theceomagazine.com | 91gardens, tropical flora, rainforests, a reflecting pool,
winding walkways and a three-storey waterfall.
“Birdlife has come,” Kemmy adds. “We have
hummingbirds in this oasis right in the heart of
Singapore’s financial district.”
Kemmy joined M+S as the company’s COO in
2012 before becoming CEO in 2016. A real estate
veteran of over 20 years, her imposing CV includes
being CEO of YTL Land and General Manager of
the Sentosa Cove project, Singapore’s only integrated
marina residential development on Sentosa Island.
While she concedes that spearheading a project,
transforming a site, and watching it grow and develop
is exhilarating, she regards the ongoing responsibility
after completion just as intoxicating.
“It’s not just bricks and mortar anymore. It’s
about place management and bringing the various
communities into the development. Bringing the
development alive with people.”
MySphere, an integrated smart live-work-play
management system, which seamlessly combines
smart controls, community management and lifestyle
facilities, is Singapore’s first mobile app to pull
together Marina One and DUO residents, businesses
and visitors.
The touch of a button will connect residents and
workers to all the state-of-the-art amenities offered
by both developments, from fitness to dining, to
handyman services or booking a room at DUO’s
Andaz Singapore.
“We came up with this because we regard the
developments as something of an ecosystem,” Kemmy
explains. “About 30,000 people will be part of this
system once the residential and commercial spaces
are fully occupied, and we want to connect them.”
MySphere, not included in the original vision,
is a perfect example of how a project evolves from
the planning to the operational phase.
“When you see the plan, it is a vision, a dream,
and as it grows, you get more captivated and“ Distinguish your product, keep
on top of your creative energy,
and maintain an edge ... from
there, great things can happen.”
consumed,” Kemmy explains. “When you are on
the ground and see the buildings start to emerge,
you can appreciate the scale properly. That’s the
physical asset; then the business side of things
comes into play, securing the tenants and putting
everything into place.”
Kemmy is the first to admit she’s a little impatient,
a delicious irony when you consider how long a
development can take from concept to completion.
She likes to get things done sooner rather than later,
a go-to woman for problem-solving, ideas and
leadership. She also listens. A lot.
“I’m brave enough to embrace something that
is different, even if it’s not something I originally
supported,” she says. “You also can’t just accept
things because they’re popular. Many people try
not to do things differently, preferring to go down
the well-trodden path they know is safe.
“In all my jobs, throughout my career, I have
tried to do things differently, because in a competitive
landscape, you must distinguish your product, keep
on top of your creative energy, and maintain an edge.
I’m always thinking in terms of how to improve, and
that’s probably the creative side of me kicking in.
Then you must communicate well to get others on
board to follow your vision. From there, great things
can happen.
“It’s also important to be empathetic. Listen, and
be empathetic, but you must also be strong. That’s
very important.”
Kemmy believes M+S’s point of difference lies
in the simple fact that it was conceived purely to
develop and construct two specific assets; common
goals with no distractions, just a single, focused
commitment from everyone involved.
“Our whole effort is concentrated on DUO and
Marina One. We live and breathe these assets, always
thinking, ‘How do we make it better? How do we
differentiate? How do we do better than a developer
with many assets?’
“To survive in this industry and ride out the
cycles, you have to have a long-term view. You have
to think outside the box, recognise your weaknesses
and strengths, find a good mentor.”
It’s an interesting observation from a woman
who doesn’t see herself as an icon. A mentor then,
perhaps? Kemmy laughs.
“I guess,” she says. “When you have the time
and you sit back and reflect, it’s like, oh, yeah.
Okay. Maybe.”