20110323-finalists
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BY VICTORIA BARKER I NTELLIGENCE. Multiculturalism. Confidence. These are some characteristics the 16 finalists of this year’s my paper Executive Look competition possess. The multi-talented bunch – which includes, for the first time, a doctor – are excellent examples of the go-getting executive. Handpicked from a record 530 applicants, the 16 also “lead dynamic lives outside their corporate walls”, said Mr Tommy Lim, associate creative director of Singapore Press Holdings’ creative services marketing division and the event’s chairman. Aside from several bank relationship managers, there is also a hedge-fund trader,a technology specialist and even a chief operating officer among the finalists. “This year’s crop continues to maintain the high standards that have epitomised the my paper Executive Look competi- tion in the past,” Mr Lim added. Now in its fourth year, the contest seeks the ideal executive, who is eloquent, confident and has high office quotient. The finalists, who were shortlisted after a closed-door audition last month, will vie for the top prize of $10,000 in cash – among other prizes – at the finals, which will be held at Zouk on April 28. The second- and third-place winners will get $5,000 and $3,000, respectively. [email protected] For more on the finalists, check out http://executivelo- ok.mypaper.sg from Monday. MY PAPER’S SENSATIONAL SIXTEEN WILLY FOO, 30 Project manager, Ministry of Defence What he thinks his edge is: I have maturity and charisma. My job requires me to interact with people and be a mediator between different parties. This provides a good training platform for my commu- nication skills and makes me more confident when dealing with others. The ideal executive must: be dynamic and adaptable to all situations. He should also be confident and have good communication skills. TIFFINY YANG, 27 Medical doctor, TCS Clinic What she thinks her edge is: My confidence, eloquence and attractiveness will help me stand out. Besides being an aesthetic doctor who enjoys making people look beautiful, I have a keen interest in fashion and I model on a part-time basis. I also keep a blog about my hobbies. The ideal executive should be: confident, eloquent and good-looking. It’s about being able to present a good image of yourself. RIKESH SUPRA, 29 Corporate relationship manager, online shopping platform Deal.com.sg What he thinks his edge is: In my line of work, I need to speak to high-level figures. I’m good at breaking the ice and making people feel com- fortable. I believe in having a positive attitude and being thankful for what I have. The ideal executive must: have a positive mindset when approaching clients. Also, when things don’t go right, he should learn from failure and not take it too hard because every day is a learning process. JOANNE CHONG, 32 Manager, Defence Science & Technology Agency What she thinks her edge is: I’ve just rejoined the workforce after five years of raising my family. I’m one of the more experienced ones here. I understand when it’s important to slow down and when to forge ahead. The ideal executive should be: an encouraging person who can bridge differences between people. She should be open and maintain her cool under pressure. STANLEY TOH, 33 Chief operating officer, Cubix International What he thinks his edge is: I have tried out many organisa- tions and work roles so I have different experiences which I can share with others. I also like to participate in challenging and unique activities. I was a torch bearer at the Youth Olympic Games. I’m a marathon runner and I’ve done scuba diving and sky diving. The ideal executive must: be confident and have passion in what he does. He must be a well-rounded individual and be able to balance his career with family and friends. FIONA CHEONG, 27 Public-relations and editorial specialist, Robert Walters What she thinks her edge is: I can relate to people from various professions. My years of experience in communications will give me an advantage. I’m also quite adventurous when it comes to travelling, and have interests in music and animals. The ideal executive should be: able to accept constructive criticism. That’s an important quality as it’s the only way one can truly learn. JEFFREY CHNG, 37 Training facilitator, UBS AG What he thinks his edge is: I am passionate about my work. I am energetic and very positive about life. I’m a “people” person and I am able to communicate well and be a mentor to others. My age also means I have experience and have been through more stages in life. The ideal executive must: have intelligence quotient, emotional quotient and office-intelligence quotient. He must also be hardworking and have determination, because champions are people who never say die. ZARINA YUSOF, 37 Deputy director, Youth Health Programme Development, Health Promotion Board What she thinks her edge is: I have worked longer than the other contestants. So my experience and my maturity, as well as my under- standing of not just corporate but also government organisat- ions, should give me an edge. The ideal executive should be: professional not just in the way she looks, but also in the way she conducts herself. She should also reflect a maturity and speak well. AMOS KWOK, 28 Relationship manager, ANZ What he thinks his edge is: Good looks? (laughs) I am confident, charismatic and extremely humorous. I’m a “people” person, eloquent, intellectual and I have a good sense of fashion. The ideal executive must: have essential leadership qualities, be well-mannered and well- dressed. He should also have an intriguing personality. He must be able to hold a conversation and be of a res- pectable status for people to look up to. If he cannot converse well, people won’t think highly of him. JACLYN NG, 25 Relationship manager, ANZ What she thinks her edge is: I’m one of the youngest contestants. I’m outgoing and don’t mind laughing at myself. To put my best foot forward and let my personality shine, it’s important that I am able to articulate what I’m thinking and feeling. The ideal executive should be: personable, eloquent and able to connect with people from all walks of life. She must be able to strike the perfect balance between being a professional and not losing the spark that makes her special. JUN MARDIAN SUGANDHI , 33 Hedge-fund trader, MGC Partners What he thinks his edge is: I have lived most of my life in many countries overseas, so I know how to adapt to different cultures. I have high interpersonal skills, I’m hardworking and witty, and I think very fast on my feet. The more pressure I have, the better I perform. The ideal executive must: be flexible and adaptable to changes in the environment. He must be able to comprehend the needs of different situations. SYLVIE KHAU, 28 Vice-President, Institutional Derivatives Sales for Asia, Exane Derivatives What she thinks her edge is: I was born in Paris and have lived in London and Hong Kong and, now, Singapore. I speak many languages, including French, Mandarin and Cantonese. I think being able to commu- nicate in many languages will give me an edge. The ideal executive should be: a team player, but she must also be a decision-maker. The world doesn’t wait for people who take too long to think. KEITH TAN, 28 Application consultant, Fiserv (ASPAC) What he thinks his edge is: I’m a very easy-going person. I need to interact with people in my work and am good at creating rapport. I get along well with people. I remain calm in difficult situations. I also listen well, am very adaptive and learn fast. The ideal executive must: be motivated and resourceful in challenging situations. He should be driven and be able to maintain his composure under stressful conditions. CHRISTINE TRAN, 30 Relationship manager, Citco; and founder, HFAlliance Group LLP What she thinks her edge is: I’m unique – I have an international story to tell. Work life in Singapore is very cosmopolitan. I was born and raised in the Netherlands. My heritage is Chinese, Vietnamese and French. I can relate to the Asian way of life and also understand the Western aspect. The ideal executive should be: passionate about what she does. She must be persistent, professional and driven. PRANNOY CHOWDHURY, 27 Technology specialist, Sembcorp Industries What he thinks his edge is: I have a diverse background, which gives me an edge in terms of cross-cultural experience. I was born in India, and I studied in the United States and Singa- pore. I have confidence and I give my best in my work and personal life. The ideal executive must: be able to do whatever job that is given to him. He must have the courage to learn from challenges in life and to keep trying until he can solve looming problems and achieve his target. JEANNE LEE, 25 Regional sales executive, Dow Jones & Company What she thinks her edge is: My attitude. Studying theatre in the past has helped me to relate to people more and influenced the way I present myself to people. Having been married since I was 21 has also given me a different perspective – it has made me a much more selfless person. The ideal executive should be: driven, empathetic and have a balanced mind and perspective. It’s not all about chasing money and status. THE MEN THE WOMEN HELPDESK Characteristics: 特征 tè zhēng Go-getting: 积极而有野心的 jī jí ér yǒu yě xīn de Hedge-fund trader: 对冲基金交易员 duì chōng jī jīn jiāo yì yuán Epitomised: 集中体现 jí zhōng tǐ xiàn ROUND-UP EXEC LOOK UNITED NATIONS OF MY PAPER EXEC LOOK FINALISTS TWO finalists are Singapore permanent residents while two are foreigners. Indonesia-born Jun Mardian Sugandhi, 33, is here on an Employment Pass, while India-born Prannoy Chowdhury, 27, is a Singapore PR who has been here for four years. France-born Sylvie Khau, 28, is a Singapore PR who has lived here for 2 1 /2 years, and Ms Christine Tran, 30, is a Dutch national who has lived in Singapore for five years and plans to apply for PR status soon. IT’S RAINING SINGLE MEN IN THIS YEAR’S CONTEST IT’S all bachelors this year, compared with two married guys last year. As for the women, four are happily married, compared with three last year. Ms Zarina Yusof, 37, deputy director of Youth Health Program- me Development at the Health Promotion Board, has been mar- ried for 12 years to an Institute of Technical Education college- relations manager. They have two boys, aged six and nine. Dr Tiffiny Yang, 27, an aesthetic doctor, has been married for three years to her lawyer husband. Regional sales executive Jeanne Lee, 25, married her auditor boyfriend in 2008 when she just turned 21, while manager Joanne Chong, 32, has been married for eight years to an F&B director and they have two boys aged three and six. AGE AIN’T NUTHIN’ BUT A NUMBER... THE youngest finalist is Ms Jeanne Lee, who is 25. The most senior is Mr Jeffrey Chng, 37, a training facilitator at a bank. BANKING AND FINANCE FOLK RULE SIX out of the 16 finalists, or about 38 per cent, are from the banking and finance sector. While that is a dip from last year’s 44.4 per cent, the sector still provided the lion’s share of this year’s finalists. CONTEST YIELDS BROMANCE AND BEST FRIENDS FOREVER MALE finalists Jun Mardian Sugandhi, 33, and Amos Kwok, 28, have become best buddies after getting to know each other in the competition. The pair regularly meet for meals or drinks to discuss matters in the finance industry. “We have a lot in common. We love the same things, such as women,” joked Mr Kwok. He even asked if he could be told Mr Sugandhi’s replies to my paper’s questions, quipping: “It’s okay, he’s my brother.” JOY FANG PRESENTER: HTC Official Hair & Salon: Redken Official Make-up: Shiseido PHOTOS: Veronica Tay, assisted by Mark Lee, Her World, SPH Magazines TEXT: Victoria Barker and Joy Fang WEDNESDAY MARCH 23, 2011 A16 WEDNESDAY MARCH 23, 2011 A17
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20110323-finalists
Transcript of 20110323-finalists
BY VICTORIA BARKER
I NTELLIGENCE.Multiculturalism.Confidence.
These are somecharacteristics the 16 finalistsof this year’s my paperExecutive Look competitionpossess.
The multi-talented bunch –which includes, for the firsttime, a doctor – are excellentexamples of the go-gettingexecutive.
Handpicked from a record530 applicants, the 16 also“lead dynamic lives outsidetheir corporate walls”, said MrTommy Lim, associate creativedirector of Singapore PressHoldings’ creative servicesmarketing division and theevent’s chairman.
Aside from several bankrelationship managers, there isalso a hedge-fund trader, atechnology specialist and evena chief operating officer amongthe finalists.
“This year’s crop continues tomaintain the high standardsthat have epitomised the mypaper Executive Look competi-tion in the past,” Mr Lim added.
Now in its fourth year,the contest seeks the idealexecutive, who is eloquent,confident and has high officequotient.
The finalists, who wereshortlisted after a closed-dooraudition last month, will vie forthe top prize of $10,000 incash – among other prizes – atthe finals, which will be held atZouk on April 28.
The second- and third-placewinners will get $5,000 and$3,000, respectively.
For more on the finalists,check out http://executivelo-ok.mypaper.sg from Monday.
MY PAPER’S SENSATIONAL SIXTEEN
WILLY FOO, 30Project manager, Ministry ofDefenceWhat he thinks his edge is: Ihave maturity and charisma.
My job requires me tointeract with people and be amediator between differentparties. This provides a goodtraining platform for my commu-nication skills and makes memore confident when dealingwith others.The ideal executive must: bedynamic and adaptable to allsituations. He should also beconfident and have goodcommunication skills.
TIFFINY YANG, 27Medical doctor, TCS ClinicWhat she thinks her edge is:My confidence, eloquence andattractiveness will help me standout. Besides being an aestheticdoctor who enjoys makingpeople look beautiful, I have akeen interest in fashion and Imodel on a part-time basis.
I also keep a blog about myhobbies.The ideal executive should be:confident, eloquent andgood-looking. It’s about beingable to present a good imageof yourself.
RIKESH SUPRA, 29Corporate relationship manager,online shopping platformDeal.com.sgWhat he thinks his edge is: Inmy line of work, I need tospeak to high-level figures.
I’m good at breaking the iceand making people feel com-fortable. I believe in having apositive attitude and beingthankful for what I have.The ideal executive must: havea positive mindset whenapproaching clients. Also, whenthings don’t go right, he shouldlearn from failure and not takeit too hard because every dayis a learning process.
JOANNE CHONG, 32Manager, Defence Science &Technology AgencyWhat she thinks her edge is:I’ve just rejoined the workforceafter five years of raising myfamily. I’m one of the moreexperienced ones here.
I understand when it’simportant to slow down andwhen to forge ahead.The ideal executive should be:an encouraging person whocan bridge differences betweenpeople. She should be openand maintain her cool underpressure.
STANLEY TOH, 33Chief operating officer, CubixInternationalWhat he thinks his edge is:I have tried out many organisa-tions and work roles so I havedifferent experiences which Ican share with others.
I also like to participate inchallenging and unique activities.
I was a torch bearer at theYouth Olympic Games. I’m amarathon runner and I’ve donescuba diving and sky diving.The ideal executive must: beconfident and have passion in whathe does. He must be a well-roundedindividual and be able to balancehis career with family and friends.
FIONA CHEONG, 27Public-relations and editorialspecialist, Robert WaltersWhat she thinks her edge is:I can relate to people fromvarious professions. My years ofexperience in communicationswill give me an advantage. I’malso quite adventurous when itcomes to travelling, and haveinterests in music and animals.
The ideal executive should be:able to accept constructivecriticism. That’s an importantquality as it’s the only way onecan truly learn.
JEFFREY CHNG, 37Training facilitator, UBS AGWhat he thinks his edge is: I ampassionate about my work. I amenergetic and very positiveabout life. I’m a “people” personand I am able to communicatewell and be a mentor to others.My age also means I haveexperience and have beenthrough more stages in life.The ideal executive must:have intelligence quotient,emotional quotient andoffice-intelligence quotient. Hemust also be hardworking andhave determination, becausechampions are people whonever say die.
ZARINA YUSOF, 37Deputy director, Youth HealthProgramme Development, HealthPromotion BoardWhat she thinks her edge is:I have worked longer than theother contestants.
So my experience and mymaturity, as well as my under-standing of not just corporatebut also government organisat-ions, should give me an edge.The ideal executive should be:professional not just in the wayshe looks, but also in the wayshe conducts herself.
She should also reflect amaturity and speak well.
AMOS KWOK, 28Relationship manager, ANZWhat he thinks his edge is:Good looks? (laughs) I amconfident, charismatic andextremely humorous. I’m a“people” person, eloquent,intellectual and I have a goodsense of fashion.The ideal executive must: haveessential leadership qualities,be well-mannered and well-dressed. He should also havean intriguing personality.
He must be able to hold aconversation and be of a res-pectable status for people to lookup to. If he cannot converse well,people won’t think highly of him.
JACLYN NG, 25Relationship manager, ANZWhat she thinks her edge is: I’mone of the youngest contestants.I’m outgoing and don’t mindlaughing at myself. To put mybest foot forward and let mypersonality shine, it’s importantthat I am able to articulate whatI’m thinking and feeling.The ideal executive should be:personable, eloquent and able toconnect with people from allwalks of life. She must be ableto strike the perfect balancebetween being a professionaland not losing the spark thatmakes her special.
JUN MARDIAN SUGANDHI, 33Hedge-fund trader, MGCPartnersWhat he thinks his edge is: Ihave lived most of my life inmany countries overseas, so Iknow how to adapt to differentcultures.
I have high interpersonalskills, I’m hardworking and witty,and I think very fast on my feet.The more pressure I have, thebetter I perform.The ideal executive must: beflexible and adaptable tochanges in the environment. Hemust be able to comprehend theneeds of different situations.
SYLVIE KHAU, 28Vice-President, InstitutionalDerivatives Sales for Asia, ExaneDerivativesWhat she thinks her edge is: Iwas born in Paris and have livedin London and Hong Kong and,now, Singapore. I speak manylanguages, including French,Mandarin and Cantonese.
I think being able to commu-nicate in many languages willgive me an edge.The ideal executive should be:a team player, but she must alsobe a decision-maker. The worlddoesn’t wait for people who taketoo long to think.
KEITH TAN, 28Application consultant, Fiserv(ASPAC)
What he thinks his edge is: I’m avery easy-going person. I need tointeract with people in my workand am good at creating rapport.I get along well with people. Iremain calm in difficult situations.
I also listen well, am veryadaptive and learn fast.
The ideal executive must: bemotivated and resourceful inchallenging situations. He shouldbe driven and be able to maintainhis composure under stressfulconditions.
CHRISTINE TRAN, 30Relationship manager, Citco; andfounder, HFAlliance Group LLPWhat she thinks her edge is: I’munique – I have an internationalstory to tell.
Work life in Singapore is verycosmopolitan. I was born andraised in the Netherlands. Myheritage is Chinese, Vietnameseand French. I can relate to theAsian way of life and alsounderstand the Western aspect.The ideal executive should be:passionate about what she does.She must be persistent,professional and driven.
PRANNOY CHOWDHURY, 27Technology specialist, SembcorpIndustriesWhat he thinks his edge is:I have a diverse background,which gives me an edge in termsof cross-cultural experience. Iwas born in India, and I studiedin the United States and Singa-pore. I have confidence and Igive my best in my work andpersonal life.The ideal executive must: beable to do whatever job that isgiven to him. He must have thecourage to learn from challengesin life and to keep trying until hecan solve looming problems andachieve his target.
JEANNE LEE, 25Regional sales executive, DowJones & CompanyWhat she thinks her edge is: Myattitude. Studying theatre in thepast has helped me to relate topeople more and influenced theway I present myself to people.
Having been married since Iwas 21 has also given me adifferent perspective – it hasmade me a much more selflessperson.The ideal executive should be:driven, empathetic and have abalanced mind and perspective.
It’s not all about chasingmoney and status.
THE MEN
THE WOMEN
HELPDESKCharacteristics: 特征 tè zhēng
Go-getting: 积极而有野心的 jī jí ér yǒu yě xīn de
Hedge-fund trader: 对冲基金交易员 duì chōng jī jīn jiāo yì yuán
Epitomised: 集中体现 jí zhōng tǐ xiàn
ROUND-UPEXEC LOOK
UNITED NATIONS OF MYPAPER EXEC LOOK FINALISTS
TWO finalists are Singaporepermanent residents while twoare foreigners.
Indonesia-born Jun MardianSugandhi, 33, is here on anEmployment Pass, whileIndia-born Prannoy Chowdhury,27, is a Singapore PR who hasbeen here for four years.
France-born Sylvie Khau,28, is a Singapore PR who haslived here for 21/2 years, andMs Christine Tran, 30, is aDutch national who has livedin Singapore for five years andplans to apply for PR status soon.
IT’S RAINING SINGLE MENIN THIS YEAR’S CONTEST
IT’S all bachelors this year,compared with two marriedguys last year.
As for the women, four arehappily married, compared withthree last year.
Ms Zarina Yusof, 37, deputydirector of Youth Health Program-me Development at the HealthPromotion Board, has been mar-ried for 12 years to an Instituteof Technical Education college-relations manager. They havetwo boys, aged six and nine.
Dr Tiffiny Yang, 27, anaesthetic doctor, has beenmarried for three years to herlawyer husband.
Regional sales executiveJeanne Lee, 25, married herauditor boyfriend in 2008 whenshe just turned 21, whilemanager Joanne Chong, 32, hasbeen married for eight years toan F&B director and they havetwo boys aged three and six.
AGE AIN’T NUTHIN’ BUTA NUMBER...
THE youngest finalist is MsJeanne Lee, who is 25. The mostsenior is Mr Jeffrey Chng, 37, atraining facilitator at a bank.
BANKING AND FINANCEFOLK RULE
SIX out of the 16 finalists, orabout 38 per cent, are from thebanking and finance sector.
While that is a dip from lastyear’s 44.4 per cent, the sectorstill provided the lion’s shareof this year’s finalists.
CONTEST YIELDS BROMANCEAND BEST FRIENDS FOREVER
MALE finalists Jun MardianSugandhi, 33, and Amos Kwok,28, have become best buddiesafter getting to know each otherin the competition.
The pair regularly meet formeals or drinks to discussmatters in the finance industry.
“We have a lot in common.We love the same things, suchas women,” joked Mr Kwok.
He even asked if he couldbe told Mr Sugandhi’s replies tomy paper’s questions, quipping:“It’s okay, he’s my brother.”
JOY FANG PRESENTER: HTC Official Hair & Salon: Redken Official Make-up: Shiseido PHOTOS: Veronica Tay, assisted by Mark Lee, Her World, SPH Magazines TEXT: Victoria Barker and Joy Fang
WEDNESDAY MARCH 23, 2011 A16 WEDNESDAY MARCH 23, 2011 A17
