theceomagazine.com | 47think about the future, and think about what
kind of a society we want to build, because
Singapore is very conscious about being
sustainable and being smart. A lot of effort
from the design, business and customer teams
is in trying to construct the best mixed-
generation of products.”THE RULE OF THREE
Miguel believes in creating an environment
where employees can be comfortable and
can grow and excel, because he understands
that most people spend more time at work
than at home.
As a result, he has a high-trust model
when it comes to his leadership team.
“I usually tell my leadership team that there
are very few things I will manage for them
on a day-to-day basis,” he says. “I validate,
empower and create trust so that they run
their own part of the business, rather than
coming to me for decisions.”
However, there are three things Miguel
will not compromise on when it comes to
leadership. “First, you must have the highest
level of integrity when you conduct your
business. It’s important in whatever you
do, because if you don’t, something will
eventually catch you out as well as the
company. Second, we are in the business »This notion links back to the company’s idea
of thinking about real estate from a customer
perspective. “We are spending a lot of time
trying to understand this new business
concept,” Miguel continues. “Having spent
30 years in the hospitality business, I
recognise that space is for the service of
guests; it’s never a real estate space. It has
been internalised throughout my professional
training. So this disruption coming to the
industry falls within my skill set, and I’m
comfortable leading the change as we speak.
“To satisfy these shifting requirements,
the company, through the Customer
Solutions team, goes out and field tests
and talks to customers to make sure that
it’s the product they want and will be happy
to sign off on,” Miguel says. Further,
Ascendas-Singbridge wants to deliver a
community experience. “We recently
established the Community Development
Unit, which is about looking at each of the
buildings – the business and the industrial
parks we are in – and saying we are not just
there to provide the hard assets. It’s really
to deliver the vibrancy within the four walls,
the whole building, or the outside space.
It’s about focusing on the soft side of the
design. We ask, how do people connect?
How do people talk to each other? How do
people enjoy themselves in various places?
And also, how do they interact with other
tenants as companies and as individuals? How
can they do more business among the
different communities together? So it’s at
all levels of the whole ecosystem; we’re
talking about company to company, company
to individual, and individual to individual.
All of that is geared toward cultivating
community development.”
As an extension of its community
development, Ascendas-Singbridge wants to
be at the forefront of sustainability, and is
doing so by tapping into its innovative side.
“Building smart products, using products that
leverage on technology, or building products
that are friendly to the environment, are the
things that have a higher order among our
customers,” Miguel adds. “So we want to be
leaders in that as well. Whatever we do, we
Interview | INSPIRE