Editor’s note: In today’s A Day in the Life, Benjamin Chin Fook Chuan (pictured), Finance Director – Asia Pacific, Country MD – Singapore and Malaysia at ECCO Shoes shares with FutureCFO how his early career shaped his philosophy of FP&A and how he compares the joy of playing games and work. Chin is a member of Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) APAC Treasury Advisory Council.
FutureCFO: What does a typical day look like for you?
Benjamin Chin Fook Chuan (BC): As I wear two hats – Finance Director for the Asia Pacific region, and the Country MD for Singapore and Malaysia business, there is very rarely a typical day for me. However, there are three very important things I do to prepare for the coming work month or week.
Firstly, while waiting for my kids to finish their enrichment class, I devote 90 minutes every Saturday at a café to prepare my bullet journal organising the month and week ahead.
It is critical for me to envision the week ahead—framing the key deliverables and priorities as well as ensuring I do not miss any life moments, for instance my daughter’s concert, despite my hectic work schedule.
Secondly, I ensure that I block off slots in my calendar for deep focus work. It is vital we take control of our own time and schedule, otherwise we become busy but accomplish nothing.
By the way, I am a big believer of the “5am club”. It is the best time of the day, without distractions, to do creative thinking and kickstart the day strong.
Finally, I institute weekly meetings with my direct reports and have a team meeting at the start of each week. That practice of touching base is important for me to share my priorities and challenges, and getting their feedback as well. This give-and-take exercise keeps the team running in the same direction together.
FutureCFO: What excites you the most in your work?
BC: There are many things that excite me at work. I've loved playing games—both sports and video games—since young.
So one of the exciting things is definitely the process of finding out a problem that has no immediate answers, then brainstorming a set of strategic priorities, executing them, and learning why some seems to work and others don’t. That feeling when you “level up” is also exhilarating.
I'm lucky that my position allows a very wide participation in multiple domains—such as the different markets in the Asia Pacific geography, interactions across the hierarchy with people from the headquarters to the front-line, or subject matters from finance to marketing to operations. Curiosity is one of my super powers and learning something new is my addiction.
Nonetheless, after spending more years and time now in people leadership, I must say the most exciting and priceless experience comes from seeing the people in your care growing and becoming better—both professionally and personally.
It really is the kind of unexplainable joy a parent feels when their children succeed, whether it's the smallest things like taking their first steps to the milestone events like graduation.
After spending more years and time now in people leadership, I must say the most exciting and priceless experience comes from seeing the people in your care growing and becoming better—both professionally and personally.
FutureCFO: Can you share an experience which was key to your professional growth?
BC: I cannot say that there was one single pivotal experience. However, when I revisit the growth moments along my career journey, it is fascinating that they often correspond to the most uncomfortable decisions that I made at those times.
It could also just be me being younger and wilder then—but undoubtedly, my natural tendency to say yes and jump head first into a challenge or opportunity has been a recipe for growth.
For example, my early finance journey was atypical because a mix of family circumstances and my own personal choice meant that I did not pursue a college degree. Instead I worked as a salesperson and studied for my professional papers at the same time.
This probably shaped my philosophy of FP&A to be very commercial orientated while keeping me down-to-earth and no stranger to hard work.
There are many other examples like deciding to work abroad at an early age—which is something I hugely encourage those starting out in their career, taking up assignments that are out of my comfort zone like being a finance and business manager covering 17 Sub-Saharan African markets, or jumping from a structured multi-national setup to the frenzy of a start-up gig.
One constant throughout my career was the invaluable support of my mentors.
These are people who truly care for you and have walked the path before you—they are also willing to share their time and experience and never shy from giving you the hard truth.
These people could be industry veterans, those amazing one-of-a-kind managers, authors, trusted friends or even family members.
In fact, I had every one of them on my “mentor panel” and that made a world of difference.
FutureCFO: Is there anything outside work—such as a travel experience, a book, participation in a sport event or any volunteering experience—that serves as an important inspiration to your work or life? Can you tell us more about it?
BC: In terms of leadership style, I've been blessed with some extraordinary managers who’ve been inspirational in their words but more so in their actions.
And then there are books and authors that I often reference such as Simon Sinek (Leaders Eat Last), Brene Brown (Dare to Lead), and Adam Grant (Give and Take). I often quote that leaders need to have soft fronts, strong backs and wild hearts.
However, I would say that my overall work and life philosophy is guided by my Christian faith.
The knowledge of and experience with an eternal Creator gives me a deep sense of purpose, love, and a strong foundation. They guide me in my professional conduct as well as leadership at work and at home because I know there is a great and ultimate good—that I have a higher calling.
