Executive Interview
Executive Interviews
An Interview with
Daniel CF Ng
Managing Consultant
Omni Integra LLP
‘Omni is a Latin prefix meaning "all" or "every".
Integra refers to the “integration” of parts into a precise and concise whole.
Omni Integra aims to integrate strategies to enhance business values with the
efficiency and effectiveness of execution, by having a single-point of operation
employing the best of resources in the market.’
Businesses, big or small; local, regional and global; need to focus on running their business.
With the advent of new technologies which changes every 18 seconds, businesses are defocused to consider the WHAT and HOW of integrating and incorporating these tools in technologies, and away from the real reason of the WHY of their existence.
Publish Date:
2 September 2020
Tell us about your background, and what are you most passionate about?
I am a pioneer in the ICT industry and Marketing discipline. His 36 years of experience takes him from his Software Engineer beginning, through his Marketing leadership in companies like IBM, Red Hat, Microsoft and other global leaders, to his market development role is Sun Microsystems where he helped it achieved the first MSC status company as well as contributing to building the foundation of Malaysia’s Multimedia Super Corridor and now helping start-up and scale-out companies on Digital Transformation and Marketing through his role as Managing Consultant of Omni Integra. I am also serving organizations like Smart Cities Network, MAD Academy, OpenGov Asia as well as Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I am a ‘Start With WHY’ creative and innovative leader who is keen to explore aspects of improving a nation’s and a company’s end-in-mind in achieving the best through collaboration, open partnership and building of an ecosystem.
Describe a time you had to make a tough decision (e.g. budget cuts, organizational restructuring, market withdrawal, etc.). What did you do and what was the result?
Firstly, one has to first understand the situation and exhaust all ways to find the best solution, especially one that involved livelihood of team members in a restructuring exercise.
Staying with that as it involves more than just money and process, if the decision is to disengage someone, I have reached out to my personal and Executive Search network to Help secure them a job in other companies. Many a times, I am glad to say that it was successful and my colleagues continue to be friends (for life)
How would others define your communication style? Do you prefer to be close to your employees or maintain a healthy distance, and why?
This is a question that does not have a one-size-fit-all answer.
We need to look at the chemistry and also the level and maturity of everyone of the team differently.
Start with them and customise.
Sometimes, hierarchy and position plays a role in communication.
Most times it is the choice of words and the tone or nuance.
To me, the most basic is to treat everyone with RESPECT and adapt from there to build the desired relationship through good, open communication.
How has the industry been changing in recent years? What do you think are the biggest challenges your industry will face in the next 5 years?
The industry that I have been serving for the last 36 years is the fast changing, morphing and transforming ICT industry.
The biggest challenge for the longest time and the times to come will be to enable the HUMANIZING of technology to serve us.
We get too technical and sometimes misses the point of the WHY of technology before we indulge in the WHAT and HOW.
The next 5 years, with the advent and advance of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, we will increase the acceleration of technology adoption driven by current pandemic, and if we do not take heed of understanding the WHY, we will be even more lost.,
What personality traits make a good leader?
RESPECT - No ideas are too small, too inadequate
OPENNESS - To new ideas and connecting the ideas
COMMUNICATION - Listening and guiding
With the above, a leader will foster an environment to learn, contribute and be happy doing them, TOGETHER as a team..
This will impact the productivity, relationship and connection between the team members, positively.
What does the future hold for your company?
Omni Integra is here to support scale-out and startup companies through digital transformation with marketing and business alignment.
It is like a CMOaaS organization that will tailor our services to your needs in outsourcing your digital transformation journey in order to save time and effort to get ahead in this now digital economy.
Therefore, we like to think that the future is good when companies, big and small, new and not so new, realise the need to transform (or cease to exist) leveraging digital avenues to serve the world, improve productivity and drive efficiency and effectiveness.