theceomagazine.com | 15“First, we want to cater to as many
people in the world as possible, and then
produce different products. Housing is our
biggest business, but we also have other
products such as pop-up retail properties,
pop-up offices. Later this year, we’re going
to announce and pre-sell our first prefab
condo and prefab hotel.”
Another of Revolution’s pulls is its
flexibility towards its customers. “We’re
listening to them and we’re trying to serve
their specific needs,” Robbie says. “We
won’t assume that clients from the US,
Middle East or Europe will be the same
as clients in South-East Asia.”MYTH BUSTING
Despite the bright future ahead, Revolution
still faces the challenge of preconceived
notions of yesteryear. In transforming
prefab architecture into a housing option
both stylish and widely available, Robbie
intends to dispel these myths. There is an
unjust stereotyping of prefab structures
as being low-quality, bland and short-lived,
a carry-over from a time before prefab was
a desirable housing option.
Robbie believes the unique advantages
of prefab are numerous. “The first value
proposition we offer is speed,” he says.
“Sixty to 90 days versus two years. The
second is technology. There are certain
technologies that actually enhance the
product – 3D printing, advanced robotics,
sustainable green technology, and so on.”
Robbie also believes Revolution is
unique in its aesthetic and accessibility.
“In terms of relevance, we naturally partner
with designer brands,” he says. “We get the
world’s best architects and designers, and
their global exclusivity. Obviously, the house
is going to be ultimately affordable, thanks
to the technology. And most importantly,
we are planning to be global.”
He’s therefore optimistic that the
company will be able to correct any public
preconceptions about prefab architecture.
After all, he has a very philosophical
approach to challenges: “Every day is a new
day. Solve your problems. Tomorrow you’ll
have something else.”RALLYING THE TEAM
Robbie stands at the forefront of
Revolution’s expansion. He’s not content
to sit back in Manila and lead from the
corporate headquarters. Of course, that
doesn’t mean he’s is out there on his own.
He may be a leader, but a core part of his
strategy is keeping the Revolution team
focused on the mission, united behind a
single cause and all working together. It is
this element that Robbie believes sets apart
good leaders from the rest.
“A leader is someone who can rally
their team towards a common goal,” says
Robbie. “Someone who can be inspirational.
There are different styles of leadership.
Some are softer, some harder. Some are
steadfast in their goals, some are a little bit
more caring and patient. But I think the
common characteristic is to be able to rally
your team.”
Fortunately, Revolution’s vision is
innovative enough that it wouldn’t be
difficult to inspire the team behind it. So,
Robbie employs constant communication
to keep his team completely focused on
that shared vision. Otherwise, he believes, an
organisation will have no chance for survival
in today’s competitive market.
“What I’ve seen in other corporations,
big or small, is that if there’s no alignment,
there’s no shared goals and chaos erupts,” he
says. “And I always say that Revolution is
not for everyone. While we move at a very
fast pace, we’re also a very ambitious group,
so we like to encourage that as well.”
When Robbie describes the company
as an ambitious one, this is no exaggeration.
As well as providing designer prefabs to
everyone, regardless of economic or
geographic barriers, he envisions Revolution
becoming the largest housing supplier in
the world.
“To truly be disruptive, the goal has
to be huge,” he says. “And the ambition,
resilience, persistence and heart has to be
there every single day to create something
global. Modular prefab was not our end
goal. Our goal is to be global, counter-
cyclical and ubiquitous. And prefab is
the means to that end.”“THE
AMBITION,
RESILIENCE,
PERSISTENCE
AND HEART
HAS TO BE
THERE EVERY
SINGLE DAY
TO CREATE
SOMETHING
GLOBAL.”
Cover story | INSPIRE