Graduate Studies Blog

NANYANG EXECUTIVE MBA

Leading with values – Gabriel’s journey of lifelong learning and community service

Gabriel Lam manages operations for one of Singapore’s busiest family-run logistics companies – but it could have been very different had he followed his initial passion.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of logistics firm Shalom Movers once aimed for a career as a hotelier. However, his plans changed when he returned to Singapore in 2007 after earning his travel industry management business degree.

“My path was to go into the hospitality industry, not the family business, but there was a need for me to step in,” he tells us.

Shalom Movers was founded in 1982 by his father. He and his brother Gideon – now the company’s CEO – got involved early on. “Growing up in a family business, you knew that you play a part one way or the other,” Gabriel recalls.

Having risen to a key position in Shalom Movers, Gabriel realised he needed to improve his skills to enable better the company’s positive impact on his workforce and society.

Aligned with professional and personal values

By 2020, Gabriel Lam chose to embark on the Nanyang Executive MBA (EMBA), a decision catalysed by what he describes as “a series of events.”

First, he received a Skillsfuture fellowship in 2019, which included an incentive to upskill through two short courses. “I wanted something more impactful,” he recalls – instead of two courses, Gabriel wanted to pursue a full programme that aligned with both his professional commitments and his values.

“After comparing my options, I felt that the Nanyang EMBA programme suited me best,” he explains. “It allowed the flexibility to continue with my work, stay close to my family, and perform my other duties and commitments.”

More importantly, “the courses are also regularly refreshed to stay relevant to the current climate,” Gabriel recalls. The modules covered many topics close to his entrepreneurial heart, from business negotiations to cultural intelligence and leadership.

Applying Nanyang EMBA’s lessons in sustainability

One particular module left an outsized impression on Gabriel: corporate sustainability. The module was grounded in one of the Nanyang Business School core principles, “transform for sustainability“, reflecting the institution’s conscientious approach towards addressing broader societal issues.

Gabriel took Nanyang EMBA’s sustainability lessons to heart and applied them to Shalom Movers’ operations.

Sustainability was already a good fit for Shalom Movers: the company actively nurtures a culture of family and inclusivity. “My parents actually started this, and I merely helped to cultivate it,” Gabriel says.

In Gabriel’s view, sustainability breaks down into environmental and social factors. Shalom Movers has made significant headway on its environmental impact, promoting green practices in its day-to-day processes.

“We are more aware of our carbon footprint and how to reduce it,” Gabriel explains. “Shalom uses green warehouses where we reuse, recycle, and repurpose. We have also planted trees, aligning with Singapore’s goal to plant a million trees.”

Lifelong learning, from C-suite to lower ranks

About sustainability’s social factor, “we have been practising inclusive hiring for some time,” Gabriel explains, pointing to Shalom Movers’ proactive stance in employing individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities.

Shalom Movers also actively participates in social programmes like the Yellow Ribbon Project – an initiative that helps rebuild ex-convicts’ lives by giving them a fresh career start. “It’s done in a nurturing ecosystem, where mentors and myself are involved in their rehabilitation journey,” Gabriel says.

Additionally, Shalom pursues “Lifelong Learning” as a core value, which translates to ongoing upskilling and job redesign programmes for its employees.

Figure 1: Gabriel with his team at Shalom Movers

Additionally, Shalom pursues “Lifelong Learning” as a core value, which translates to ongoing upskilling and job redesign programmes for its employees.

Transforming with technology in a traditional industry

Gabriel also took the Nanyang EMBA’s insights on technology and digital transformation to heart. The Nanyang EMBA’s overseas segment at the University of California (Berkeley), US, had given him an invaluable immersion in the Silicon Valley tech landscape.

“You have to think out of the box in Silicon Valley and understand that there are many different ways things can be done,” Gabriel recalls. “That’s essential for learning to be a leader.”

Gabriel understood that technology would be crucial in revolutionising Shalom Movers’ operations. “We were one of the first movers in the industry,” Gabriel recalls; Shalom Movers had embraced digitalisation long before his competitors and is now developing in-house tools and expertise to unlock new avenues for customer engagement.

Surprisingly, Gabriel has paired this technology-forward approach with some surprising insights from his original career passion. “Over time, we’ve also incorporated elements of the hospitality industry into the business – for example, in customer service and people management,” he tells us.

Leaning on pillars of support

Gabriel understood the Nanyang EMBA journey would have its challenges –sacrificing precious sleep and adjusting family schedules among them. He found the ability to soldier on with plenty of “support from four strong pillars: my faith, my family, my colleagues and my friends.”

Gabriel also cherished the Nanyang EMBA’s enduring cohort connections. These bonds provided academic support and camaraderie; their conversations helped “stretch my thinking and make me question my decisions a little more,” Gabriel says. “Even now, years after completion, we still have regular monthly breakfasts together.”

Gabriel notes that some in his cohort share his love for lifelong learning – “many have gone on to enrol for more courses,” he tells us. Gabriel has since earned Public Leadership Credentials at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government post-Nanyang EMBA.

From grassroots to a more thoughtful leadership

Outside the office, Gabriel has invested significant time and effort in making a positive impact for his fellow Singaporeans.

During the pandemic, Gabriel helped set up the Chong Pang Digital Initiative, which distributed refurbished laptops to students facing challenges in their home-based learning. His work on this project and others within Nee Soon GRC earned Gabriel the Public Service Medal (Covid-19).

These accolades and the outcomes he’s driven at Shalom Movers showcase the profound impact of lifelong learning supported by an ethical point of view. Reflecting on his journey, Gabriel acknowledges the transformative effect of the Nanyang Executive MBA, noting, “It has made me a better leader, a more caring leader, a more thoughtful leader.”

For executives looking to follow in his footsteps, Gabriel underscores the indispensable role of support from friends, family, and colleagues. “To succeed, I think strong support is needed,” he asserts.

About the Nanyang Executive MBA

The Nanyang EMBA provides seasoned business leaders like Gabriel with the essential tools for purposeful leadership in today’s hyper-connected economy. Its part-time format allows for integration with work commitments, enabling focused attention on both career and education. The programme’s flexibility, spanning from 13 months to two years, caters to diverse professional demands, ensuring no compromise on career advancement.

Visit our website at https://bit.ly/NanyangExecMBA or download the brochure to learn more about the programme and available funding options.