Ready? Climb On.

Being in real estate doesn’t mean staying in all day. Try keeping up with Jonathan Chia.

With his megawatt smile, tanned complexion and affable demeanour, one would easily mistake Jonathan for a gym instructor. However, Jonathan Chia, 26, is not in the business of building bodies, but in building and managing architectural icons.

Being part of CapitaLand’s Graduate Development Programme, he is reaching for new heights in his career. Jonathan shares how the business of real estate goes beyond just buildings, but also building great relationships. INSIDE speaks to Jonathan while he’s on the move.

What is Property Management? Can you tell us more about what you do?  

Being part of the Property Management team at the Singapore Science Park 2, I am involved in managing the daily operations of the buildings within the cluster. To do so effectively, you cannot be at your desk all day.

Being on the frontlines of building management demands an active hand. You need to interact and meet with different members in the business park community.

You also need an active mind. From dealing with tenants to contractors, you need to juggle different areas of work, manage the expectations of many stakeholders to make sure everything is running smoothly. You have a direct role in impacting the value of the property! It is a definitely a fast-paced environment that is enriching and fulfilling.
 

Sounds like you’ve got your hands full! How do stay active?

The role requires active legs too! Hiking around the slopes within the Singapore Science Park 2 can be a workout.  I personally enjoy keeping fit and being active.  

Achieving 10,000 steps a day is an easy feat while on the job, helping me find a balance between healthy lifestyle and work.

" You have a direct role in impacting the value of the property! It is a definitely a fast-paced environment that is enriching and fulfilling."

What else you do in your free time? What are your passions?

I go to the gym to work out or try out different types of physical activities. Staying active helps to keep my energy and immunity up.

I also enjoy reading and watching movies to unwind and destress.

I recently read “You are not so smart” by David McRaney. The book challenges societal conventions we’ve taken for granted and what we have overtime, assumed to be true. It helped me broaden my horizons and allowed me to think critically about the status quo.

So how have your horizons expanded during your stint in property management?

The real estate industry may play a huge role in the economy, but the community is small.  The many contractors, vendors and even colleagues are somehow connected to each other. It seems everyone has worked with, worked for, and worked together on past projects.  This means it is very important to create a good first impression and it is imperative to maintain a strong reputation and build good relationships in the industry.  

This also mirrors the experience when someone is interacting with or visiting your building for the first time. You have a small window to leave a good impression and to do so, the building – both its hardware and software – needs to work together seamlessly.
 

Working together is indeed important. As a fresh graduate joining the team, do you feel out of place?

Teamwork is critical. We work in unison to ensure that the Singapore Science Park 2 is operating efficiently. My colleagues are forthcoming and open when it comes to sharing and mentoring. This is especially important for new joiners like myself, guiding us through the many processes and requirements. 

I’m very fortunate to work with a very driven and dedicated team. We work closely to get the job done efficiently. I recall on one occasion, during the building’s annual electrical shutdown, due to some technical difficulties, we had to spend over 24 hours in the office. The team took shifts and volunteered to cover for each other, sacrificing their weekends to get the job done. I was surprised by how close the team was and I really appreciate the strong team spirit as it was essential in keeping each other motivated to complete the exercise.


Seems like you’ve got a dream team there.

There’s an African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.

It is impossible to do everything on your own. As an introvert, I had to step out of my comfort zone and work closely with my team mates. Learning to work with people can bring about fantastic results, and you’ll accomplish more than just doing it alone.

Now that you’ve spent about half a year with CapitaLand, how do you think you’ve changed? Any unexpected gains – whether personally or in your career?

The best takeaway would be the tight friendships forged during the time spent with my team. We genuinely enjoy spending time with each other, even outside of the office. I have grown to be more efficient and learnt how to multi-task better. I have also deepened my experience and knowledge, learning on the job and from my mentors.
 

So, no regrets joining CapitaLand’s Graduate Development Programme then?

None! I graduated from the National University of Singapore, from the School of Design and Environment. Being a fresh graduate, I was unsure of what to pursue and felt that a rotational programme would be beneficial. Being in different departments would enable me to gain a lot more experience than my peers and I would be exposed to many different roles within the real estate business before deciding on which function to specialise in.

The various rotations would also help me better appreciate the full real estate value chain, as well as better understanding the different perspectives and point of views. There are also opportunities for me to go overseas. CapitaLand has a sizeable presence in China and in emerging economies like Vietnam. It would be a great experience for me to develop myself further.
 

Any advice for fresh graduates wanting to CapitaLand’s Graduate Development Programme?

Many people don’t think too much about real estate. People don’t think it is as exciting as finance or being in the technology sector, but in fact, real estate permeates every aspect of our lives, and it even has elements of finance and technology. I think real estate is here to stay and it can be very rewarding. Regardless of who you are you and where you are, everyone needs a roof over their heads. You are literally involved in the transformation of the physical world - you can see the tangible results of your work and how it impacts the community.

Join us and keep an open mind! Experience as much as possible to learn as much as possible!

"Real estate is here to stay and it can be very rewarding. Regardless of who you are you and where you are, everyone needs a roof over their heads. You are literally involved in the transformation of the physical world"

SHOP JONATHAN'S LOOK AT FUNAN