GS05 x Shentonista: All In The Family

Mike and Catherine make one power family with their newest member. Both working in the marketing field, they say that parenthood has presented them with new challenges and experiences. “I am working on being the best husband and father I can be for the rest of my life,” Mike says. “From what I hear, it is quite the challenge as your child progresses. Catherine’s personal project would be to tackle breastfeeding her baby for at least a year. “I’ve come to realize just how challenging it is for mothers to commit to fully breastfeeding their babies, through lack of education on the subject, societal pressures, lack of support and facilities etc,” she says. “One a related note, it is also a challenge to find stylish clothes that are breastfeeding-friendly. It might be fun to one day work on designing stylish outfits for breastfeeding.” Both Mike and Catherine work in the marketing field, although it wouldn’t surprise us if they decided to open their own eatery in the future, especially since Catherine used to bake and waiter at a patisserie. We speak to them to find out more about what this happy family is up to.

1. Do you have any problems with the dress code at work? How do you personalise your outfit?

Mike (M): Work doesn’t have a dress code, to the point that shorts and slippers are okay so there is a lot of freedom to personalise. It actually allows me to experiment more without having to fuss too much.

Catherine (C): Being part of a marketing team, I have a pretty flexible dress code at work for now. It is great when company management recognizes the need for employees to dress their part and showcase their personalities. Personally, I try to keep my outfits simple, comfortable, and functional. When I’m in the mood to dress up, I do so with unexpected pops of colour through makeup or accessories.

M: Sneakers with jeans or dress pants. To be specific, it’s an eyesore when it’s not combined right, and the advice I’d give is to make sure you’re put together from top to toe. The little extra thought to wonder if everything goes with everything goes a long way.

C: Flip flops with work wear. Unless you have a foot injury, I’m sure there are comfortable options for flats which don’t compromise on style. When dressing for work, I believe it is important to keep the look classy and pulled together, and be comfortable. You can skimp on trends and making a personality statement, but projecting a professional image takes priority. Our confidence is also dimmed when we are uncomfortable, so don’t compromise on the feel-good factor of your outfit.

M: I have always wanted to work in the gaming industry and never had the opportunity until a friend started working in a company that leads in gaming peripherals/lifestyle products. There was an opening in his department and I took up the offer to jump on board. It’s been a super huge blessing as I get to work everyday with something I have a passion for, and the work I produce benefits those who share that same passion. Couldn’t ask for more.

C: It was by luck and opportunity which presented itself through friends. I was dabbling with F&B and hailed from a PR/Marketing background so a friend thought I might be suitable for a role in marketing alcohol. I guess having a decent alcohol tolerance helped, but no, we do not have to drink on the job. Marketing was always something that I was keen in doing, and being in the alcohol industry made it more interesting.

M: I would be still in the old industry I was in I guess, which was in luxury retail. If I could do anything, I would either open a restaurant/small eatery with my wife, or chase a professional e-sports career! (laughs)

C: If I weren’t working in my current profession, I might still be baking and waitressing in a patisserie. Ideally, I would be working from home in a freelance job so that I can spend more time caring for my baby. I have dreams of my own cafe/patisserie or being a stay-at-home mum, but I don’t feel like I have the chops for those yet. I learnt during my maternity leave that being a stay-at-home mum is really hard work.

M: Keep a clear focus on the business objectives laid out. People end up working in all sorts of environments and with all sorts of people, which constantly challenges what is really important both in and out of work. I feel when you are clear on the objectives, you know exactly why you are stepping into the office for the day and when it’s time to step out.

C: Be humble and open to learning and sharing, and take pride in what you do. I’ve learnt that having the right attitude governs how you perform your tasks, and helps you perform positively even when the work gets mundane.

M: Have to say it cannot get much better than where I am working now — there is a central LAN gaming center with pool tables and all sorts of other games. Only thing missing are some beds to take those work-friendly naps that Google seems to practice.

C: My dream workplace will be at a convenient location, and where you can feel the energy in the air during work hours. The space will be well-lit, airy, and spacious, furnished simply and tastefully. Think industrial chic with luxe touches.

M: Since becoming a parent there are way too many things. Going to generalise this to a resource that all these things need, so with that I need to do more saving…

C: I should be exercising more, but I wish I had more time for sleep.

M: I think we do. I would say it is built on what every nation’s culture is built on: our art, food, language, geography and politics. I think arguably Singapore has today come to a point where we can brand a Singaporean context to any of those 4 things even though there are parts influenced from other parts of the world.

C: Yes, we do. Our Singaporean identity comes through from our literacy, our diverse population, our perception and reaction to issues, and our immense passion for food. From recent national events, we can also observe that Singaporeans do share a unified sense of ethos, though it’s not usually evident, and going forward, it will be great if Singaporeans can take more pride and feel more appreciation for our roots and what this country has provided for us.

M: The gazillion Hokkien swear words I weave into my impeccable Engrish!

C: Orchard Road. My husband will probably laugh at this because he’s observed that I seem to desire being in town more often than he likes to, though I seldom shop and hate crowds. From the regular weekend trips my mum used to bring me and my younger brother on to town for window shopping throughout our childhood, to my familiarity with the underpasses and orientation from Scotts Road to Dhoby Ghaut — it’s like I practically grew up in town.