Professional Development Conference 2017 @ Yangon
October 06, 2017
Because of Today, you can expect greater things Tomorrow!
YANGON, Sep 25, 2017 – More than 30 Professionals from Singapore descended upon Yangon, the commercial capital of Myanmar, during the week of September 25. They had only one goal – to address Myanmar’s talent shortage by leveraging the skills, knowledge and experience of the Professionals from Singapore to equip the management staff in Myanmar so that they can take their economy to the next level.
In March, a recce trip to Yangon was made by 30 Professionals from Singapore through a Travel and Learn Programme organised by Ngee Ann Polytechnic and supported by IE Singapore. They witnessed first hand the economy of Myanmar developing at 6 per cent, one of the fastest growing in ASEAN. In meetings with representatives from the Singapore Embassy, Singapore companies and Multinationals operating in Myanmar as well as some of Myanmar’s top 200 companies and Government Agencies, the key people spoke of the difficulty in finding and keeping local staff with the right skills, knowledge and experience.
Since independence in 1965, Singapore has gone through the same journey of economic transformation that Myanmar is now going through. Singaporeans benefitted from professionals from the developed world who shared their management, finance and technical skills. In the process, Singapore’s education system was also transformed to one that is world class. Today, it is their turn to share these skills, knowledge and experience with the Professionals in Myanmar.
Descending on Yangon as a pack, the more than 30 Professionals from Singapore brought with them a broad range of management, finance and technical skills as well as folks who had a good grasp of the Singapore education system, in particular the Singapore approach to teaching Mathematics, which is world class. Working with a local partner, Trust Synergy International Pte Ltd, the Professional Development Conference 2017 (PDC2017) was launched with a big bang at the Sule Shangri-La, Yangon’s premier hotel.
The Conference, which was spread over four days, attracted a crowd of close to 200 Professionals from Myanmar. Armed with a Conference Pass, they were entitled to attend any of the 50 Executive Overview Sessions (EOS) conducted on the first two days. During each EOS, the speaker was given one hour to share his or her skills and knowledge on the given topic and how their experience can help the participants advance their career and contribute to the organisations they represent. If the participants were interested to learn more, they could sign up for the workshops on the third and fourth day.
Three keynote speakers were invited to grace the occasion. The keynote speaker from Myanmar was Ms Grace Swe Zin Htaik, former Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award winner and current Secretary, International Relations Committee, the Myanmar Motion Picture Organisation. As a Professional with multiple awards both locally and internationally, Ms Grace Swe’s commitment to her profession was an inspiration to the Professionals in Myanmar. Ms Low Peck Kem, Chief Human Resource Officer from the Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore and Mr Lee Leong Seng, Managing Director, Surbana International Consultants (Myanmar) Co Ltd were the two keynote speakers from Singapore. With “people” as the only resource, Peck Kem shared the Singapore Government’s approach to Human Resource development. Heading an urban, industrial and infrastructure consulting firm in Myanmar, Leong Seng shared how the company grew from 7 to 72 professionals over the past four years. He challenged the audience to seize the PDC2017 opportunity to invest in themselves and be a game changer in Myanmar’s developing economy.
The audience was appreciative of the objective of PDC2017, the high standards of the Conference and what the Professionals from Singapore had to offer. “Your contribution to the Professionals in Myanmar is highly appreciated,” said Keynote Speaker Ms Grace Swe, which reflected the feelings of the participants.
Many Professionals from Myanmar who may not have the opportunity to travel overseas for such training now have access to them in Yangon. At the same time, companies who may not have the budget to send their staff overseas now find it more cost effective to send them to the public workshops in Yangon.
With their presence known in Yangon through PDC2017, the Professionals from Singapore now have the opportunity follow-up with subsequent public or in-house workshops over the next ten months until PDC2018 is held in July next year. This is only the beginning.
For more information, please visit www.pdc2017.com or contact the following:
F T Liu
Chairman
PDC2017 Organising Committee
Ms Shwe Zin Ma
President
Trust Synergy International Pte Ltd
Professional Development of Sales Staff @ Sule Shangri-La, Yangon
September 10, 2017
Chairman of Professional Development Conference 2017, Mr FT Liu interviews Sule Shangri-La’s Director of Sales, Mr Jean Baptiste Boyeldieu, to uncover the realities of today’s Human Resources situation in Myanmar.
Yangon, 11 September 2017 – Director of Sales, Jean, who hails from France, started his career in hospitality with Club Med. “I have been working for 12 years and the last 7 years with Shangri-La,” he said. Jean spent two years with Shangri-La in Oman, Middle East before accepting a posting in China World Summit Wing, Beijing. After four years there, he relocated early this year to Yangon, where he has been for 8 months.
“Do you have a say in your postings,” I asked. “Of course,” said Jean, “It depends on whether there is an opportunity and whether you are ready.”
The Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Group owns and/or manages 95 hotels and resorts throughout Asia Pacific, North America, the Middle East, and Europe. “In Beijing alone, there are 7 entities under the Shangri-La Group,” said Jean, “So there are lots of opportunities for one to move around in the Shangri-La Group.” Shangri-La nurtures staff by providing international exposure and rotation programmes. Mobility within the Group is not only encouraged but a key requirement to grow in one’s career. “Our hotel guests are international, so it is important that the management staff are also international so that their needs are met,” added Jean, “At the same time, such postings are also windows for the staff to understand how business is made in the rest of the world, which is important for Sales Staff.”
As Director of Sales, Jean has 8 local staff under him to groom and nurture. The team is organised by Corporate Accounts, Travel Agents, M.I.C.E. and by Geography. For example, Zin Min Tun has responsibility for Corporate Accounts and for the Singapore market while Nyi Nyi Zaw covers the M.I.C.E. sector.
All sales staff undergoes an internal 2-Day Sales Skills programme conducted locally with trainers flown in. The corporate trainers are of all kinds of nationalities but all based in the Hong Kong headquarters. Another programme they go through is the Sales Systems training, which are again internal. The systems are constantly upgraded so everyone goes through refresher courses on a regular basis.
Professional development plans are discussed during performance reviews. Each sales staff has clarity on the list of competencies needed to acquire before they can be promoted. Readiness to take on overseas postings is also discussed.
One area that Jean would be keen to explore outside training for his sales staff would be in the area of soft skills. “My staff would benefit from workshops on Presentation Skills, Negotiation Skills and Communication Skills for example,” said Jean, “We will certainly explore what the Professional Development Conference 2017 has to offer under the Management Track.”
Picture: (L-R) At Sule Shangri-La’s Horizon Club Lounge on the 21s floor , Mr Nyi Nyi Zaw, Sales Manager – M.I.C.E., Ms Zin Min Tun, Assistant Director of Sales, F T Liu, Chairman of PDC2017 Organising Committee, Mr Jean Baptiste Boyeldieu, Director of Sales, Sule Shangri-La Yangon.
About Sule Shangri-La Yangon
Sule Shangri-La Yangon was proudly opened since 14 November 1996 as Traders Hotel Yangon. Up-graded to Sule Shangri-La Yangon on 28 April 2014, the hotel is a member of Shangri-La Management International Limited. A proud and enthusiastic attitude exists within the Shangri-La team. The company pays great attention to training, individual development and welfare of its employees so as to provide career advancement and continuity of service. Shangri-La employees are exposed to a variety of hotel and resort operations within a multitude of disciplines in order to develop a flexible, adaptable and entrepreneurial spirit.
About Trust Synergy International Pte Ltd
Trust Synergy is an Engineering, Procurement and Construction company that specializes in Building, Water Technology, Oil and Gas and Construction Projects. We provide Engineering Services to source for genuine suppliers and the preparation of engineering documents and Manpower Services to source for and supply qualified engineers, designers and drafters.
Established in 2015 with the main office in Singapore, the company has offices in Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. The management team has extensive experience in engineering, trading and global networking. In conjunction with a network of suppliers around the world, Trust Synergy has established itself as a trustworthy business partner where end users benefit from a comprehensive range of high quality products. More information is available at www.trustsynergyintl.com
About PDC2017
The Professional Development Conference 2017 (PDC2017) to be held at Sule Shangri-La Hotel from 26 to 29 Sep, is organised by Trust Synergy International Pte Ltd in partnership with the Professionals from Singapore. The goal is to address Myanmar’s talent shortage by leveraging the skills, knowledge and experience of the Professionals from Singapore to equip the Professionals in Myanmar so that they can take their economy to the next level.
The conference has four tracks covering Management, Finance, Technical and Education competencies. There are two parts to the Conference. The first two days, 26 & 27 Sep, are set aside for each of the speakers to share, in an hour, what skills, knowledge and experience they can offer to help participants decide what workshops to sign up on the third and fourth day, 28 & 29 Sep. For more information and to register please go to www.pdc2017.com .
PDC2017 Press Release
August 10, 2017
TRUST SYNERGY INTERNATIONAL Announces Professional Development Conference 2017
YANGON, August 11, 2017 - TRUST SYNERGY INTERNATIONAL, a Singapore-based Engineering, Procurement and Construction company with offices in Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand, today announced a strategic partnership with Professionals in Singapore to organise the Professional Development Conference 2017 to be held from 26 to 29 September in Yangon.
The announcement was made at the Sule Shangri-la Hotel, Yangon where the Conference would be held.
"Established in 2015, Trust Synergy International has been involved in a number of infrastructure projects in Myanmar. Through these projects, we realised how critical well-skilled, knowledgeable and experienced professionals are to ensure that projects are properly scoped, designed and delivered on time and within budget," says Nicholas Naing, CEO of Trust Synergy International. "I am excited about the opportunities and the partnership with the Professionals from Singapore to address the talent gap in Myanmar by leveraging their skills, knowledge and experience to equip the Professionals in Myanmar so that they can take the economy to the next level. This is the first step towards a long term strategic relationship and Trust Synergy is committed to bring even more Professionals from Singapore to extend the breadth and depth of the skills, knowledge and experience offered in order to shorten the learning curve of our Professionals to support the rapid economic development of the country."
"Today's announcement builds on our Prime Minister Lee's visit to Myanmar in 2016 where he mentioned that Singapore can help Myanmar catch up with the rest of Southeast Asia by lending our expertise," says F T Liu, Chairman of the PDC2017 Organising Committee. "This partnership will not only benefit the Professionals in Myanmar but also the organisations that operate there. It would significantly reduce the cost of skilling up their staff across a broad spectrum of competencies through these public workshops."
"Since independence in 1965, Singapore has gone through the same journey of economic transformation that Myanmar is now going through. We benefitted from Professionals from the developed world who shared with us their management, finance and technical skills. In the process, our education system was also transformed to one that is world class. Today, it is our turn to share these skills and knowledge with the people of Myanmar," added F T Liu.
To the Professionals in Myanmar, this is what Nicholas has to say, "Myanmar is where it all started for me. Upon graduation from Yangon Technological University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Power, I ventured overseas seeking better, cleaner and greener energy for South East Asia. Along the way, I have also picked up valuable Management, Finance and Technical skills.
After working for 16 years, I am committed to do something for my home country. In partnership with the Professionals from Singapore, I would like to bring such skills back to Myanmar as a contribution to our nation’s technological, economical and social growth.
The Professional Development Conference 2017 to be held at Sule Shangri-la Hotel from 26 to 29 Sep, has four tracks covering Management, Finance, Technical and Education competencies.
There are two parts to the Conference. The first two days, 26 & 27 Sep, are set aside for each of the speakers to share, in an hour, what skills, knowledge and experience they can offer to help you decide what workshops to sign up on the third and fourth day, 28 & 29 Sep.
Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your future! You will be the direct beneficiaries of this huge effort to mobilize the Professionals from Singapore to transfer their skills, knowledge and experience via this Conference. We look forward to your enthusiastic participation so that together we can help take our nation’s economy to the next level."
About Trust Synergy International Pte Ltd
Trust Synergy is an Engineering, Procurement and Construction company that specializes in Building, Water Technology, Oil and Gas and Construction Projects. We provide Engineering Services to source for genuine suppliers and the preparation of engineering documents and Manpower Services to source for and supply qualified engineers, designers and drafters.
Established in 2015 with the main office in Singapore, the company has offices in Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. The management team has extensive experience in engineering, trading and global networking. In conjunction with a network of suppliers around the world, Trust Synergy has established itself as a trustworthy business partner where end users benefit from a comprehensive range of high quality products. More information is available at www.trustsynergyintl.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Ms Shwe Zin Ma
President
Trust Synergy International Pte Ltd
09 254198178 | szm@trustsynergyintl.com | www.pdc2017.com
Professional Development of Management Staff @ Sule Shangri-La, Yangon
August 10, 2017
Chairman of Professional Development Conference 2017, Mr FT Liu interviews Sule Shangri-La’s Director of Human Resources, Ms Ma Ma Naing, to uncover the realities of today’s Human Resources situation in Myanmar.
Yangon, 11 August 2017 – Sule Shangri-La Yangon is a quality 5-Star Hotel that provides high-level of comfort and personalised services. Located in the heart of one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant cities, Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts officially rebranded Traders Hotel as Sule Shangri-La Yangon in 2014 following an extensive renovation that took two-and-a-half years to complete. During that period, the staff was retrained to reflect the Shangri-La brand, recognised as the number one brand among hotels in Asia.
Opened on 14 November 1996, the hotel continues to be Yangon’s most popular gathering and networking spot for business people. “I joined the hotel in 1999 as the Head of Human Resources,” said Ms Ma Ma Naing with a smile as she reflected upon her 19 years of dedicated service to the hotel. “For many years, it was the only international hotel in Yangon.” Today, the hotel has over 480 employees of which 90 are management staff.
When asked why she stayed so long in Sule Shangri-La, this is what Ms Ma Ma Naing has to say, “To be frank, I have many offers from other hotels and companies but I chose to stay because I believe in the Shangri-La brand. I am also committed to the success of Sule Shangri-La because here, Human Resources is a business partner playing a key role to ensure the success of the hotel. In many other organisations, Human Resources is only an Administrative function.”
“Management development is very important in Sule Shangri-La and we have an extensive professional development programme for our management staff to instil in them the Shangri-La’s culture and what the brand stands for,” said Ms Naing. “This is key to attracting and retaining them as many international hotels are opening in Yangon and we invariably lose some of our people to them.” Indeed Melia Yangon opened in November 2016 and Lotte Hotel Yangon will open in September 2017 and they contributed in part to the staff turnover at Sule Shangri-La.
Sule Shangri-La takes in fresh graduates as well as returnees who have spent a number of years overseas within the Shangri-La group. In the Middle East alone, the group has 5 stars hotels in Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar. The hotel’s comprehensive management development plans include 24 modules of “Online Management” which each manager will complete within two years at their own pace. The modules cover the foundations of effective and efficient leadership style, which are used across the Shangri-La Group worldwide. There are coaching sessions where the managers review with their supervisors areas from the online modules which they would like clarification or need further inputs.
The online management courses are supplemented by Harvard University and Shangri-La’s “Emerging Leaderships” programme which are open facilitated discussions not held in classrooms. There are 8 modules covered over a 6-week period. “Many of our young managers are the Millennials who like such facilitated open discussions where they can ask questions and interact freely,” said Ms Naing. The facilitators are in-house trainers who are certified as Master Trainer for Shangri-La culture and brand.
“Some of our key high potential management staff are also sent overseas to get cross exposure in the sister Hotels at Shangri-La group,” added Ms Naing. For example, the pastry chef was sent to Shangri-La Hong Kong where they are really creative in coming out with new model pastry items in the Yangon Market.
On the Professional Development Conference 2017 (PDC2017), which will be held in the Sule Shangri-La Hotel in September, Ms Naing believes it will meet the need for generic training in Myanmar. “While the Shangri-La Group has very comprehensive in-house management and hospitality courses, we do have need for external courses on finance and IT for example,” said Ms Naing.
“We have selected Sule Shangri-La as the venue for PDC2017 because we wanted the Professionals in Myanmar to aspire towards the standards which the Shangri-La brand represents,” said Ms Shwe Zin Ma, President of Trust Synergy International, the local partner for the conference.
Picture: (L-R) At Sule Shangri-La Lobby Lounge, F T Liu, Chairman of PDC2017 Organising Committee, Ms Ma Ma Naing, Director of Human Resources, Sule Shangri-La Yangon, Ms Shwe Zin Ma, President of Trust Synergy International Pte Ltd