OKAY.com is pleased to announce the promotion of Lily Wong and Andrea Ott to the position of ‘Director – Residential Division’. The appointments follow a record year for the company.Lily Wong has been a respected figure in the Hong Kong real estate industry for over 30 years, having held senior positions in major luxury brokerages prior to joining OKAY.com. Since coming on board, Lily has demonstrated expert leadership skills in building a team of highly successful people that embrace the innovative culture of knowledge sharing, and outperforming with their clients as a result.Andrea Ott continues to be one of OKAY.com’s great success stories. As one of the firm’s first agents, she has rapidly risen in the organization and now oversees one of the most successful teams in the company. Through the encouragement of the Executive Team, she has emerged as a strong manager with an ability to balance both client and team needs while retaining a genuine passion for real estate.Both Lily and Andrea, alongside existing Director, Belinda Woo, have been key drivers of change and innovation. They have been instrumental in guiding corporate strategy, finding solutions to streamline the agent workflow, and working across departments to help position OKAY.com as Hong Kong’s property agency of choice for both clients and agents.In their new roles, they will continue to work closely with the Executive Team in leading the business forward as it enters its next stage of growth - looking to sustainably scale the business while ensuring the company’s overall philosophy and culture remain strong. “Andrea and Lily embody the OKAY.com spirit of stewardship, working collaboratively with those around them, mentoring the organization and surpassing clients’ expectations of what to expect from a real estate professional” said OKAY.com CEO, Joshua Miller. “They both set examples of how one can achieve a higher level of professionalism and success in our industry.”Dedicated to growing your personal success? Sign up to receive helpful articles, new listings and market updates!

Why would anyone from an established and well-known organisation join a younger, high-growth company? This is the first question I get asked when discussing my transition from Italian luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana to the tech-driven property agency OKAY.com.My answer is quite simple. Naturally, a large, well established company offers in-house expertise, name recognition and scale - unequivocally influential factors in career growth. However, high-growth start-ups are fast paced, innovative and dynamic. The opportunity to learn more and gain visibility from company leaders is far greater in this type of environment.As transformational changes in technology continue to increase the complexity of business around us, professionals need to be mindful of the unrelenting competition and globalisation that are altering the way we perform our roles. Specifically, the HR profession is in the middle of a shift as companies are redefining what it is, how it’s managed and how valuable it is. Transitioning my career from more of a traditional HR role into the startup industry, I’ve had to shift my focus to be more strategic in how I influence the company’s bottom line. Below are the top four questions about HR in the start-up industry and how I’ve had to change my mindset to fit the dynamic economy.Four questions about changing the HR mindset in the start-up industryHow does the growing start-up scene affect the HR landscape?Start-ups and SMEs tend to run lean and often one of the first departments to get cut or overlooked is the HR department, mostly because these types of enterprises don’t understand its true value. The HR landscape is facing challenges as these industries continue to grow because of technology adoption and its undertaking in replacing functional admin roles like benefits, payroll and more. Although these operational aspects may one day be replaced by technology completely, the business aspect of this role will never go away. The HR landscape is shifting from the once “people person” role to more of a businessperson ideology with a focus on optimising the productivity and performance of individuals through technology. These practitioners need to think about how to develop the next generation of leaders and create a culture that attracts the best and most talented of employees.Do HR professionals need to adapt and adjust their role for these high-growth companies?Regardless of the industry, size or location, companies face similar challenges that require organisations to adapt and build new capabilities. Rapid change is perhaps the greatest challenge companies face in adjusting and embracing continuous transformation. HR professionals need to learn quickly and innovate constantly to take on new strategic executions faster and more effectively. The new role for HR will be to act as a strategic partner in defining the architecture of the organisation. Becoming a strategic partner demands more knowledge about business strategy, markets and even the economy. They must quantify their role in terms of the value they create for the organisation. The effectiveness is measured in terms of business acumen rather than engagement and cultural transformation.Since many start-ups operate in the “new economy”, with new business models and employees who think differently, which HR skills are transferrable?In the new economy, the most transferrable skills are creativity, analytical skills and a “stakeholder” mindset.Smaller, fast-growing companies often have the double-edged sword of being more nimble but with more limited resources. They rely on attracting and retaining great talent, in part because they don’t have as well known a brand to lean on. This means today’s HR professional must think creatively about how to achieve objectives with limited resources. It’s very rewarding to be part of a culture that is willing to take risks and give you the freedom to try your ideas. Resourcefulness is the top determinant of success as a HR practitioner in the new economy.Analytical skills are also critical to new economy companies, and thus are highly transferable. Analytics and data have already transformed the world of talent. Companies look to HR practitioners to utilise employee data to make informed people management decisions. Organisations now understand the value of big data and will work across their administrations to effectively answer important talent questions. For most companies, their human resources departments already own this data so it is up to these HR professionals to identify drivers of actual business outcomes. HR leaders will also have to answer the “So what?” question asked by CEOs. Senior executives are now looking to them to identify the ROI of people investments and other initiatives. Start-ups and tech-focused companies have an ingrained culture built around data. This means senior management better appreciates HR professionals who think analytically.Finally, HR professionals can find great success if they think of themselves as stakeholders, not employees. Start-up leaders look for this quality in all their people, especially in strategic positions such as talent management. With great people, great things can be built – that’s what younger companies are aiming for, not incremental growth or simple job security.What is the current training/development structure like at OKAY.com and how does it compare to your previous roles?It’s hard to compare considering the industries are so different, but I what I can tell you is that the training and development here is phenomenal. To begin, everyone that joins goes through a two-week onboarding process. This is by far the longest training I have seen in any company I’ve worked with. Also, what is extremely unique here is the open and collaborative environment. Given the property industry’s reputation of being fiercely competitive and highly individualistic, it’s been a (positive) surprise to see real estate agents not only work together to share information and close their deals, but also work together with the IT department and the marketing team to think of new ideas to help the company and, ultimately, clients. This type of open environment is the recipe for success.This article was first published by Human Resources and is republished with permission. The original article can be found at http://www.humanresourcesonline.net/the-evolution-of-hr-in-the-start-up-economy/.Dedicated to growing your personal success? Sign up to receive helpful articles, new listings and market updates!

Being a parent and a professional is certainly a balancing act and it applies to every working parent, including the often-excluded fathers. We often hear the challenges working women face to have it all, but we rarely talk about fathers who may be experiencing the same types of guilt and pressure women face when balancing careers and fatherhood.According to Pew Research Center, 48% of working dads say they spend too little time with their kids, compared to just 26% of working moms. Today’s fathers are just as likely as working mothers to say that finding a balance between their jobs and family life is challenging. There has certainly been a shift in mindset, where dads are making a conscious effort in providing both emotional and financial support to their families.How can companies support and embrace fatherhood and what can we learn from fathers who are successful at home and in the work place?Torbjörn Dimblad and familyIt’s been well documented that when companies give their people greater freedom and fulfillment, their employees are happier, more loyal and care more about what they do. Google, Starbucks and Nokia are all known for this.Although some career choices are fundamentally incompatible with being engaged in day to day activities with a young family, there are a growing number of companies that are flexible in making changes to meet individual and business needs.At OKAY.com, focusing on doing a great job is far more important than counting the number of hours worked. Joshua Han Miller, CEO of OKAY.com explains, “I’ve never told any employee that they must work until a certain time, and I’ve never needed to. If anything, I’ve always felt that encouraging balance and time with family leads to greater long-term dedication. I’ve seen it at OKAY.com, and within myself.”This is especially true for property agents who of course have personal lives and responsibilities, but whose clients need them to be available during weekends and evenings. Trusting people to manage their own time allows them to control their success. This in turn means they’re more passionate about what they do for their clients – the opposite of a factory mentality.Agents at OKAY.com have the option to selecting the way they work. They can opt for a full-time structure with a salary + commission structure or on a pure commission basis with no fixed hours (most select this structure given the higher commissions). Both structures have the same remote access to the company’s systems, database tools and support. Although “full-time” agents (with a basic salary) would seem bound to be in the office more, OKAY.com doesn’t force office hours on full-time agents.Joshua explains, “The choice of financial package is a personal one relating to someone’s fiscal situation and risk/reward preference. It doesn’t relate to their professionalism or dedication. Full-time agents are out with clients on weekends and can choose when to work from the office or from home. Commission-only agents are just as dedicated to their careers, sometimes even more so given their success and income are tied 100% to how well they serve their clients. The preconception that ‘freelance’ agents are less dedicated, professional or accountable is not at all the case. Both freelance and full-time agents have the flexibility to balance work with their personal lives.”Stewart Shaw and familyEven with the flexibility to control one’s own schedule, being a hands-on parent and a successful professional is still challenging (as any parent will tell you). Stewart Shaw, a property consultant and a father of two, explains that planning and creating a schedule is key. He says, “My wife and I sit down together every week and we plan out our children’s activities and routines. We then factor in our work schedules and determine who is responsible for what. For us, staying on track means planning and scheduling in advance, nothing works without it.”Colin Lew, a property consultant and father of an 18-month old child, describes his approach, saying “It can be difficult to juggle, but not impossible to manage, as long as partners are clear in their career objectives and personal/family objectives.”Colin Lew and familyColin will often book time during the day to spend with his daughter, ensuring that he does so between client viewings or office appointments. He explains that the OKAY.com culture has encouraged balance outside of the workplace.He says, “I have the flexibility to work in a way that best suits me whether it be in the office or out of the office. Certainly, our mobile technology ensures that I can choose to work anywhere with an internet connection whether using a computer or smartphone.”Establishing this type of culture was important for Joshua, who is also a father. He explains that “Running a company can be all-consuming, but maintaining daily touch points with my family during the week are important. Since my children are still very young, I usually can’t be home for their 6pm dinnertime, but I make sure to get home before their bedtime to talk about their day and be part of their winding-down. Then I’ll eat dinner and clean the kitchen to give my wife a small break, and work remotely at night. More importantly, I know how important it is for people in the company to be energized and have balance in their lives –it’s the only way to achieve long-term success.”For Torbjörn Dimblad, CTO of OKAY.com, balancing fatherhood and career has been easy thanks to his understanding wife and family. He explains that in general, he is committed to work during weekdays while his wife takes care of the household.He says, “Having flexibility at the office has been and continues to be very important to me and I make sure I attend special events for the kids at school. On occasion, I surprise them by making it back for a football practice or dinner with everyone.”For Torbjörn, working for OKAY.com has helped him find this balance. He says, “There is definitely encouragement from management that a work-life-family balance is important. The company values what you get done and deliver, not that you spend hours and hours at the office. I certainly take advantage of this.”In today’s professional environment, flexibility is key in attracting and retaining talent. There are mutual benefits for both employees and employers as the overall productivity increases and so does morale and engagement levels.Senior executives in companies who sincerely share this philosophy (dads and moms!) need to live by example to show the rest of the organization that they won’t be penalized for work-life-balance.At the end of the day, it’s the small things that matter with your kids. For the new fathers, Joshua advises them to, “enjoy every minute and to look for opportunities to be a part of your child’s every experience. And don’t forget to appreciate your spouse – they are your partner in life and, by extension, your partner in achieving success in your career.”It’s important to do what makes you happy, challenged and energized – this balance is different for every father and for every family situation. If you air on the side of work, do remember that your kids grow up very quickly, and the time you prioritize elsewhere can’t be given back.Dedicated to growing your personal success? Sign up to receive helpful articles, new listings and market updates!

How do you know if you are a successful property agent in Hong Kong? Is it measured by objective metrics such as salary, job title, awards and accolades or is it defined in subjective terms such as enjoyment of work, connections with colleagues or meaningful company missions? Although some will answer one way versus another, most will agree that having a balanced mix of both will yield happiness in many ways. For instance, a combination of a high salary with enjoyment of work is the recipe for productivity and overall satisfaction.On the topic of professional success, we’ve asked some of our agents this question and noticed a reoccurring theme in how they objectively measured success. They defined this as achieving ‘a mastery of sales transactions’. From the budding to the tenured, property agents aspire to get involved with sales for numerous reasons.We’ve asked 3 of our agents who specialize in sales for their success stories as we were interested in hearing about their achievements, learnings and overall experiences in tackling sales.Powerful Success Stories That Will Inspire YouBelinda M L Woo Director- Residential DivisionWith over 21 years’ experience in sales, Belinda Woo explains that closing sales is not always a walk in the park. It requires someone with experience to understand its intricacies and best practices. It also demands a special type of alertness, especially when dealing with unexpected problems.A perfect example of an unexpected problem for Belinda is one she likes to the refer to as the “almost-lost” sale. In a recent sale transaction, Belinda spent several hours resolving a sudden obstacle after the purchaser signed and issued a cheque.“After the sale was sealed, agreement signed and cheque issued, the purchasers found out there was an unnatural death in the building decades ago, and wanted out of the deal as they didn’t feel comfortable,” she explains,“This was never mentioned in the news, and after numerous attempts to contact the bank, mortgage broker, and other agents, I was unable to confirm or deny this incident.”In those critical hours of exhaustive searching to uncover the full story, Belinda was able to find a 30+ year resident of the building who confirmed that the unnatural death happened in another part of the development with a different lift, lobby and entrance. This put the purchaser’s mind at ease and they agreed to continue with the sale. Both purchaser and seller were grateful for Belinda’s efforts that saved the transaction.The moral of the story Belinda explains, “is to be resourceful. Exhaust all your options before calling it quits. There’s probably a solution out there if you look hard enough. If it wasn’t for this last attempt, both parties would have missed out on something they really wanted.”Dealing with enough of these scenarios will make you more confident in your ability to act fast. “It takes patience, consistency and intensity to keep going,” says Belinda.For those that are just starting out in sales, Belinda explains that giving your clients a full service is key. Simply showing great listings is not enough, “agents need to have both product and market knowledge. They also need to get to know the client beyond property requirements.” This means finding out things that matter to them whether it be family, convenience, recreational pursuits or any other key driving factors. This type of data can help you find the right property in the right surroundings.For those that have not transacted a sales property before, Belinda recommends partnering up with someone who is experienced. While you may end up sharing a commission with a colleague/mentor, in the short and long-term, you'll learn much faster and significantly increase the likelihood of completing a successful transaction.Janis Tsim ManagerThe best and hardest part about closing a sale and this industry as a whole is gaining that trust and credibility with your clients explains Janis Tsim who worked with Sotheby’s International Realty prior to joining OKAY.comImagine asking your clients to pay an initial deposit without ever viewing the property. “Do you think that’s crazy? I’ve done that,” laughs Janis.She explains, “I worked on a $12M deal last year which was tenanted and viewings were not accepted. My client was looking to buy for self-use but according to the landlord, another agent’s client was approaching them to purchase the same property as an investment.”Janis’ client insisted that they view all properties before even considering paying a deposit. Having seen this property before it was tenanted, Janis knew it was the perfect choice for her clients, but convincing them to make a down-payment without viewing was not going to be easy.“I decided to have a firm yet honest conversation with my clients outlining the reasons why they needed to act quickly on this, explains Janis. “Confident in my view, I even guaranteed them that if they found the apartment to be in poor condition or had any leakages, I would be personally responsible for them.”Although it was a bold move, Janis’ clients trusted her and ended up paying the initial deposit without a viewing.Ultimately, they were happy with the condition of the apartment and were thrilled that her advice was genuine and true. They’ve become loyal repeat clients since this transaction.As an agent, building trust with your clients is everything, but taking responsibility for your claims is an important element in showing just how self-assured you are.Janis explains, “At the end of the day, you need to have some guts. Within reason, if you truly believe it’s in your client’s best interests, be bold in your approach and you’ll be surprised by the outcome.”When asked about clients that are buying or selling, Janis explains that they are constantly changing their minds and it is your job to both manage and anticipate their reactions.“People who are buying require a bit more hand-holding. Often, they want to take their time in finding their dream home, so it is our job to have patience and understand the position they are in,” explains Janis.When comparing rentals versus sales clients, “Rental clients are a bit more high-maintenance,” laughs Janis, “They tend to follow-up with you repeatedly for landlord-related glitches such as water leaks or plumbing emergencies. “I’m always happy to help, but it can be more challenging to manage when you have multiple clients asking for support at the same time.”Sale clients are a bit different, “the only time you’ll hear from them is when you are personally checking in on how they are doing or if they need your help in buying or selling another property. The value that we offer is more advisory-focused. For example, “what are recent market trends, or what are comparable sales transactions?” For those that want to get into sales, Janis explains that practicing negotiation skills is extremely important. Often agents use a one-size-fits-all approach rather than tailoring their approach to specific people or situations.“Get established, build networks, grow and flourish,” explains Janis, “get in the habit of partnering and collaborating with others for help and make use of your company’s support services.”Ultimately, you want to help sellers to sell quickly while making sure buyers are happy too. Finding that middle ground is easier when you think about both parties involved.Joelle Tay Senior ManagerWhen Joelle Tay, Senior Manager at OKAY.com, started out in the industry, she acquired sales properties and leads through cold calling.“The best way to source listings is to call people who have not yet put their properties on the market.” Although it takes time, she explains that it is the most effective tactic in accessing listings before anyone else.On the subject of perfecting the art of sales, she explains that being diverse is key. Starting off by mastering one district and then slowly learning about other areas is beneficial for your career. “Be prepared to show your clients listings in other districts if the one they had in mind turns out not to be what they’re looking for,” says Joelle.Gaining the respect of your clients also means being on top of your game. One way Joelle accomplishes this is by going on viewings alone before showing her clients anything. This is great for creating a short list and having an open dialogue with your client.The types of conversations she will have with clients are something along the lines of, “I’ve just viewed this property and although it’s a great listing, it doesn’t have X, Y, & Z. Do you still want to see it? If not, let’s move on,” Joelle explains.The way to know your client is to spend time with them, so you can understand what they stand for and what they don’t.A lot of landlords will often ask agents about how their property can sell quicker. Joelle shares with them that an attractive price and location are key determinants. She says, “Location doesn’t necessarily mean geo-location, it could also mean the building surroundings.”A landlord can’t change the location of their property but they can, however, control the price. A good agent will highlight the attractiveness of the surrounding area and properly advise on the best price to list the property at and where to take the negotiations. Combined, these maximize interest in the property and ultimately lead to a faster sale.Lastly, Joelle tells other agents to be aware of hurtful tricks and tactics that other agents use against you. “I’ve been victimized a few times throughout my career by co-op agents going directly to my clients offering a ‘better’ deal.” Although it’s hard to predict people’s true intentions, through experience you get better at reading people.Working in a people centric industry means that you are engaging with multiple personalities, interests and requirements at one time. It’s important to focus your efforts on every client to truly have a successful interaction. As mentioned, it is vital that you maintain curiosity and always ask questions. Partnering with a leader or someone you find inspirational can help you define your career.Remember, be bold, exhaust all your options and keep a positive mindset.Dedicated to growing your personal success? 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Today’s property market is very different from the one that existed a decade ago, and the next few years will incorporate more changes which will transform the way flats are bought and sold.Torbjorn Dimblad, CTO of OKAY.com talks us through the technology that’s currently defining the real estate industry – helps us understand what we can expect in the future. To Infinity and Beyond – Where’s the Global Real Estate Industry Headed? How much has technology changed the property market over the last few years? And how much easier has it made things for both clients and agents? Compared to other industries, real estate has been fairly slow in adopting new technology, but that is changing. The emergence of mobile, advances in analytics and predictive intelligence, and new camera and image rendering technologies are all being successfully applied within real estate to allow people to make more informed decisions about property. Better information makes the whole process more efficient and transparent for both the buyer and the seller.What kind of information are we talking about? The sophistication of image capture, for example, has made a huge difference, with features like ‘virtual tours’ now common for property listings in many markets. This will naturally improve over the next few years through the use of 360-degree cameras, drones and 3D imaging. When you combine rich imagery with all of the information that is publicly available online; historical property transactions, current available units, as well as local district information on schools, transport, recreation and businesses, you have a far more comprehensive picture about potential properties before you go on viewings.What’s happening with video and VR tools? How are they already being used and how much will they be integrated in the near future? Using images and audio to get a sense of space is second only to seeing a property with one’s own eyes. OKAY.com has closed several transactions for clients overseas by touring a property using Facetime which I believe predicts how virtual tours have evolved. Beyond 3D imagery, we will begin to see video combined with voice and interactions that provide specific information during the tour. As virtual reality headsets become more commonplace over the next few years, virtual tours will become even more immersive for potential clients.How much of a difference has mobile technology made recently? Mobile traffic now dominates the online experience, with mobile-based searches now exceeding those coming from desktops. We see this with our own mobile traffic growth so sites must take a “mobile-first” approach to their interface design. Going forward mobile devices will represent the primary medium for virtual tours and we will see exciting ways in which movement and image rendering will be combined.What benefits do you see concerning the introduction of data driven insights? Data driven insights ensure that clients make more informed decisions. At the same time, the entire real-estate process becomes more efficient. Clients are better matched with agents; property suggestions accurately meet the client’s criteria and proactive alerts keep everyone informed about market developments. Dedicated to growing your personal success? Sign up to receive helpful articles, new listings and market updates!