I'm having a two-week training at the Singapore HQ of Brandtology with my two colleagues from the PH. Here's what made our Day 1 special:
Our Day 1 at the company was made more significant by the opportunity to listen to the CEO of the company specializing in business and brand online intelligence. The very first encounter with him was when he opened the door at the conference room simply to greet all of us. It was a very brief encounter yet I couldn’t forget the kind of energy he has, the smiles on his face that made him look much younger and his presence that communicates authority.
We were a bit surprised when we were told we were having lunch with the big bosses. -- the CEO, the CFO and the Business Development Director. I must admit it sounded weird at first. Maybe because I haven’t been to a company with CEOs or 'big bosses' inviting ordinary employees for lunch.
In the previous company I worked for, the Chancellor never even greeted the faculty members. Even if I tried to say “Good morning sir!” when I saw him at the hallways, he would simply say “Good morning” without looking at me—oh yeah, as if I did not really exist. I am sure he had no idea I have served his university for more than 11 years, even if I was among those called in meetings with him for a few times.
In the previous company I worked for, the Chancellor never even greeted the faculty members. Even if I tried to say “Good morning sir!” when I saw him at the hallways, he would simply say “Good morning” without looking at me—oh yeah, as if I did not really exist. I am sure he had no idea I have served his university for more than 11 years, even if I was among those called in meetings with him for a few times.
That is one reason the lunch with the ‘big bosses’ last Monday was something new to me, and it just made me believe more in the company.
I enjoyed the lunch, the view at the restaurant, and the no-nonsense chat with the CEO of Brandtology Pte. Ltd., Mr. Eddie Chau:
1. “Machines cannot replace humans.” Fortunately, what we do at the company is something no machine can do. “What we’re doing now is unlikely to be replaced by a machine,” reiterated by Mr. Chau.
2. Mr. Chau cited some reasons home-based works are now very popular in the US, and in some parts of the world: (1) saves time, so more time with the family; (2) saves money – no need to spend for fare or gas; (3) gives equal opportunity to people with skills – even handicapped or disabled people with necessary skills may work from home.
3. Despite being at home working, he said it is important to set one’s mind for the work, e.g. get ready for work by washing up, dressing up and direct focus on the work for the day. This is much better than working in pajamas, he exclaimed.
4. Explaining why women are much more into multi-tasking, e.g. typing, talking, and doing other things at the same time, he said it can be attributed to the social structure in the past. Men in the past, as hunters, he said, were trained to focus on something, while women were set to do several things at the same time at home, e.g. taking care of the kids, cooking, etc.
5. Currently, the company has 170+ staff, only after over 2 years in the business. This year, he envisions having 300 employees to help in the operations.
Those are just few of the insights the CEO uttered. Even while he was driving, he was sharing his insights about different topics – population, labor in Singapore, corruption, etc.
Most of the time, though, he was discussing about the company, what it can offer that others can’t, how it grew, and how it could actually help people from different parts of Asia have a fulfilling career.
It was as if every idea he revealed, and every thought he shared were carefully tailored to make me believe that I am in the right career path. It had just made me believe more to the company, and on what it can offer to its clients.
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