Guan spent the first ten years of his professional career in the MICE industry honing his craft in project management and sales, particularly in concept selling, for a host of proprietary exhibitions and conferences. In 2015, he served as the CEO of the Singapore Association for Conference and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) where he was instrumental in engaging the industry to advocate for professional development and continuous learning.
From late 2005 until 2015, Guan helmed the International Council of Shopping Centres, a trade association with over 110,000 global members, as its Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific region. As an advocate for the retail real estate industry in the region, Guan stood for continuous professional education and certification and accurate research data to support the growth of the industry, especially in developing markets.
In 2017, Guan made the bold move into adult education as part of his journey of personal development and growth. Guan has since designed and delivered programmes on using Influencing techniques for sales, critical thinking, positive organisational behaviour and self-leadership. More recently, he ghost-wrote a book on Coaching Life Skills using EQ competencies – a subject increasingly crucial during times of duress and crisis.
Guan spends much of his spare time as a choir master at his parish and serves on the parish council. Some pro bono work he has done includes coaching young adult/teen leaders at a refugee centre in Kuala Lumpur and peer coaching during the Covid-19 lockdown, which affected many people’s lives adversely. Guan is married with three children. He loves his music and he loves to cook.
Education:
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Political Science, National University of Singapore
- Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA)
- Certified Master Performance Coach
- Certified Emotional Intelligence Facilitator and Coach
- Certified Action Learning Coach (WIAL)
Years of Experience: 26
Specializations: University Admissions, Career Development, Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Critical Thinking
Sampling of clients served: Victoria Junior College, Far East Hospitality, SP Setia Sdn Bhd, IJM Corporation Bhd, Ruth Education Centre
