What kind of projects have you embarked on?
We have successfully launched the opening of a Indonesian Mill Plant in Tuas, called Bogasari, which is also the largest mill plant in the world. We also conducted PR exercises for the company, and it was a very enriching experience, an eye-opener. The EDB Chairman was there too, to grace the occasion as a VIP.

Beside this, we can count among our clients companies like SIA, GNC and M1. We were also fortunate to be awarded with the chance to launch the recent upgrade of Serangoon Gardens, where we had fun organising the whole family event. The opening ceremony which begun in 2001 was graced by BG Lee Hsien Loong and the closing ceremony which took place early this year was also attended by PM Goh Chok Tong. It was heartening to see how our most important leaders have come to offer their support to this thing...perhaps, it's because Serangoon Gardens, for all its' food, hustle and bustle, encapsulates the local flavours of Singapore and has also became one of the 'iconic landmarks' which makes Singapore a home unto many Singaporeans. And it was an honor to be hosting this event, at a personal and also the corporate level. It also gave us tremendous exposure. We had a huge gift box in the middle of the roundabout where the old bus terminus used to be and kids and their parents were rushing to pick up freebies. It was a major success. We were also in charge of Insead's opening PR needs. At our company, each project is more than mere business; it is our expression of excellence and way of providing premium service to our clients.

I see. Does your wife work?
Yes, she does. She is currently working at the Esplanade as a training manager.

Do you have kids?
Yes, I have two lovely daughters, Vanessa and Vanetta. Both of them are in primary school now. I think family live brings much more joy and satisfaction to adulthood. I also live with my parents.

Is your business based in Singapore or do you have overseas branches?
We are based in Singapore, but we would like to work towards venturing overseas and tap into a larger market. We have done events in Sydney, and also Taipei. These opportunities gave our staff a wider exposure to the bigger markets and how complex large-scale events can be. We believe in order for us to make our forays into the overseas markets successful, we must have a team of dedicated, and talented individuals who would not mind to stay abroad to help build up the company branch for a few months at one go. nd used beads in my designs and I managed to break into the French market.

So why did you decide to set up your own company, Wizz Communications?
After so many years of working, I felt that I could be better off working for myself rather than other people. Of course, the experience gained and the contacts I made after all these years proved extremely invaluable to my business. At many times, it's whom you know that matters greatly.

I felt I had the flair and the talent to take up a challenge to make this work. Since a long time ago, I have developed a great passion for event management. And I thought to myself, well, I only live once, so why not?

What if you fall ill, who would take care of your company?
No worries. I have absolute faith in my senior manager, who is very capable. He should have no problems handling the running of the company in my absence.

How did your family react to this?
Well, there were some initial opposition and apprehensions from my parents and my wife. They were afraid what if I could not make it. But deep down inside, I knew I would not fail and I manage to convinced them. They saw my confidence and rendered me the support I needed all way.

Were there any hardships in the beginning when you first started?
Yes there definitely were many. One of them was the lack of, or rather, shortage of capital. We started off with a capital of $100K, which soon proved to be insufficient. Some projects can cost up to $200K, and we faced cash flow problems when our creditors were demanding payment while our debtors (clients) were delaying payment. But to be fair, the first two years paid off quite well, and we took some pretty good profits. It was very encouraging especially for a beginning entrepreneur. But I guess we were not really "novices"…(laughs) Having been in this line for quite sometime, we can more or less expect what our clients want and we have to experience to tackle all the nitty-gritty problems. So you can consider us rather fortunate.

I see, and were there any highlights in your business then?
We partnered with GNC to launch their healthcare products on many occasions. As I have a long-standing relationship with them, every working experience with them is a good occasion. Recently, I am busy at the forum, helping to launch the very "hot" cartoon characters, the tomatoes twins. My two young girls go crazy when they get a chance to dance the theme song. I feel like part of a local production, a cartoon that truly belongs to us Singaporeans and which we can be proud of.

Also, as I have mentioned, I had done projects in overseas countries like Sydney and Taipei. These were very invaluable experiences; they opened my eyes to many things. That's why I think that young people should sometimes go overseas to gain experience because they may have a different way of doing things from us. Then we will enrich ourselves and grow smarter and wiser as a nation.

Can you tell me of some of your worst days, so that I will have an idea how difficult it must be to survive and thrive in this line?
Well, to be honest, I think that the worst time since I have started Wizz Communications, must be now. Due to the SARS scare, many events were being delayed; many shows were being cancelled. We were in the midst of preparations when SARS hit us hard, and when shows get cancelled, we have to stop work too. From a business perspective, that means less revenue. Thankfully, the frightening tide has more or less subsided, so I really hope that the economy will get back on its' feet again! We are beginning to recover too, and the orders are gradually starting to come in. It's time to get very busy again.

Many clients also want rebates for our advertisements. Many times, we try to accommodate but sometimes, our bottom line has been stretched too thin and it is hard for us to do it. We have to find a balance to remain competitive, yet at the same time, profitable.

What advice do you have for young Singaporeans who want to start out on their own businesses?
Well, as an employer, I face a problem of getting dedicated, committed and hardworking staff. There is no problems getting people to work for you, due to the current unemployment rate, but it's a different matter to get quality people working for you. I think that generally, Singaporean youths are more pampered. They are living in very coy environment, and thus cannot take hardships. I have some Malaysian workers, and they are less demanding, less calculative and more diligent. I think we have much to learn in terms of learning to take harsh conditions, especially since times are bad and not as rosy as before. We really have to rethink our priorities and attitudes to a lot of things or other countries will catch up with us very soon.

Student Interviewer's Personal Comment