Room to Read’s Post

Just finished reading "Strictly Business," a biography of Kwek Leng Beng, gifted to me on my recent birthday. LB, an 82-year-old Singaporean businessman, is truly inspiring. As the son of Hong Leong's founder, he was groomed to succeed his father from a young age. Under his leadership, Hong Leong evolved from a general trading shop into a diversified conglomerate of finance, hotels, property, and development under the CDL umbrella. Here are some key takeaways from LB's journey: 1. Think global 2. Be bold, don’t panic during a crisis, and patiently look for opportunities within the chaos. 3. Stick to principles (freehold land = gold) 4. Mistakes are mistakes. Learn from them, close the chapter, and move on. 5. Be hands-on to be aware of business opportunities, sensitive to threats, and think long-term. LB's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, patience, and principled leadership. #KwekLengBeng #HongLeong #CDL #businessleadership

China’s leadership set its growth target of around 5 percent this year during the ongoing NPC without announcing any substantial policy support. That raises the question how this can be realistically accomplished as the economy faces significant headwinds from the real estate fallout to weak employment. The leadership may simply be banking on sentiment improving enough on its own to achieve the growth target. Surely the necessary structural reforms to boost consumption are not on the table as they are not compatible with the policy priorities in tech, science, and innovation. Gambling that households and businesses buy into the growth story, brushing aside the challenges they face in daily life and look at the bright side that the long-term vision of the leadership promises, is a risky bet. But following this logic, not rolling out broad policy support beyond sectors that are deemed strategically relevant is consistent with the path put forward by the leadership. 

"The future is ours to shape. We must not let the future dictate to us what we will become. We must decide for ourselves what we want to be and work towards it." A wise quote from the founding father of modern Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, that underscores a proactive and empowered approach to shaping one’s destiny and achieving goals. To shape our future, we must actively work towards our goals. This involves dedication, hard work, and resilience. It’s not enough to merely wish for a better future; we must engage in actions that will bring about the desired change. This may include acquiring new skills, adapting to challenges, and continuously improving ourselves. By recognizing that we have the ability to influence our future, we are encouraged to take deliberate actions and make choices that align with our values and aspirations. It’s a powerful reminder that the future is not a predetermined outcome but a canvas on which we can paint our own success through deliberate effort and strategic planning. #motivation #consistency #success #qotd #INFA #INFINITUMSG

What is the type of family office Singapore desires to have? A good read and sharing below from our partner Mathew Lee on his thoughts of Singapore's pursue of future industry leaders through the GIP Program. Kerry Goh, our CEO, too shares his vision of Singapore being Asia’s Silicon Valley, where Family offices play a crucial role in nurturing local unicorn startups and working with large numbers of global tech firms in Singapore. Thank you Citywire Asia for this feature on Singapore's Family Office landscape! #SingaporeFamilyOffice #MFO #SingaporeGIP

【Embracing Resilience and Collaboration for a Prosperous Future】 The “Thought Leadership Conference Series: The Future of Hong Kong Economy” concluded successfully on 18 January. Professor Richard Wong, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong, highlighted the interconnected nature of Hong Kong's economy with global developments in his welcoming remarks. He emphasized that Hong Kong, as a highly open economy, thrives when the world prospers, and faces challenges when the world encounters difficulties. It is essential for us to look beyond immediate concerns and geopolitical dynamics, as well as post-pandemic economic recovery. Professor Wong encouraged embracing resilience, creativity, and collaboration as key principles to navigate the challenges that lie ahead. By doing so, we can unlock new opportunities and pave the way towards a prosperous future for Hong Kong and its people. Watch the Conference on the Future of Hong Kong Economy 2024 video: https://lnkd.in/gTpGjf76 #HKUBusinessSchool #HIEBS #HongKongEconomy #ThoughtLeadership

"The next generation of wealth holders is not merely inheriting assets; they are stepping into roles that require judicious management of vast resources amid evolving global and technological landscapes. While the financial principles that built family fortunes are invaluable, the new generation also brings fresh perspectives that can enhance these legacies. Our role is to bridge these generational viewpoints, ensuring that the wealth not only endures but thrives through thoughtful adaptation and forward-looking strategies." Peggy Quek, Chief Executive Officer of #AIA International Wealth shares her views about the expectations and realities of the next generation in wealthy families, particularly in Asia, where rapid wealth accumulation and the imminent "great wealth transfer" present unique challenges and opportunities. #AIAIW #AIASG #WealthManagement #Leadership

What a great way to kick off Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month last May 1! Thank you very much to FIIRE - Filipinos in Institutional Real Estate for hosting my panel alongside Jennifer Taylor, Brian Hwang, John Richard (J.R.) Chantengco, and Brian Seaman. Our thanks to Mary Ann Rivera of New York Life and Matthew Lapitan of JPMorgan Chase & Co. for sponsoring the gathering, and to #FIIRE #NYC leads Joel Dabu and Rachel Butiu for putting everything together. #CommercialRealEstate #CapitalMarkets are at an inflection point, and it is important to have substantive conversations with #industry front-liners to truly have one's finger on the pulse of the #market. #AAPI

"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend." So says Theophrastus, a student of Plato and later Aristotle. I had the pleasure of engaging Willy Tan in conversation over dinner recently, and was impressed with his philosophy on life. Here is a successful entrepreneur and savvy financial consultant, who has solid academic and research credentials and a wide network of the who’s who in politics, grassroots, academia and business. Very involved in the running of his businesses, in grassroots and community work, Willy cares deeply about the future of Singapore and its people, and very hands on at home with his family. Not only does he sit on 2 school advisory boards, he is also the Chairman of the Sg100 Movement. Passionate about many things ranging from insurance to education, from golf to foreign affairs, he is immensely busy with a crammed calendar. Yet he finds the time to do what is necessary and needful, and has the time to invest in his personal learning and growth. And he sows the seeds of developing greatness and influence among our sole national resource - our people, especially the younger generation. What I took away from this conversation was that here is someone who knows the value of time and how best to invest it. It comes with a spirit of giving, and driven by one’s passion and zeal for enduring growth. #time #growth #invest #leadership #personaldevelopment

I was invited to Now TV to share my response to Director Zheng of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government's speech at Our Hong Kong Foundation's 10th-anniversary cocktail reception last week. In my view, there are three key takeaways from Director Zheng's speech. 1. Hong Kong must step up its efforts in developing new innovative industries (I&T, art & culture, etc.) on top of the traditional "trading" business. 2. The business sector should contribute more to nurturing start-ups and transforming Hong Kong's economy. 3. Think tanks are expected to take a more important role in participating in policy decision-making. Revisit the programme: Part 1: https://bit.ly/3TKUFhH Part 2: https://bit.ly/3Y8x6Cl #時事全方位 #解讀 #鄭主任講話 #DirectorZheng #Speech #keytakeaway #OHKF #ThinkTank