PERHAPS THE MOST precious and irreplaceable resource in life, is time – the relentless thief that slips through your hands like grains of sand, never to return again. The way we spend our time defines who we are, and well, if not now, when? The Robb Report Singapore Thought Leaders community is a testament to that audacity to seizing the day. Launched in 2019 with 27 founding members, it is a growing collection of industry captains, game-changers and creative minds from the world of luxury and beyond, shining light on an ever-changing world through storytelling and intimate conversations. This year's edition, brought to you by Glenfiddich, represents individuals who have reimagined time for themselves, pushing the boundaries of their respective fields, from business and technology to art and culture. Read on to get acquainted with the personalities who made the cut.
Jaelle Ang
CEO, The Great Room
Jaelle Ang took a substantial risk when she went into the business of co-working spaces, still a relatively new feature on the economic landscape. Today, The Great Room that Ang founded in 2016 offers some of the region's handsomest work spaces, empowering companies and individuals to create value in the modern economy.
Why are you passionate about what you do?
There is nothing else more fulfilling than seeing a space in your mind, and then gathering the resources and solving every problem that comes your way until it comes to fruition. I am passionate about making great design happen.
Was there a career setback you faced that became an advantage?
I discovered that I am a generalist and hence would make a terrible architect. However, I am excited about how a generalist can pull things from different areas to create value and impact. It's such an advantage to be fluent in design language, financial speak and real estate intuition.
What are some of the biggest risks that you have taken?
Contrary to popular belief, like most entrepreneurs I know, we are extremely risk-averse since we are risking our own time and capital. It's just that we are very willing to outwork, outmanoeuvre and outwit others to drastically reduce the risk before we make a move. To build The Great Room, I went all in. I left a listed company with both stability and upside to start a company that has a rather risky business model, putting in everything I had while conceiving twins in the same month.
What's the one thing about you that will surprise most people?
I am an introvert. I am very nerdy and have tools, frameworks and spreadsheets for almost everything.
Walter de Oude
Founder, Chocolate Finance
Walter de Oude spent over two decades in Asia building a career in insurance and financial services and was the CEO of HSBC Insurance Singapore before leaving the company to found Singlife in 2014. Leveraging on digitalisation, Singlife modernised the insurance business, making it more accessible and transparent. The company went on to merge with Aviva Singapore in 2020 in what was the country's largest insurance deal, creating a home-grown insurer with over one million customers. Today, de Oude continues to serve as non-executive founder director of Singlife with Aviva. He has also established another fintech start-up, Chocolate Finance, which recently attracted US$19 million in Series A funding.
How do you feel about risks? What are some of the biggest risks that you have taken?
No risk, no reward. Quitting jobs to establish a start-up is a big risk strategy.
What do you consider to be your top professional achievement?
The Singlife acquisition of Aviva in 2020.
What's your greatest fear?
That my kids lack ambition.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be and why?
Population growth in poor economies. The world is tough enough for those who are here already. Why bring new people into a terrible existence?
How would you like to be remembered once you leave Earth?
I don't really care. I'm 100 years in a span of billions. If I'm remembered for living life to its fullest, I would be happy.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
Mind manipulation. If everyone supported my point of view, I could achieve much more, much faster.
Michael Patent
Founder and President, Culture Group
Michael Patent meditates, drinks coffee, scans emails and attends bike training with Specialised Dynasty Mavericks (a competitive cycling team) before heading to work at 7am. How does he manage to squeeze these tasks into a single morning you ask? By waking up at 3.30am daily. Patent, an industrial veteran at the intersection of entertainment and brand marketing for nearly two decades, gets his resolve from his grandfather, who showed him how determination and hard work outweighs any other attributes in impacting one's success.
Patent is now the CEO and founder of Culture Group, a marketing agency that serves as a creative and commercial bridge between brands and culture to create dynamic business outcomes. These days, when he isn't at work, you can find him reading newspapers, competing in cycling races throughout Asia and going to bed early. He considers himself lucky if he's able to catch one of his nephews in New York on Facetime before they head to school.
What aspects of Culture Group are you most proud of?
I am most proud of how we've enabled our team members to live their best lives and to support their families. My commitment to our team is something I take personally. We have a