Dora Chng, Common Supervisor (Residential), GuocoLand. Picture: GuocoLand.
As Common Supervisor (Residential) of GuocoLand — a premier actual property firm famend for his or her built-in mixed-use developments akin to Guoco Tower, Singapore’s tallest constructing — Dora Chng is among 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 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 embrace Wallich Residence and Martin Fashionable. Her forte shines in product improvement, 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 skilled inside designer and took an curiosity in actual property once 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 properties, and much more so now that I’m a part of the artistic staff 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, however it will also be empowering. However I actually don’t really feel that being a girl is an obstacle for me in the actual property business. In truth, I feel that as girls are extra delicate to everybody’s day by 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 a number of the tenets of a working lady at present?
It’s tougher than ever being a working lady at present as girls have been advocating gender equality, honest alternatives in addition to non-bias illustration in management. So, the working world at present is anticipating extra from girls than earlier than. Nonetheless, the working girls of at present are multi-taskers who’re extra assured to voice out their stances for causes they care about. I feel the trendy girls of at present favor versatile work preparations to take care of their younger households or aged mother and father. When it comes to skilled improvement, many ladies are investing money and time in formal programs to enhance their skilled prospects.
I additionally imagine many ladies are recognising that non-public well-being is necessary, particularly psychological well being. They’re additionally extra acutely aware of their bodily well-being, too. So, I feel girls are extra well being acutely 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 now we have been deprived as girls in the actual property business in Singapore. There was better gender variety 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 feel AI disruption has been benefitting the actual property business in Singapore. It helps with productiveness and effectivity in areas akin to streamlining transaction time and assets at our showsuite (possibility technology system). In truth, AI helps the actual property enterprise not simply in Singapore however the world over by way of augmented actuality. This has helped patrons and sellers with new modern methods to view and market properties, thus not solely enhancing the expertise but in addition lowering travelling time. When it comes to sustainability, which is the buzzword presently, AI helps actual property companies to cut back their carbon footprint akin to offering possibility paperwork digitally and lowering constructing power prices by way of clever sensors. Nonetheless, it’s crucial that AI is used ethically and responsibly.
What are a number of the challenges you face in your work being a girl?
Whereas I usually 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 kids to steadiness household and work commitments. It’s typically anticipated of girls to be sacrificing their work development alternatives after they have younger kids or aged relations to look after. With that stated, I’ve additionally observed that ladies in Singapore have made vital progress within the workforce e.g., the Head of Departments in GuocoLand is made up of a excessive proportion of girls.
What sort of delicate abilities is necessary in your space of experience?
Robust communication abilities are essential in motivating and main a staff, conveying methods, and constructing robust relationships with stakeholders. Being a frontrunner with excessive EQ is required — understanding the feelings of your staff and purchasers in order that one can reply adequately to construct belief and rapport. We have to continuously method advertising and gross sales methods creatively to distinguish ourselves from opponents and be fast and efficient in fixing issues as they come up.
What would you wish 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 atmosphere for ladies in Singapore.
Rendering of Balcony design at a unit at Midtown Fashionable. Picture: GuocoLand.
If you happen to 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 can’t purchase the talents I’ve at present.
What would you do in your capability to vary the mindset about girls working on this business?
I feel the ladies in Singapore have been very lucky, having the ability to take pleasure in the identical schooling alternatives as our brothers. Due to this fact, I really feel there isn’t any drawback for us in the actual property business. Quite the opposite, girls must empower themselves with the talents required in any capability and embrace the challenges that come our method, if we’re curious about being on this business. If we had set our thoughts to do it, we might have received half the battle first. I’m trying ahead to seeing extra husbands taking a supporting position 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 effectively, spending time exercising to construct a stronger, extra resilient physique to deal with extra challenges forward. Apart from golf lessons, I like to color and spend time with my fur infants.
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