Q1: What does the typical day of an SVP look like?

Michael: My day begins at 4.30am. First, I would check my email on my phone to see if there were any urgent matters. I would then spend the next two hours having breakfast with my mum and sending my son to school. As soon as I get to the office, I will start working around 7 a.m. Until about 6 p.m., I will go through the day's work requirements before heading home for an hour of exercise (running or static). Afterwards, I would have dinner from 7.30pm to 8pm and spend an hour working with my son on his schoolwork until about 9.30pm. Then I would do my own activities and work until about 12am before I went to bed.  

Q2: Can you share a leadership lesson or piece of advice that new leaders can use as a guide?

Michael: Be genuine. Respect doesn't come from asking, it comes from earning it.

Q3: How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration between different departments and teams within your organization?

Michael: Always ensure that there is clear role and responsibilities defined, clarity on the importance of each other’s contribution to the process chain, which is inter-dependent, no individual preference on how to work, a culture of being accountable for each other.

Q4: What role do you believe executives play in driving corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives?

Michael: Everything starts with the appropriate personal behaviour and mindset. Don’t do it for the sake of showing others what you have done. Inculcate the right mentality and understand that we all have a responsibility as individuals not only to the company but also to fellow human beings. This includes our family members and the people we care for. Sustainability is achieved when it is a behaviour and not a deliberate action on a particular occasion. People should display the right behaviour even when alone and no one is watching.

Q5: As an executive leader, how do you prioritize work-life balance and well-being for yourself?

Michael: Currently that is a bit difficult for me to achieve but I would always dedicate at least 1 hour of exercise time a day, quality family time is allocated during weekends and at least for a period of 3-5 days I would allocate to go for my leisure activities (scuba diving, travelling) every 6 months.