Creative Chairman, BBDO Singapore / Best Selling Author “COLLIDE” / TedX Speaker / Past President Asia Professional Speakers
The Singapore Association of Advertising & Marketing Singapore (AAMS) AdMarCom Festival 2024 with be held January 18th. In the lead up to the festival they are spotlighting some of the ‘Braves’ who have made a significant impact in the Singapore AdMarCom space. Here is my insights in this exclusive interview. Who are you? – What holds dear to you? Can you share a defining moment or experience in your career that has shaped who you are today? Currently, I’m the Creative Chairman of BBDO Singapore. I love to fish, so when I am on leave and if I go fishing, this will be the reply from my out- of-office reply. ‘Guan Fishing’ While studying in Los Angeles, I joined the inaugural Los Angeles Creative Competition in 1990. As a Singaporean, I initially found the competitive and individualistic culture of the American institution challenging. The awards ceremony was a defining moment. Amidst a sea of accolades from my peers, I didn’t hear my name until the show was almost over when my name was announced for the Best of Show, an honor accompanied by a cheap plastic trophy (which, to this day, I hold dearly) and US$1,000/-. You seem to be heavily involved in the creative scene. What is your ultimate goal for the industry or for yourself? Did you know Patrick Low and I were the first to start the Crowbar Awards in 2001? In 2003, I was the Chairperson for the Creative Circle Awards. I involved myself heavily in the creative industry to mentor, teach and grow early in my career because it motivates me to be a more nurturing Creative Leader. “If you don’t do it, someone else will” is something I believe in and practise consistently. My attitude has evolved, and I no longer try to shy away from challenges but take the bulls by the horns and face them head-on. After working in this industry for almost three decades, it has taught me to be resilient. There were tough moments when I could have given up and taken another less stressful job, but where is the fun in that? Creativity is important, but you need to have the tenacity and motivation to excel to succeed. BBDO Worldwide BBDO Asia BBDO Singapore #creativity #gongshow #bbdo
Senior Project Manager @ Vayner Consulting X VaynerMedia | Crafting compelling brands, leading high-performing teams and building businesses
9moInspiring read, Guan! Thanks for sharing your thoughts ✨