A Fine Thread

What’s a lesson you’ve learned from your work?
I interact with clients quite a lot in my role, and through meeting a variety of people I’ve learned that different people adapt to different things. I have to be mindful of what I say, and I’ve learned how to make people happy.

What are some good conversation starters that you can share?
It depends. Sometimes we only meet up for work matters, so I’ll ask them about their work—how long they’ve been at their current position, and how they got into their line of work. If I’m taking clients out to lunch or dinner, I’ll ask about the food they like, or where they usually like to eat. It’s just paying attention to the little things.

Have you had any awkward conversations then?
I have a tattoo of a rose on my shoulder that’s in white ink, and I’ve gotten weird questions from people about it. I’ve been asked before if it was glow-in-the-dark, if I’d gotten my tattoo removed, or if I had a stencil on my shoulder when I went for a tan. (laughs)

If you were to describe yourself as a dish, what would it be?
I’d say rojak. I was born in the Philippines, grew up in Kuala Lumpur and moved to Singapore. I guess that makes me a third-culture kid, so rojak would be appropriate.

Describe your ideal weekend.
I really treasure chilling at home, and spending time with people you care about, because you never know how much time you have left with them. I’m not someone who needs to have a day out—being outside five days a week for work, you just want to rest and maybe watch your favourite shows.

Scariest thing you’ve ever experienced?
I once went bungee jumping in Chiang Mai. It’s terrifying, but it was something I’ve always wanted to try.