I N T E RV I E W Mathews says although managing sta can be tricky, people are also what make the business such a rewarding place to work protocols that have been required, and generally longer job times caused by limitations on crew sizes permitted on sites, costs to movers have increased. Mathews adds: Of late, we have also seen air-freight and sea-freight rates increasing, sometimes with very little notice. Expat hubs such as Singapore are bound to feel the impact of COVID-19 keener than most, and she expects the coming year will see increased outward movement of people as they get retrenched and companies are cautious about expatriate hires. Despite the recent challenges, Mathews is optimistic and believes that normal workforce movements will resume once the market is confident that the pandemic is under control. This outlook and resilience run through the company, she says. I have been managing SIR for 14 years and we have a very experienced team that went through the financial crisis in 2008 and the downturn of the oil and gas industry in 2016. This attitude serves the business particularly well in Singapore, where competition is intense and is increasing with disruptive new entrants all the time. However, Mathews says experience has shown the best strategy for keeping ahead is straightforward. I have learnt the importance of focusing on your core strengths and the things that we do that make a dierence to our customers, she says. We have always put the customers needs first and we will continue to do so. Staying true to your vision and having a user-centric approach to innovation has enabled us to remain relevant and competitive in Singapore. She adds that keeping a sense of balance and not sweating over the small things is essential. There are some things you cannot control, she says, but you can definitely control your reaction and response. The industry can be unpredictable because of the dependence on manpower for the very nature of what we do and with that a bag of many what ifs. But despite knowing that working with people can be a source of stress, she adds that, ultimately, nurturing a strong team is the number one key to success and all-round satisfaction. You are the sum of the people around you, she says, and I have been blessed with some of the best human beings who have sacrificed so much over the years. Take care of your people and they will take care of you. MY FIRST 7 DAYS IN SINGAPORE A GUIDE FOR KIDS Shyla Mathews says of all her career activities to date, the one she is particularly proud of is the creation and publication of a childrens charity book that aims to help new expat kids understand what their first week in Singapore will be like. A project that she worked on for several years, My first 7 days in Singapore is based on real-life experiences and memories of children moving to a new country, following the adventures of Tess and Jamie, who have just moved to the country. Mathews says: We included an element of charity in the book to support our fund40 FF300 DecJan21 pp38-41 Shyla Interview.indd 40 raising eorts for our annual island-wide donation of new and gently used items, based on a wish list for orphanages and homes in Cambodia and Sri Lanka. Seven Singaporean artists donated their time and talent to the cause. Written beautifully in verse, it will appeal to children aged three to 16, says Mathews. As an adoptive mum of two children, this book represents my continued commitment towards making a dierence. We started sending containers in 2009 and have continued to this day. WWW. F I D I FOC U S . OR G 24/11/2020 11:19