. Hence, I think that it is going to be an uphill task to introduce and implement food segregation and recycling in Singapore households. But it is definitely worth a try to explain the rationale to people.”
Desmond Lim Assistant Manager, Industrial Services
“Save
. While my family has leftover dishes from almost every dinner, we do not just throw them away. The leftovers are kept and consumed the next day by the adults. In this way, no food is wasted. While I am not aware of food waste segregation and recycling in Singapore, I am keen to find out more! It would be interesting to learn how food waste can be recycled and do our part to help make the world a greener place for our next generation to live in!”
Peggy Tan Senior Manager, Investment Services www.colliers.com
“Save
. My mum is very strict about food wastage. Since young, my siblings and I need to finish everything on our plates; otherwise, we would be punished. So it has become a habit now to only take what I can finish. But I have to share that for my family, the irony comes during the Chinese New Year period when there would be plenty of leftover food. This is due to the Chinese belief that we have to leave some food to cross over to the New Year to be prosperous. While I whole-heartedly support the idea of food segregation and recycling, I have to admit that it would still take some effort for everyone to learn from the Koreans who have already practised waste segregation and recycling for some time. But I guess it is the inertia that we have to overcome. Once people start to see and enjoy the benefits of such an exercise, I am sure more people will make the effort.”
Sebastian Sim Director, Operations
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Brand Capital
Colliers In The Limelight
The Publicity Race (3Q 2010)
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olliers International ranked third in the third quarter of 2010.
We would like thank all Colliers’ newsmakers for their efforts in helping to maintain our position as one of the top three consultancies in Singapore, whose views and opinions are frequently sought after by the media.
177
180 160 140
133
129 116
120 100
86
80
65
60
Results are compiled based on the number of times Colliers and our competitors are mentioned in the media* from July to September this year.
63
57
40 20 0
* Media tracked included mainstream papers such as The Business Times, The Straits Times, 联合早报, The Edge, freesheets including TODAY and My Paper, broadcast media, as well as trade media and wire agencies.
Colliers
CB Richard
Chesterton
Cushman &
International
Ellis
International
Wakefield
DTZ
Jones Lang
Knig ht
LaSalle
Frank
Savills
Top Three Newsmakers Second: Grace Ng (Auction & Sales)
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Third: Tan Boon Leong (Industrial Services)
First: Ho Eng Joo (Investment Services)
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Human Capital
Colliers University
CU Brentwood Training (Interview with Loh Lee Fen)
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n 28 July, some 22 Colliers staff from 11 offices gathered together at Brentwood College School in Canada for a four-day Colliers University Expedition. The expedition provides all participants with: • Intensive learning sessions which focus on helping participants to win more pitches and deliver exceptional client experiences • Recreational activities which reinforce and promote Colliers International’s core values • An opportunity to meet other colleagues and senior executives from all regions Loh Lee Fen of Industrial Services | Asia, shared with us her experience at the Expedition. What is it about the training that you liked and what have you learnt from the event? “The expedition was an amazing experience, both from the learning and fun aspects. Specifically on the learning part, the session brings clarity to the processes and activities that are happening in Colliers International around the globe. More importantly, it provides Colliers’ context and precision to words including “service excellence” and “client engagement”, which were previously – to me – just one of those cliché phrases that companies tell their employees.” Which session did you find the most beneficial to you? “‘Bridging the Gap’ by Gerald Clerx. The session taught us how to effectively bridge the gap between my prospect, and the current and desired reality.” In general, what have you learnt and
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taken away from the camp? “The Expedition gives a clear picture on some of the major initiatives that are underway – demonstrating succinctly who Colliers International is, where we stand in the market today and where we target ourselves to be. The knowledge taken away from the sessions definitely broadened my perspective in both my professional and personal life.” We understand that you were top in the presentation competition and even had your own peers voting for your win. Can you share with us your thoughts on your win? “I feel that the presentations by the other four teams were equally good but my team probably won because ‘less is more’. Every team has three members while my team has only two, as our third member
could not make it to the session at the last minute. With a leaner team, my partner, Duke Suwyn from the Grand Rapids office, and I initially thought that we were at a disadvantage. However, we concluded that it probably worked better for us because: • We were able to reach a consensus on our approach due to our complementing personalities and skills • We kept our presentation simple, concise and precise, since we had less man- and brain-power. This was perhaps what made us stood out from the rest, as it helped the audience understand and digest the information quicker and better.” Is there anything else you would like to add? “I would like to thank Dennis who nominated me for this Expedition and gave me this opportunity of a lifetime.”
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Relationship Capital
Events/Happenings
Colliers Singapore Breakfast Carnival
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September 2010 marks a special day for all Colliers offices in Asia Pacific, as we join our counterparts in US and Europe to adopt the refreshed Colliers brand identity. The Singapore office commemorated the launch date with a carnivalthemed breakfast session at One Altitude – Stellar, located on the 62nd floor of One Raffles Place. Dennis kick started the carnival with a presentation, as well as a video presentation by CEO Doug Frye and Asia CEO, Piers Brunner. Subsequently, while breakfast was being served, the staffs also participated in a “Know Colliers Quiz” session, in which they have to correctly answer questions relating to the new brand to win prizes. Everyone walked away with a show pack, comprising the Colliers International Brand Strategy booklet, a magic cube featuring all the new branding messages and a personalized USB thumb drive. Now, with only one brand, one name, and one promise, Colliers is in a much stronger position to accelerate the success of our clients and ourselves.
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Relationship Capital
Events/Happenings
JTC Industrial Property Exchange 2010
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n 20 August 2010, Colliers Singapore Industrial team was invited by the Jurong Town Corporation to participate in the JTC Industrial Property Exchange 2010.
The event acts as a platform for promoting and exchanging ideas on market, industry and development trends, as well as an avenue for networking opportunities. It was well attended by government representatives, market players and industrialists.
Accelerating Your Success
“A
ccelerating success” – this does not only apply to us accelerating our clients’ success, but also our own success.
Colliers strongly believes in investing in and training its staffs. On 12 November 2010, Mindy Geisser, Vice President of Global Human Resources, visited Singapore office and conducted a two-hour training session to all Head of Departments and key executives on “Manager Excellence – Creating a Culture of Performance”, which aims to accelerate teams’ success. Mindy also had the opportunity to learn and understand the key initiatives specific to our local office’s business.
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Relationship Capital
Lifeblood
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n this issue, we bring the four funds – namely, Cambridge Industrial Trust, Keppel Land K-REIT Asia, Mapletree Logistics Trust and Pacific Star – under the spotlight.
Cambridge Industrial Trust
Relationship Managers: Hugh Menck and Tan Boon Leong Overview Singapore’s first independent industrial REIT, Cambridge Industrial Trust (CIT) was successfully listed on the Singapore Exchange in July 2006. To date, it has an existing portfolio of 43 properties with an aggregate value of S$966.8 million. The portfolio is diversified across a number of industrial sub-sectors comprising logistics, storage and warehousing, manufacturing and showroom facilities. Some of the recent assets added to the portfolio include 22 Chin Bee Drive, Panasonic Building at 2 Jalan Kilang Barat and 1&2 Changi North Street 2, among others.
Overview Listed on the Singapore Exchange since July 2005, Mapletree Logistics Trust (MapletreeLog) is the first Asia-focused logistics REIT in Singapore. It aims to be the real estate partner of choice for logistics and distribution facilities across Asia. MapletreeLog’s portfolio size has since increased to approximately S$3.3 billion, comprising 91 properties in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam as of 30 September 2010.
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Relationship with Colliers Over the years, Colliers has built a strong relationship with MapletreeLog and is constantly on the lookout for suitable logistics/warehouse facilities to propose for their acquisition . The acquisition of AW Centre, a fourstorey warehouse with ancillary office (land area: 86,111 sq ft; gross floor area: 118,403 sq ft) for S$18.3 million, was the most recent transaction concluded by Colliers for the client. Going forward, Colliers will continue to actively source suitable logistics/ warehouse facilities for its acquisition purposes.
Relationship with Colliers Colliers has a long-standing work relationship with CIT, with activities including, but not limited to, the sale and acquisition of assets to maximize the portfolio’s returns, as well as the provision of valuation and research services. Going forward, Colliers will continue to provide our services in valuation and research to the client. Meanwhile, we will explore opportunities in the areas of sale and leaseback, acquisition and disposition.
Mapletree Logistics Trust Relationship Managers: Ng Ee Kiat and Goh Seow Leng
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Relationship Capital
Lifeblood
Keppel Land | K-REIT Asia Relationship Managers: Calvin Yeo and Cynthia Ng Overview Keppel Land is one of the largest-listed property companies by total gross assets on the Singapore Exchange. Its total gross assets amounted to S$6.6 billion as at end-June 2010. A leading prime office developer in Singapore, Keppel Land’s portfolio in Singapore comprises landmark developments - Ocean Financial Centre and Marina Bay Financial Centre. Meanwhile, its residential portfolio comprises iconic waterfront homes at Keppel Bay and Marina Bay. K-REIT Asia is the property fund management arm of Keppel Land and it is a pan-Asian commercial real estate
investment trust set up. The fund was listed on the Singapore Exchange in April 2006. Its current portfolio in Singapore includes Bugis Junction Towers, Keppel Towers, GE Tower, One Raffles Quay (one-third interest) and Prudential Tower Property (approximately 73 per cent of the strata area of the building). In March 2010, K-REIT Asia made its first venture overseas by purchasing a 50 per cent stake in 275 George Street in Brisbane, Australia. With this acquisition, K-REIT Asia’s portfolio size stands at S$2.3 billion.
Relationship with Colliers Colliers Valuation has a strong relationship with the client, providing valuation services to all its properties for its corporate reporting. Properties in the basket include: • Bugis Junction Tower • Equity Plaza • Keppel Tower/GE Tower • Marina Bay Financial Centre (Phase 1) • One Raffles Quay • Prudential Tower Going forward, Colliers will continue to maintain the good work relationship.
Pacific Star Group
Relationship Managers: Dennis Yeo, Ho Eng Joo and Tan Kok Heng Overview Established in 2001 and headquartered in Singapore, the Pacific Star Group is a global investment firm that specializes in optimizing the asset values of prime real estate throughout their entire lifecycle. The Group operates on a dynamic model, which is made up of a suite of real estate investment and financial capabilities – including direct investment, fund management, investment and development, asset management, REIT management and private equity. It has a multi-billion dollar portfolio of landmark prime Grade A office, retail and residential properties spread across Asia. In Singapore, its property portfolio includes Capital Square, Ngee Ann City, TripleOne Somerset and Wisma Atria.
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Relationship with Colliers Colliers International has been providing valuation and advisory work on a project basis for the client. Colliers Research & Advisory has previously conducted a study on the Singapore commercial market for the client. Going forward, Colliers International is looking into establishing a closer and stronger work relationship with Pacific Star in other areas.
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Knowledge Capital
Department Updates
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n conjunction with the refreshed branding launch, Colliers International took the opportunity to also streamline all the differing variation of divisions’ name across all offices worldwide.
With the consistent divisions name, it is now easier for clients to identify with the business lines regardless of which Colliers office they do business with.
Auction & Sales
4 Margoliouth Road Sold a single-storey detached house with an attic (land area: 10,433 sq ft) for S$13.6 million.
53 Sixth Avenue Sold a freehold single-storey detached house with an attic and a pool (land area: approximately: 10,476 sq ft) for S$12 million.
Industrial Services
No 37 Tampines Street 92 Sold a four-storey light industrial building with a basement car park (built-in area: 115,000 sq ft) owned by Cambridge Industrial Trust Management Pte Ltd to BSG No. 4 Pte Ltd for S$11.88 million. The deal was done together with Investment Services | Asia.
Luxasia Building Leased several floors of warehouse and office space (total built-in area: 50,429 sq ft) at Luxasia Building – located at No 13 Tai Seng Drive – for a monthly rent of S$63,036.
Department Incentive Trip to Macau (2-4 July 2010)
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Enterprise Logistics Centre Assisted Applied Biosystems to lease 76,308 sq ft of warehouse space at Enterprise Logistics Centre – located at No 2 Tuas View Place – for a monthly rent of S$82,400.
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Knowledge Capital
Department Updates Investment Services
The Laurels Sold two apartment units (floor areas: 1,313 sq ft and 883 sq ft) at The Laurels located at 40 Cairnhill Road to private investors for S$6.888 million. 10 Lorong Limau Sold a 23,789 sq ft residential development site to Melrose Land Pte Ltd for S$44 million.
Office Services
6 Serangoon North Avenue 5 Assisted Silicon Laboratories to renew its lease (35,142 sq ft) at 6 Serangoon North Avenue 5 (tenant representation). Marina Bay Financial Centre Relocated ICAP Management Services to Marina Bay Financial Centre, occupying an office space of 45,831 sq ft (tenant representation).
Asia Square Tower 1 Relocated Bank Julius Baer & Co to Asia Square Tower 1, occupying an office space of 71,166 sq ft (tenant representation).
Operations
Successful migration to Microsoft Office 2007 Having completed the upgrade to Microsoft Office 2007, Singapore office is now better equipped to efficiently perform various desktop tasks – given the improved user interface and functions.
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Knowledge Capital
Department Updates Project Management Mapletree Business City Assisted Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank to manage its 24,000 sq ft office renovation.
26 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 Won the project management assignment for Tyco International’s 25,478 sq ft facility at 26 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2. The win was secured with Integrated Client Services.
Real Estate Management Services
A
part from managing clients’ property, the team has taken on a new dimension in offering marketing and promotional activities for clients. Some of the activities include: F1 Pit Building Conducted numerous open-house events to market and present the development to corporate event planners as another possible venue to hold various events of different scale. Successful events held at F1 Pit Building include car launches (Ferrari and Audi), fashion bazaars (Club 21), sporting events (JP Morgan Challenge and OCBC Cycling), product launches (Heineken and Biotherm Homme), corporate dinners (Ritz Carlton, Singapore Sports Council and Singapore Swimming Association), among others.
StarHub Green In an effort to create some buzz at Starhub Green, the team has brought in various vendors – including luxury leather goods (Coach, Kate Spade and GUCCI), beauty products (SK-II, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Shiseido, Shu Uemura, Lancome, and Biotherm), branded fragrances (CK, GUCCI, Chanel, Dior, Burberry), healthcare products (Osim and OTO), financial products (CitiBank, UOB credit cards and Lim & Tan Securities), festive products (mooncakes from Raffles Hotel, Fairmont Hotel, Orchard Hotel) and the Red Cross Society Blood Donation Campaign, among others.
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Knowledge Capital
Department Updates
OurPeople-live! OurPeople, an online website featuring the updated profiles of Colliers employees worldwide, is now live. This tool would allow other colleagues and clients/prospects to easily get in touch with us!
Human Resources < (L-R) Francis Ng Assistant Manager (Project Management) Ng Kok Boon Senior Executive (Project Management)
Welcome on board
<
(L-R) Gerald Quek Manager (Industrial Services) Faith Wong Property Executive (Real Estate Management Services)
absent: Heng Wee Khim Senior Executive (Project Management)
Transfer from Colliers Philippines Jill Abolins, Senior Manager (Office Services) Babies on board!
Welcome back Sim Chee Jin, Senior Manager (Investment Services)
â&#x20AC;˘ Cornelius Tang Son of Daphne Sim (Valuation & Advisory Services) Born on 20 August 2010
â&#x20AC;˘ Michael Harold Fricke Son of Alysssa Gibaldi (Integrated Client Services) Born on 3 September 2010 www.colliers.com
< (L-R) Er Hun Yee Executive (Retail Services) Michelle Tee Senior Research Analyst (Research & Advisory) Andy Gan Manager (Investment Services) Josephine Lee Account Analyst ( Integrated Client Services) Joanne Er Administrative Assistant (Project Management)
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Knowledge Capital
Department Updates Research & Advisory Mapletree Industrial Trust Appointed by Mapletree Industrial Trust to undertake an independent review of the Singapore industrial property market for its initial public offering (IPO).
SEB Investment GMbh Appointed by SEB Investment GMbh to undertake a study of the Singapore retail property market for its investment in Chinatown Point.
Shimizu Corporation Appointed by Shimizu Corporation to carry out a study on the Singapore data centre market to assist the company in its evaluation of an investment opportunity in a data centre development in Singapore.
Retail Services New Safra Toa Payoh Appointed the sole marketing agent for the new Safra Toa Payoh located at 293 Toa Payoh Lorong 6. The new development will comprise a four-storey block (gross floor area: approximately 240,000 sq ft; net lettable area: approximately 50,000 sq ft), with 45 per cent of the space dedicated to food and beverage outlets. The expected date of TOP is 2012.
Kudos! Everyone loves a pat on the back from clients who acknowledge our efforts and dedication to our job done well. A big thank you to those of you who went the extra mile to make your clients’ day!
Real Estate Management Services Raymond Chan and the team at The Frontier (52 Ubi Avenue 3) were commended for their service excellence by one of the tenants. “Your efforts made all the difference in catching the suspect, who has been stealing our aluminum samples, within the next 48 hours after we reported the incident to you.”
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International Properties The team was commended by their client, Berkeley Homes (Capital) PLC. “Not only have I thoroughly enjoyed working with you, but I was also overwhelmed by your hospitality. You are an incredibly dedicated and professional team; and even during times when the project met with obstacles, you have all worked together to overcome all challenges. It is fantastic to see you all working as a team and supporting each other.”
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Human Capital
Colliers Behind the Scene
The Human Resources Department
“P
eople are a company’s most valuable asset.” – This is a phrase which is commonly heard but its importance can never be undermined. A company that lacks a strong workforce and relevant expertise, would not be able to perform and deliver results – regardless of how well-planned a business idea is or whether all the systems and structure are in place. Hence, the Human Resources division plays an essential role to ensure that Colliers International attracts the right talents, develops their potential, leverages and compensates their services aligned with the job and organizational requirements. In this issue, let us go behind the scene to see what the duo of the Human Resources division is busy with. Can you briefly describe the specific role of each team member? “In general, Ching Ching is responsible for the HR matters for the professional agencies – comprising Project Management, Real Estate Management Services, Research & Advisory and Valuation & Advisory Services. Meanwhile, I will deal with the HR matters for the remaining divisions. By HR matters, we are referring to key functions including, but not limiting to,
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staffing needs, recruiting and training our people, as well as managing employees’ benefits and compensations.”
as well as entertaining vendors who approach us to promote their HR-related services and products.
What does your team find the most challenging about your job? “The Human Resources division’s objective is to ensure that the company is correctly staffed by the right number of people and they have skill set relevant to the business needs.
Handling these queries could be timeconsuming, and before we know it, it is near the end of a work day.”
This sounds theoretical but it is, in fact, the most challenging part of our job, as the market for skilled talents is getting increasingly competitive and expensive. Ultimately, it is to be able to find a balance and match the right talent to the right job with the right benefits and compensation scheme which brings us to another challenge - staff retention. Colliers values its people and we place great emphasis on retaining the good staff.” How does a typical day start and end for your team? “The first thing we do every morning is to reply to and clear emails. Subsequently, each day would depend on the number of queries we get – on top of our daily routine work. This may sound incredulous but you would be surprised by the number of queries we get each day from internal stakeholders regarding their HR matters,
It seems that there are many nitty-gritty requests daily at hand for your team. So what can the business lines do to help your department service them better? “Read. Read our emails and announcements via Colliers Connect. It is quite puzzling that we still receive calls from people on matters that have already been announced, and we are not talking about clarifications here.” Are there any other matters that you want to highlight? “Yes! Going forward, our staff can expect more fun activities in the company, which is in line with one of our core values. The Human Resources division will try to foster stronger bonds among colleagues by organizing leisure activities, such as family days or small interest group activities like bowling and yoga classes, among others. So start throwing us ideas on what you would like us to organize, so that we can ensure a high participation rate. And please support the activities when they are launched.”
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Human Capital
Up Close & Personal
Daisy Ng,
Senior Executive Investment Services | Asia
D
aisy’s five-year work relationship with Colliers International began since her tertiary days, during which she completed her threemonth internship with the Industrial Services team. Because of her positive and willing-tolearn attitude, she immediately came to mind when a vacancy came up in Office Services – at an opportune time when she graduated in Year 2005. She has never looked back since. After spending a year with Office Services, Daisy transferred to the Asia Investment Services team. A modest lady who describes herself as someone who is not perfect and “a piece of work in progress”, Daisy also considers herself to be adventurous. She is always game to try new things, though it comes with a tad of fear. A self-confessed foodie, Daisy could not hide her love for cooking and baking throughout the interview session.
How did you become so passionate about cooking and baking? “It all stems from my love for eating. I started experimenting with baking and cooking fuss-free dishes such as pasta. People around me have been encouraging and giving positive feedback – thankfully – about my culinary skills. This has spurred me on to do more cooking and baking. And the more I do, the more I enjoy the process. Also, it is especially rewarding to see people enjoy what you have prepared for them. While I used to do more baking during the weekends, I cook more frequently these days for parties and gatherings. In fact, I think I am getting quite good at preparing food for huge parties! I am constantly trying to think of new menus, so that my guests will not get tired of my food.” So what is next on the menu? “It is a secret!
What are your likes? “I love varieties – whether it is food, clothes or accessories. For example, you would not catch me wearing the same pair of earrings every day.
Crab dips and burgers are the staple items on my menu – regardless of the occasion. I have prepared these two food items for numerous gatherings at baby showers, bridal showers, birthday and Christmas parties.
Oh, I love cooking and baking. In fact, you might be surprised that the kitchen at home is the most utilized place!”
In addition, I have cell group gathering of about 10 people every Friday at my house. Hence, I took the opportunity to
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improve my culinary skills by offering to prepare dinner for my friends! By far, no one has complained that the food is awful! I always work on a budget of about S$20 per dinner and the menu could be chicken rice, hamburgers or simple dishes with rice, among others.” So now, we all know who to approach for help in the office if we need home-cooked food for large gatherings. Other snippets of Daisy: • She is a burger fanatic. Her favourite restaurant is Billy Bombers, simply because of the humongous and yummy burgers they serve. She even took her wedding photos at one of the restaurants. • She thinks her fetish with burgers is a spin off from her love for bread. She considers bread as her staple, instead of the usual rice or noodles. • She jogs six days a week at 6.00 am, without fail, with the exception of bad weather. • She almost lost her life in Year 2003 due to ruptured appendicitis. As such, she consistently reminds herself that life is beautiful and she is very fortunate to be alive today to enjoy what life has to offer her now and in the future.
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Knowledge Capital
Excerpt from the Expert
Your Love Affair with Your Mobile Device(s) The world of new media blurs the line between what is rude and what is acceptable
D
id you use your mobile phone during the last meeting to stealthily text your colleagues or friends?
Or did you use your mobile phone during lunch today to tweet or access Facebook? If your answer to either of the questions is yes, you are not alone. For many people, it has become an irresistible impulse to pick up their mobile devices during meals, meetings and gatherings – in fact, just about anywhere – to text, tweet and access Facebook. Welcome to the awkwardly-new world of social networking, instant messaging and the blurring of boundaries between the real and the virtual, the social and the professional. Sociologists have attributed this social phenomenon to the widespread availability of sophisticated but affordable mobile devices. They enable people to communicate and connect anytime, anywhere. This increasing convenience of staying connected with anyone, anytime, and anywhere has, nonetheless, raised eyebrows among those in the community who still highly value privacy and the traditional norms of socially-acceptable behavior.
According to a related article in The Straits Times, etiquette experts agree that the behavior of constantly checking and using your mobile phone is rude and disrespectful – even more so if it is done to extremes. The rule of thumb is that when you are with somebody, you should not be using your mobile device unnecessarily. Such activities should be minimized, even in the company of friends, as they are disruptive and deemed to be rude – unless these activities are the reason why the group gathers together in person in the first place. In a business setting, the use of mobile devices for any purpose is a transgression, according to etiquette gurus. Many people may not actually be aware that they are being rude or disrespectful – even if it is just sending a short SMS. Such an action sends a message to the group that you give priority to whatever you are doing with these devices. As with all “bad” behaviors, one should perhaps address the issue with his/her family, colleagues and friends. It will then help establish a mutually-acceptable behavior in the company of others and minimize any related annoyance. Continued on page 18
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Knowledge Capital
Excerpt from the Expert
Continued from page 17
The Colliers Culture – The Unspoken Rules (or Not?)
I
N THE KNOW carried out an informal survey with some 50 colleagues in an attempt to find out what behavior is viewed as acceptable and what is not.
have the courtesy to let the people in the meeting know before proceeding to use your mobile phone. Keep the conversation short and resume the meeting immediately.”
Read the results of the poll* and you can decide for yourself how you should behave, the next time you have an urge to whip out your mobile devices during a meeting!
• 55 per cent of our colleagues admitted to using mobile phones during business meetings, mostly with the disclaimer that it is for urgent matters.
• 51 per cent of our colleagues decided to sit on the fence when asked how • 70 per cent of our colleagues agree disapproving they are with people using that it is inappropriate to use mobile mobile phones during meetings. 43 phones during meetings, as it is viewed as rude and disrespectful. The remaining per cent tried to make a bold statement that they are very disapproving, while 30 per cent think that it is acceptable, so only six per cent felt that everyone else long as it is for work. is making a mountain out of a molehill. Food for thought… Perhaps, as two respondents aptly pointed • 91 per cent of our colleagues agreed out, “Even if the usage is work-related, that it is perfectly fine to use mobile phones when you are in the company unless it is an emergency or a life-andof family and friends. The remaining death situation, such mobile usage can seven per cent feels offended if their usually wait until the meeting ends. family members and friends use mobile phones in their presence, as the time If you are expecting an urgent call or should be used for bonding. need to reply to an important message,
Some of the common reasons for “No way! I enjoy every minute of my love affair with my mobile device!” include: “I feel handicapped and insecure, and will not be able to enjoy the day. Instead, I will be worried if there is any important call or SMS that I have missed.” “It gives your loved ones a peace of mind to know that you are reachable, in case of emergency.”
Food for thought… As one respondent defends, “There is a time and place for everything. When it is time for your family and friends to bond, you should do it whole-heartedly and not be distracted. To put it simply, ‘disconnect to connect’. When you are alone, no one cares. You can then do anything you want.” • 96 per cent of our colleagues admitted to using mobile phones in a casual setting. • 40 per cent of our colleagues are neutral to whether their family members and friends use mobile phones in their presence. 53 per cent thinks it is perfectly fine to do so. The remaining 7 per cent maintains their stand that it is still best to give your full attention to whoever you are with. • It was a 50-50 split when respondents were asked if they would appreciate a day back in time to the good old days, when the usage of mobile devices was not so rampant.
Some of the common reasons for “Bring it on! I would trade my mobile phone any time for a day of peacefulness” include: “Such a day would be good to relax and enjoy the peacefulness. There are really times when you just want to be quiet and be left alone.” “You need such time, once in a while, away from all connectivity, to get your sanity back, and learn to appreciate other things in life, as well as spend time with real people, instead of machines.”
* Note: This is an informal survey conducted by IN THE KNOW. The results do not represent the company’s view in any way. References: • “Hang on, I’m still on the phone” by Jamie Ee Wen Wei, The Straits Times, 6 June 2010 • “Modern manners” by Nicholas Yong and Huang Huifen, The Straits Times, 12 September 2010
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Knowledge Capital
Did you know?
Inspirational Quote of the Quarter
Colliers Singapore has another 52 staff on site, across 31 projects. This is in addition to the 150 staff in the head office.
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you previously only hoped for.“ ~ Epicurus
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Brain Teaser
Chihuly Lounge In the previous issue… Q1: Colliers International is now the third largest real estate service provider in the world. True or false? A1: True Q2: A2:
I travel around the world but stay in a corner. What am I? Stamp
Work your brain! The first person to email all the correct answers to li-ching.seah@colliers.com will win a shopping/dining voucher. Q1: What is Colliers International’s brand essence and its four core values? Q2: Can you arrange the numbers 1 to 9 in the circles so that each straight line of three numbers adds up to 18? B
A Congratulations to Danny Tanurahardja from Operations, who sent in the correct answers in the shortest time! He won himself a high-tea session for two at Chihuly Lounge, The Ritz Carlton.
C
D
E F
G
Plus 3 Pays!
It pays to refer business to your peers and colleagues. Literally! Congratulations to the following individuals and department who have won for themselves S$500 and S$1,000, respectively!
Individual who has referred the highest fee payout to Colliers: Individual who has sent the highest number of genuine referrals: Department who has sent the highest number of genuine referrals:
In The Know is an internal newsletter published on a quarterly basis by the Marketing & Communications Department. We welcome any feedback or suggestions from our readers. Email us at singapore.marcom@colliers.com www.colliers.com
Ho Eng Joo Doreen Aw/Lock Sau Lai Auction & Sales
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