Nature Or Nurture?
We discover that it’s both, when it comes to Jeremiah Lee and his approach to a career in real estate at CapitaLand.
We’re here with Jeremiah Lee, at the urban farm at Funan, where everyone can nurture nature, in an urban setting. As we chat about his experience in CapitaLand’s Graduate Development Programme (GDP), we realise that the location’s really apt, as he shows how both nature and nurture are essential.
Jeremiah has a genuine and humble air about him, and as he shares his insights, we learn the importance of being earnest, and of being genuinely interested in people. He doesn’t know it, but we did some digging on our own too, and discovered that he’s also a commando officer in the 1st Commando Battalion – something that most guys would flaunt, but not him – which was quite in line with his understated character and focus on others rather than himself.
Why did the CapitaLand and GDP stand out from the landscape of options that you had upon graduation?
To be honest, upon graduating I didn’t know anything about the real estate industry. But just as how I typically approach things that are new to me, I decided to give it a shot. For me, I prioritise a good company culture when evaluating companies and opportunities. To me, the culture of the company is reflected in how it treats people – and people and relationships are important to me. I believe the best learning opportunities come from an environment that is nurturing, hence it’s all about the culture of a company that is key to having good growth and development.
I joined GDP in 2016, after evaluating various offers and going through different job interview processes. One of the key reasons why I chose to join the programme was that I felt a genuine connection with the company representatives during my interview. It was the only job interview I had where I was able to have a genuine dialogue. They were interested in getting to know me – not just as a candidate or potential employee – but as a person. And they were really concerned in making sure I was a right fit for the culture – which I came to know was not only warm but puts people at the heart of everything. Because of this, it created an environment where people can learn and more importantly fail, in turn allowing people to grow with confidence.
"Getting to know so many people gives me a well-rounded view of the business. It makes me more aware of how something that I do may impact others and how best to collaborate with one another."
Tell us about your current role, what’s your favourite part?
I’m currently part of the investment team at both Ascendas Hospitality Trust and Ascott Residence Trust. It’s a dynamic role because you have to consider both the operational and financial aspects of running a hotel or serviced residence. My favourite part of the role is the interaction with other colleagues and learning from their experiences. Be it interacting with the operations team to understand the local market dynamics, to working with the finance and tax team to structure the deal. Getting to know so many people gives me a well-rounded view of the business. It makes me more aware of how something that I do may impact others and how best to collaborate with one another.
What’s the most important attribute to have to be able to blend into the CapitaLand culture?
Being a team player is most important to me, where we watch each other’s back and work together towards the same goal. Everyone brings a different perspective to the table and that is something that I have come to appreciate since my first day in the company. I’ve been blessed to have worked with teammates that have created an environment where everyone is given a chance to share their opinions and build upon each other’s idea.
Have you made any unexpected gains while working at CapitaLand?
I think what was unexpected for me was meeting like-minded colleagues that are open in sharing their experiences at work and challenging each other’s views on work related issues. Be it sharing articles or informal chats about their thoughts on work or world related issues, it helped sharpen the way I think.
Having seen how I have grown within a nurturing environment, it seeded in me the urge to actively contribute to the growth of others. Be it in the form of sharing my own experiences or bringing other people together, every step counts towards building a great corporate culture!
What were some of your most challenging moments at work?
Being assigned a task with an overwhelming amount of information and a tight deadline is always challenging. I don’t think it’s an uncommon challenge and what could likely make it worse is the feeling of being unequipped for the task. Yet, having been rotated across various departments, I felt that my biggest takeaways were the relationship and supportive environment. There are always people I can easily approach for advice or to bounce ideas off, and sometimes all we need during challenging times is someone to nudge us in the right direction. For that, I am always grateful for my colleagues (or rather friends) who always smile and ask how things are going – It really is a great source of encouragement for me!
What do you do in your free time to destress?
If time permits, I love to cook and try new recipes. I’d like to think that I make a decent chicken rice – and it’s not the pre-mix type! To me, the most enjoyable part of cooking isn’t about the food, but the ability to cook for people – being able to prepare something for my friends and the interaction we have over a meal is more fulfilling than the food itself.
"I think it’s important to define the core values that you want to espouse because that will frame how you choose to approach challenges and people."
Last but not least what’s your advice for fresh graduates wanting to join the CapitaLand Graduate Development Programme?
I think it’s important to define the core values that you want to espouse because that will frame how you choose to approach challenges and people. Personally, I choose to be open to new experiences and to set a good working culture in how I engage others. Even the youngest employee can make a positive difference if they only try!
SHOP JEREMIAH'S LOOK AT FUNAN
- Individual Wardrobe by The Shirt Bar
- Group Wardrobe by Beyond the Vines - The Crew Collection
- Shoes by JD Sports
- Hairstyle by Starlight Salon
- Makeup by Adeline Ariel.L Hair & Makeup
- On location at lyf Funan Singapore
- Photography: Hosanna Swee