T
heonlychildofentrepreneurs
LamTongLoyandLamPingYee,
LamTzeTzeiswell‑versedinthe
achievementsofherforward‑thinking
forebears.Herpaternalgrandfatherstarted
outasanentrepreneurinpre‑warSingapore,
andTzeTzedescribeshimasapioneerinthepawnbroking,
goldbullion,diamondtradingandjewellerybusiness.
Whenthetimecameforherfathertoentertheworking
world,he“didnotrelyonhiscomforts”,TzeTzepoints
out.Instead,hefirstworkedforanMNC,thenstruckout
onhisownin 1982 tolaunchElectro‑AcousticsSystems
(EAS),anaudio‑visualsystemsintegrationcompanyin
SoutheastAsiathatremainsamarketleaderininnovation.
Similarly,TzeTzedecidedtomakeherownway
aftercompletinghertertiaryeducationintheUK.She
livedinHongKongfor 10 years,workingfirstinthe
telecommunicationsindustry,thenthebiotechsector,
beforemovingbacktoSingaporein2016.Sheisnowan
executivedirectorofEAS,andherexperienceofdifferent
corporateenvironmentshasdefinitelygivenherabroader
perspectiveandmoreagility.
Thetelecommunicationsfieldwasfast‑pacedand
extremelydynamic,whereasdealingwithR&Dand
internationalregulatoryagenciesinthebiotechindustry
requiredmuchmorepatience,shereflects.Helpingtorun
afamilybusinessisadifferentanimal,inthat“toacertain
extent,parentsneverreallyconsideryouasjustamember
ofthecompany.Expectationsarehigherwhenyouaretheir
child,whichcansometimesbeachallenge”.THE SPIRIT OF TENACITY
LAM TZETZE
Nevertheless,“regardlessofwhetheroneisworking
forthefamilyornot,onemustenjoyone’swork,be
open‑mindedtosuggestionsandalwayshaveanoptimistic
attitude”,shebelieves.“Inmypreviousroles,Iearned
respectthroughhardworkandmyownstyleofleadership.
Likewise,Ihavetodothesameinourorganisation,as
manyofourstaffhavebeenemployedbythecompanyfor
manyyearsandwatchedmegrowup.”
Toher,aresponsiblecompanyisonethatisattentive
tothecareerdevelopmentofitsemployees.“Continuous
improvementandtrainingwillempowerthemtoembrace
thefutureandcreateaconstructiveandcohesiveworking
environmentforthedifferentgenerationsworkingin
theorganisation.”
Inparticular,shehopestoattractmorewomeninto
thisindustry—andthatisjustonewayofkeepingupwith
thetimes.“Aswithallfamilybusinesses,thechallenge
istocontinuethelegacyandachievegreaterheights,”
saysTzeTze.“Reinventionisnecessarytobringinmore
innovationandoperationalchange,tofurtherpropelthe
organisationforwardandbringaboutpositivechange
foreveryone.Integrity,sincerity,tenacityandinnovation
arethefoundingprinciplesofourbusiness.Ihopeto
continuebuildingonthesevaluesandfurtherstrengthen
theorganisation’sculture,advancehumancapitaland
consolidateourposition,sothebusinessevolveswithtime,
aswillthepeoplewithintheorganisation.Inbusiness,
reputationisextremelyimportant,andourjobistoensure
ourreputationismaintainedandcontinuestobean
inspirationandstandardtolookupto.”“Reinvention is necessary to bring in
more innovation and operational change,
to further propel the organisation forward
and bring about positive change for everyone.
Integrity, sincerity, tenacity and innovation
are the founding principles of our business”
164 singapore tatler. october 2019