As Basic Supervisor (Residential) of GuocoLand — a premier actual property firm famend for his or her built-in mixed-use developments corresponding to Guoco Tower, Singapore’s tallest constructing — Dora Chng is likely one of the most notable girls in Singapore’s actual property business. Ms Chng has shut to twenty years of expertise within the gross sales, advertising and marketing, and leasing of residential properties. Chng has the chops to affirm her place within the business after having snagged awards for the group’s residential properties, a few of which embody Wallich Residence and Martin Fashionable. Her forte shines in product growth, product positioning, and communications technique. Since becoming a member of GuocoLand in 2014, she’s made a reputation for herself. LUXUO spent quarter-hour with the cheery and affable Ms Chng the place she shared her insights as a girl working within the male-dominated actual property business.
Why did you select to enter the property business?
I’m a educated inside designer and took an curiosity in actual property after I began work as an inside designer. I started to fall in love with it due to the satisfaction that comes from serving to individuals discover their dream houses, and much more so now that I’m a part of the inventive group which designs the developments.
What do you consider being a girl in a male-dominated business?
Being a girl in a male-dominated business may be difficult, but it surely can be empowering. However I actually don’t really feel that being a girl is a drawback for me in the true property business. The truth is, I believe that as girls are extra delicate to everybody’s every day necessities, we are able to deal with the wants and needs of the top customers higher.
Pool deck at Wallich Residences. Picture: GuocoLand.
What do you assume are among the tenets of a working lady in the present day?
It’s tougher than ever being a working lady in the present day as girls have been advocating gender equality, truthful alternatives in addition to non-bias illustration in management. So, the working world in the present day is anticipating extra from girls than earlier than. Nonetheless, the working girls of in the present day are multi-taskers who’re extra assured to voice out their stances for causes they care about. I believe the fashionable girls of in the present day favor versatile work preparations to take care of their younger households or aged mother and father. When it comes to skilled growth, many ladies are investing money and time in formal programs to enhance their skilled prospects.
I additionally consider many ladies are recognising that non-public well-being is necessary, particularly psychological well being. They’re additionally extra aware of their bodily well-being, too. So, I believe girls are extra well being aware within the present digital age. I additionally see some girls wanting to achieve monetary independence both to pamper themselves or principally really feel happy with themselves. I additionally discover extra girls are taking time to volunteer in social causes, so that they worth their contribution to society.
What do you assume the business is missing for ladies?
I genuinely don’t really feel that we’ve got been deprived as girls in the true property business in Singapore. There was higher gender range and equality and ladies in our business have equal alternatives and illustration on this business.
Martin Fashionable residences. Picture: GuocoLand.
What do you consider AI disrupting the property business?
I believe AI disruption has been benefitting the true property business in Singapore. It helps with productiveness and effectivity in areas corresponding to streamlining transaction time and sources at our showsuite (possibility technology system). The truth is, AI helps the true property enterprise not simply in Singapore however the world over by means of augmented actuality. This has helped consumers and sellers with new progressive methods to view and market properties, thus not solely bettering the expertise but in addition lowering travelling time. When it comes to sustainability, which is the buzzword presently, AI helps actual property companies to scale back their carbon footprint corresponding to offering possibility paperwork digitally and lowering constructing vitality prices by means of clever sensors. Nonetheless, it’s essential that AI is used ethically and responsibly.
What are among the challenges you face in your work being a girl?
Whereas I typically don’t face many awkward challenges in my work as a girl, I do discover that it’s nonetheless very troublesome for married girls with youngsters to stability household and work commitments. It’s typically anticipated of girls to be sacrificing their work development alternatives once they have younger youngsters or aged relations to look after. With that mentioned, I’ve additionally observed that girls in Singapore have made important progress within the workforce e.g., the Head of Departments in GuocoLand is made up of a excessive proportion of girls.
What sort of tender abilities is necessary in your space of experience?
Robust communication abilities are essential in motivating and main a group, conveying methods, and constructing robust relationships with stakeholders. Being a pacesetter with excessive EQ is required — understanding the feelings of your group and shoppers in order that one can reply adequately to construct belief and rapport. We have to continually method advertising and marketing and gross sales methods creatively to distinguish ourselves from rivals and be fast and efficient in fixing issues as they come up.
What would you prefer to see girls working on this business 10 years from now?
I’m fairly positive that employers and policymakers will take steps to deal with the challenges which girls face now and create a extra inclusive and supportive work setting for ladies in Singapore.
Rendering of Balcony design at a unit at Midtown Fashionable. Picture: GuocoLand.
In case you had an opportunity to inform your youthful self, what recommendation would you give her?
Learnings and encounters on the job are indispensable stepping stones and alternatives. Settle for the challenges with an open coronary heart. With out these, I cannot purchase the abilities I’ve in the present day.
What would you do in your capability to vary the mindset about girls working on this business?
I believe the ladies in Singapore have been very lucky, with the ability to get pleasure from the identical training alternatives as our brothers. Due to this fact, I really feel there is no such thing as a drawback for us in the true property business. Quite the opposite, girls must empower themselves with the abilities required in any capability and embrace the challenges that come our means, if we’re all for being on this business. If we had set our thoughts to do it, we might have gained half the battle first. I’m trying ahead to seeing extra husbands taking a supporting function of their households, permitting their wives to take centre stage of their careers.
Inform us one thing you love to do in your free time.
I’m now investing time in my private well-being as nicely, spending time exercising to construct a stronger, extra resilient physique to deal with extra challenges forward. Aside from golf lessons, I like to color and spend time with my fur infants.
