In this article series, I'm going to feature some of the leaders in #BSA and share their experiences with me and the team.
Today, we will be speaking to Stella Thio !
Stella is a Group Division Director in PropNex and has been appointed as Project Chief of more than 10 Luxury Projects. She seeks to add value to her clients by seeking out the right products with good potential upside and also provides in depth consultation on wealth accumulation that uses Real Estate as a platform. In fact, Stella believes that the way to client longevity and fulfilment is based on value adding to clients.
The interview is conducted by my team on my behalf.
Can you introduce yourself? What makes you go into Real Estate?
Hi, my name is Stella Thio.
I've been in this industry since end of 2010, about 12 years now. I used to be a stockbroker, and was a senior equity sales and dealing director in one of the largest stockbroking firms in Singapore, serving high-net-worth individuals, corporates, and private banks.
My interest in Real Estate peaked back in 2006, I remembered, when I was going around knocking on developers' doors because some of the funds that I was serving then, were looking for bulk purchases in Real Estate. It was then, even though I was not a realtor, that I brokered deals between developers and the funds.
At the end of 2010, I came into the Real Estate industry and went straight into landed properties for about four years, from the end of 2010 to mid 2013, before going on sabbatical leave for about three years, from mid of 2013 to the end of 2015. I came back afterward, at the end of 2015, and went to the Lux segment, focusing on luxury properties. Ever since then, there was no turning back, I've been in the Lux segment till now.
In fact, I can proudly share that I've been a tagger for most of my career in Real Estate and have also been appointed project chief, an overall in charge, for many luxury projects. But moving forward, I want to grow my team, not just from referrals, because in the past I focused a lot more on the projects themselves.
How did you actually first meet/know Bobby?
I first met Bobby through my manager who recruited me but I only better understood and know him when I came back from my sabbatical leave. Together with my downline then, Linda, I met up with Bobby and Maureen and we had dinner at the Taiwanese Porridge place, at the Oasis opposite Toa Payoh Hub. That day also marked the start of my comeback to Real Estate and in fact, started working directly with him and Maureen when I came back to work with my husband.
What was your first impression of Bobby?
I didn't know Bobby well when I first joined the industry, just hi-bye and that's about it. I didn't know about his style of leadership, so I can't really comment on how he was back then in 2010 versus now. So, my first impression was simply that he is a very young-looking leader with a very friendly and cheerful self leading a big group.
But what I can comment on is from the end of 2015 and now. When I came back in 2015, I did think that there were certain aspects of our systems that could be better if they are more streamlined. And he heard me. We started working together, my husband and I, supporting him and Maureen. This also led us to help kickstarted the “Debunking The Myths” which is a powerful series of talks for his agents on macroeconomics and market dynamics. These talks were also a very powerful recruiting tool for Bobby!
(Bobby: "Debunking The Myths" is a powerful programme which talks about the economy around the world and how it impacts the prices in Singapore. In the past in real estate, people seldom talk about such topics or the big economic perspective.
So when Stella came in, she was the first in the industry to first introduce this. #BSA is very privileged to have her to spearhead this initiative for us. Till date while "Debunking The Myths" has been ongoing for so many years, each time Stella holds a session it is definitely always a full house. With this, members of #BSA can continuously elevate their level of professionalism and have a competitive advantage over any other agents.
"With this, I'd like to say thank you Stella for this great initiative! It was not thought of at first, but now it has become a long-term and valuable asset for #BSA.")
Bobby is always striving. Striving to do better, to better #BSA's operations, and to be of value to his agents. I must say that he really has a big heart for all his agents. He is a caring mentor, a caring upline, and most definitely, a caring leader. He is always listening and helping, very supportive and I'm very grateful for that. Both Bobby and Maureen are very supportive of me coming back, and they render whatever help I needed. I was told 'not to hesitate and just to look them up'.
On occasions when my husband and I have meals with Bobby and Maureen, we noticed he received a lot of calls from a lot of agents regarding a lot of matters, such as issues that they are facing. He listens and he helps. Can you imagine? If you have so many agents to manage and each of them was to give you one call, 5-10 minutes a day, he will be perpetually on the phone, you know? He's very very supportive.
And especially, in the last couple of years, Bobby has been building up his resource library, making things easier for his agents, for #BSA, by providing very comprehensive resources for everyone, as much as possible. Really, he has done a lot for the team.
Thanks and 加油 Bobby! 💪
How would you say the support system and also the resources provided to you and your team by #BSA is different from what you've been seeing in other divisions?
I can't compare it with other divisions because I never really bothered to check out what other people are doing. But if you ask me about the industry in general, as a whole, comparing it with other agencies, I believe that PropNex provides a superb platform. A very very good platform, that has everything from training to prospecting, and to resources for clients.
PropNex, in my opinion, is probably one of the best, or the best. Besides, Bobby has been working hand in glove with Ismail and he does get things moving for us, in #BSA.
So, I will say that Bobby is able to provide a comprehensive support that can accommodate a wide spectrum of aspiring agents, be it if you're a new RES or an agent who is already very experienced, or much older ones.
Is there a particular type of training or resource that impact you significantly? One that you found especially useful?
The operating system that is set in place specially for new agents when they first join us. That system guide in ways such as what are the things one have to do, how to grow step by step, etc. All the basics, the fundamentals of what new agents have to do, Bobby has build a system and compiled all resources in place for us. We just need to plug into the system, tap in it to grow. And the leaders under Bobby, on sidelines, will help mentor and handhold the new agents who just join #BSA.
Bobby strongly believes in the 90/10 concept - where 90% of success comes from individual ownership, and 10% of success comes from the resources and support that #BSA provides to help everyone achieve their goals and success. Do you agree with this and personally how have you experienced this?
I do agree with Bobby's 90/10 concept, where the 10% comes from effectively using the resources provided by #BSA and PropNex, and the other 90% comes from the agent himself or herself.
In this Real Estate industry, the mindset that the agents have, is very important. Because it rounds up the motivation and self-drivenness an individual has, you know, what is going on in his or her minds. And, if these agents are motivated, they're self-driven, then all they need is to be able to leverage on something to rise. That's when we, leaders, and Bobby come in to give a push.
In other words, it's like now you are at the bottom of the stairs and you want to get to the next floor, right? You have to push yourself to go up, to climb the stairs. So, it's the effort on your part to lift up your legs and move your whole body. This effort refers to the 90% that the agent has to make on his or her part.
As for the 10%, it means what Bobby and the division can provide for each individual. And this 10% is the stairs that you will walk on, the platform that brings you to the next floor. This is my analogy of the 90/10 concept.
How has being a subsidiary of #BSA impacted you as a leader, and also in leading your team?
I focus a lot on the groundwork for my agents, such as presentations for the different projects I am in charge of. That said, I run a lot of projects, and therefore, I manage many different project teams, including my own team of my downlines. And so, the problems faced by project teams are different from the problems a leader will face with their downlines.
So, in this aspect, having been in this industry for a long time, Bobby has no doubt experienced and resolved many different cases and problems. With his experience as an agent, and a leader of such a huge team, as well as his supportive and nurturing side, I know I can always go to him for help in handling any form of issues and problems regarding downline matters, I can always tap on his experience and learn from him as a whole.
The top three traits that you look out for in your potential new RES to join your team?
1. Integrity. This trait is very important and I don't like funny business. In our line of work, aside from protecting our fees, we need to protect our license. That is to be professional and to do things the right way.
2. Self-driven. This doesn't mean that you will be by yourself entirely. It refers to being someone who is motivated to do things, and who has the initiative to do things, to start doing something.
3. Hardworking. I am a very hard worker myself. This is why I believe that if one is hardworking, for example, if an agent is always and continuously prospecting, there is no reason why he or she cannot achieve sales alongside the platforms provided by #BSA and PropNex that support them.
So, with these three traits, having integrity, being self-driven, and being hardworking, I believe agents will be able to go far and achieve. They will be able to really make good money and be able to sleep well while making good money!
Do you have anything else you'd like to share about Bobby or about #BSA?
The future for #BSA is so bright that you may have to wear shades!
#BSA will grow from strength to strength, and as the whole division gel and get our act together to ensure everything goes on smoothly, we can look forward to building a much bigger team.
In fact, there are already so many different talents within #BSA. We can leverage one another's strengths, and yet complement each other's weaknesses, that is overcoming each other's weaknesses through the strength of another party!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Stella here:
