When one of your values is building lasting relations with clients, managing disagreements requires high emotional intelligence and wisdom. I firmly believe in respecting commitments and acknowledging when one has fallen short of the other party’s expectations. However, when one party takes the other for granted, to an extent where …

For most entrepreneurs, time for relaxation feels like a waste. However, at some point, I realised that all work and no rest is a recipe for early departure. Therefore, I ensured we would disappear to some quiet resort during convenient school holidays every year, preferably with a golf course nearby. …

I am now a non-executive director of Deedscon Consult, a consulting firm I founded and managed for almost ten years, specialising in developing infrastructure for future generations. With a team including seasoned experts and emerging young professionals, we built a track record as trusted advisors for navigating the complex world …

In business, having coffee with someone is a potential for a quick exploration of ideas and potential synergies – ‘quickly bouncing off ideas.’ There is little time to discuss matters in detail; thus, one needs to be succinct; otherwise, one misses an opportunity to be heard. However, dinner presents ample …

As consultants, we are trusted advisors of our clients, and trust is paramount in that role. We could never effectively provide our services if the clients doubted us. However, trust is a product of a good relationship between the parties. Therefore, building genuine and lasting relationships is one of our …

A positive attitude is vital to teams’ performance, be they project teams, sports teams, or company boards. The adage that a chain is as strong as its weakest link is valid here. While relevant qualifications and experience are essential, the impact of a member’s attitude is significant. We have witnessed …

Last time I mentioned Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies as part of the game changers in the infrastructure sector. Examples of such AI technologies include advanced AI-oriented drones for providing real-time construction site imagery and 3D lidar scans. Moreover, deploying highly accurate 3D laser scanners for on-site surveying and inspections results …

One of the misconceptions held by people outside the infrastructure sector is that the sector is over-reliant on overstretched public funding. While this may be true for some social infrastructure classes, the overstretched government funding allows listed companies to exploit governments’ disinvestment from critical infrastructure assets. Governments’ privatisation of airports, …

While dedication and hard work are part of the ingredients to success, they must be balanced for longevity. If someone had told me that ‘No’ is an acceptable answer when one can not accommodate a work task request in their schedule, I would have practised work-life balance much earlier in …

Population growth continues to drive the demand for infrastructure delivered by the built-environment sector. Recent and ongoing technological innovations in the sector make me optimistic about the industry’s future. We have seen 3-D printing being piloted and adopted in building construction, and it is poised to be a game changer …